Spot market freight volume got a 38% boost from seasonal freight in March, according to the DAT North American Freight Index. Compared to March 2015, overall spot market freight availability fell 35%.
Year-over-year declines have been a consistent pattern in every month since January 2015, due to a variety of economic factors including lower demand for transportation services in the spot market combined with loose truck capacity.
A 51% decline in the fuel surcharge, which typically comprises a significant portion of the total rate intermediaries pay carriers contributed to a decline in all-in rates for all equipment types. The surcharge is pegged to the retail cost of diesel fuel.
Intermediaries and carriers across North America listed more than 95 million loads and trucks on the DAT Network of load boards in 2015. As a result of this high volume, the DAT Freight Index is representative of the ups and downs in North American spot market freight movement.