Loads posted for the week beginning Nov. 9 were 21% higher year over year, while there were 26% fewer truckers on the road, DAT said in an email. Despite average rates falling, the number of available loads has remained above 2 million for 10 consecutive weeks, the analytics group said.

Dry van load and equipment posts were relatively stable nationwide, with some regional markets seeing increases, said Dean Croke, DAT iQ principal analyst. On the West Coast, Stockton volumes were up 5%, while Ontario increased 7%, according to DAT’s weekly dry van report. 

In reefer, load post volumes soared 34% in the West last week and are up 41% in the past month, Croke said. He said the surge in load posts led to a tightening of capacity across the West from Nogales, Arizona, to Medford, Oregon.

Similarly, in the Miami market reefer, load posts increased 19% week over week, Croke said. 

As for flatbed, Croke wrote in DAT’s weekly flatbed report that load post volumes fell by 12% week over week. However, there were bright spots with Lakeland, Florida, that state’s largest flatbed market, reporting a 25% surge in load post volumes, ending four straight weeks of decline. While in Houston, the nation’s largest flatbed market, saw volume increases of 6% week over week.

While reefer loads showed gains ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, overall it still reflected softness, especially in the 10 largest markets, DAT iQ principal analyst Dean Croke, wrote in an email. 

The 10 largest markets account for 23% of the national volume, he said. Reefer load post volumes declined 15%, with Dallas recording the most significant week-over-week decrease, falling nearly 27%. 

As for dry van, DAT’s weekly market condition report indicated an easing of spot market capacity, reflecting a noticeable market softness with only a handful of freight markets reporting slight increases in load-post volumes. 

Atlanta, the nation’s top dry van market, reported a 19% volume drop, per DAT. While in the second largest market, Houston, volume fell 14%, followed by Chicago, which saw an 11% week-over-week decrease. 

Seasonal slowdown likely was behind the decline in flatbed loads, according to DAT’s weekly flatbed market report. The drop was primarily due to a 5% drop in load posts and a 3% increase in equipment posts.

Load-to-truck ratios for dry van and flatbed increased slightly week over week for the seven-day period beginning Oct. 26.

While reefer traditionally sees loads increase up through Thanksgiving, reefer loads took a notable hit, possibly the result of a cooling demand for perishable produce following the suspension of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, according to DAT Freight & Analytics. 

DAT said the halting of SNAP benefits has impacted the reefer market, according to its Nov. 4 reefer report.  

“While SNAP’s legal and financial status remains uncertain due to the shutdown, several state agencies, including those in Florida and New York, had already announced that November allotments would be suspended effective November 1st due to a lack of federal funding,” DAT iQ principal analyst Dean Croke said in the reefer report. 

Meanwhile, the increased load-to-truck ratio for dry van was due to a 9% decrease in available equipment posts and an unexpected decline in load posts toward the end of the month, DAT said in its weekly dry van report. 

As for flatbed, the government shutdown has delayed the release of the U.S. Census Bureau’s September residential construction data, a key indicator for flatbed trucking, DAT said in its weekly flatbed report. Residential construction, specifically for single-family homes as well as existing home repair and remodeling, drives flatbed demand for lumber. 

However, the increase in flatbed load-to-truck ratio was the result of a 6% decrease in load posts combined with a 9% reduction in available equipment posts, DAT said in its flatbed report. 

Flatbed capacity remained constrained in the Pacific Northwest, where load post volume surged 11% last week, DAT said. Specifically, in Medford, Oregon, load post volumes rose by 13% last week, driven by shipments destined for the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles.

Load-to-truck ratios mostly increased for the week of Oct. 19 compared to the previous seven-day period. 

DAT reported:

upDry van increased from 5.8 to 6.2 loads per truck

upReefer increased from 11 to 12.9 loads per truck

downFlatbed decreased from 24.5 to 23.8 loads per truck

Increased immigration enforcement activity in Florida is affecting capacity for brokers, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in an email.

Reefer load post volumes are up 33% in the last month and 13% week over week amid Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity at Florida scale houses, per DAT data.

"This represents a 35% increase since Florida converted all truck weigh and agricultural inspection stations into checkpoints for ICE to conduct immigration status and English Language Proficiency (ELP) assessments on commercial drivers," Croke said.

The extended watermelon season also led to the increase in reefer load post volumes, Croke said in a reefer blog post. Delaware, for example, is seeing a late-October watermelon season stemming away from its usual mid-July to early September peak.

"This extension has led to a slight shortage of refrigerated trucks for watermelon shipments, especially to the Atlanta market, benefiting Southeast regional truckload carriers," Croke wrote.

