Reefer demand surge in the Pacific Northwest, other local markets

Spot market rates for reefers were unchanged at a national average of $2.04 per mile during the short work week that included Labor Day, compared to the week before the holiday, DAT reports. Compared to our last segment update in late July, all markets highlighted above had fallen considerably but for Green Bay, Wis., which was up.

Other bright spots included Twin Falls, Idaho, a major market for potatoes, and Eastern Oregon, a source of onions. Carriers also enjoyed rate increases for temperature-controlled freight week over week in Los Angeles, Chicago and Philadelphia, plus a surprise surge in demand and rates outbound from McAllen, Texas.

During the short Labor Day week, reefer load posts declined 12% and truck posts slipped 15%. That’s the equivalent of an increase, because there were four workdays instead of five, so you’d expect a 20% decline in all load board activity. The result was a modest 2.6% increase in the national average load-to-truck ratio, from 5.1 to 5.2 loads per truck on DAT Load Boards. A big surge in demand boosted rates in McAllen, TX and Twin Falls, ID, as well as Eastern Oregon. Load-to-truck ratios were also high in North Dakota and New Mexico, as indicated by the dark blue areas on this Hot States Map for the week of September 6 - 12, but there were not enough loads available to make the trip worthwhile. The state of Maine is dark blue for the second consecutive week, due to high demand for reefers in the Augusta market, a potato-growing area.

Load posts declined 12 percent last week, with truck posts falling 15. At once, given there were four workdays instead of five for many, you might expect a 20 percent decline in all load board activity. in that view, the drops might be seen as an increase. All in all, the week showed a modest 2.6 percent boost in the national average load-to-truck ratio, from 5.1 to 5.2. In addition to surges in loads reflected in hot rate markets mentioned about, load-to-truck ratios were also high in North Dakota and New Mexico, as indicated by the dark blue areas on this Hot States Map for the week of September 6 – 12 — there were not enough loads available there, however, to make the trip worthwhile. The state of Maine is dark blue for the second consecutive week, due to high demand for reefers in the Augusta market, a potato-growing area.

“TRIHAUL” OF THE WEEK | With potatoes and onions rolling out of the Pacific Northwest, demand and rates for reefers on the backhaul lanes heading west from Twin Falls, Idaho, are up. Rates are rising out of L.A., too, and inbound rates are dropping there, so haul those potatoes to Phoenix instead, for an average of $2.21 per mile. From Phoenix, your rates to L.A. are still not great, but the distance is shorter on a repositioning load back to the Golden State. This route adds $1,057 in revenue to your roundtrip, and boosts the average rate per loaded mile from $1.87 to $2.06. Examine the numbers in the chart below.

Van freight: Texas demand sees GATS effect, rates sag nationally, and volume rises

Volume ticked up for dry freight, but rates were lackluster in the past week. Some local markets with a higher van load-to-truck showed opportunity in ...

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