All-in spot rates, November 2023-most recent week

Owner-operators hopeful for sustained freight spot market strength this past week after the post-Thanksgiving run-up instead saw seasonal norms settle in, with reefer freight giving back almost all rates gains seen the prior week. Yet dry van rates mostly held, falling by just a penny on average, while flatbed spot rates rose substantially, marking a fourth straight week of gains, to their strongest level in a couple months. Spot rates for each of the three principal equipment types sat about 4% higher than the same 2024 week. Load volumes, meanwhile, tracked 20% higher than last year, according to Truckstop.com and FTR Transportation Intelligence. Find more commentary on spot market activity from the firms' snapshot report dated Dec. 15.