Load-to-truck ratios decreased for the week of Oct. 12 compared to the previous seven-day period.

DAT reported:

downDry van decreased from 6.1 to 6.0 loads per truck

upReefer increased from 10.3 to 11.5 loads per truck

downFlatbed decreased from 26.4 to 25.3 loads per truck

The reefer market continues to be impacted by enforcement activity from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, particularly in Florida, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in a reefer market update on Oct. 21.

"In September, the state began converting truck scales and agricultural inspection stations into checkpoints for ICE," Croke said in an email. 

Since the conversion, Croke said outbound Florida reefer load posts have risen sharply at 18% overall and 22% in the last week alone. The rise is compared to 2% week-over-week nationally, he added.

The reefer market is more vulnerable because brokers and shippers have a greater urgency to move perishables and other seasonal reefer loads, Croke said. In contrast, dry van loads "can be diverted, delayed, or stockpiled," he added.

Load posts also jumped 44% in Miami compared week over week as carriers who travel further south encounter more scale houses, Croke said.

"Spot load posts increase as brokers look for carriers willing to run in the southern part of the state," he said in the email.

Load-to-truck ratios decreased for the week of Oct. 5 compared to the previous seven-day period.

DAT reported:

downDry van decreased from 7.4 to 6.3 loads per truck

downReefer decreased from 12.9 to 10.7 loads per truck

downFlatbed decreased from 29.1 to 27.2 loads per truck

Capacity challenges for dry van and reefer continue due to active Immigration and Customs Enforcement action, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in multiple market updates.

"Whilst not a large reefer truckload market, the Nogales commercial zone crossing from Mexico into the Tucson freight market saw a 95% increase in reefer load posts last week, mostly for loads to New York and California," Croke said in a reefer market update.

Dry van load-to-truck ratios went down to 6.3 as load posts decreased 16%. But even with a national decrease in volumes, freight brokers are seeing ongoing capacity challenges along the southern border for dry van, Croke said in a dry van market update.

Load-to-truck ratios increased for the week of Sept. 28 compared to the previous seven-day period. 

DAT reported:

upDry van increased from 5.5 to 7.7 loads per truck

upReefer increased from 11 to 13.5 loads per truck

upFlatbed increased from 27.3 to 30 loads per truck

Brokers saw capacity challenges in Stockton, California, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in an Oct. 7 dry van market update. Load posts in the area were up almost 20% week-over-week.

"This was due to a decrease in trucks typically arriving from Los Angeles daily, leading to a 10% fall in loads moved on the high-volume Los Angeles to Stockton lane," Croke said.

Croke said there was a significant 17% drop in containerized imports from Asia during September, which is likely causing the short-term capacity imbalance.

"Approximately 50% of the monthly imports at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach originate in China, a nation currently involved in a trade war with the U.S," Croke said.

Load-to-truck ratios increased for the week of Sept. 21 compared to the previous seven-day period.

DAT reported:

upDry van increased from 5.9 to 6.7 loads per truck

upReefer increased from 9.8 to 11.4 loads per truck

upFlatbed increased from 25.9 to 28.0 loads per truck

During the week, reefer load post volumes saw a 2% increase, "leading to a significant 35% rise year-over-year," DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in a reefer market update.

Even with a growth in reefer volumes, it remains consistent with pre-pandemic average during the same week. Tighter reefer capacity was followed by a 12% decrease in equipment posts, he said.

The reefer market is set to see a surge driven by the upcoming sweet potato harvest, Croke said in the market update. "The harvest season typically runs from late summer through fall, usually peaking in September and October," he added.

North Carolina, for example, consistently produces over one billion pounds of sweet potatoes annually.

"This concentrated production significantly impacts the refrigerated (reefer) freight market. As the harvest increases, so does the demand for reefers to transport the perishable crop," Croke said.

Load-to-truck ratios increased for the week of Sept. 14 compared to the previous seven-day period.

DAT reported:

upDry van increased from 5.3 to 6.1 loads per truck

upReefer increased from 8.8 to 10.3 loads per truck

upFlatbed increased from 22 to 26.7 loads per truck

Overall, truck loads increased 10% during the week, as there were 2.2 million loads posted on the TL marketplace DAT One from Sept. 14 through Sept. 20. But truck posts decreased 7% to 232,938, a 32% decline year over year.

That meant some tightening in the market. Notably, in dry van, load posts were up 6% week over week and almost 40% higher than a year ago, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in a dry van market update.

Flatbed saw the highest load post increase, going up 17% week over week, while reefer went up 4%, Croke said in an email.

Despite the positive signs, the increases in loads per truck came as U.S. container imports are poised for a historic decline, Croke said in the dry van market update.

"The decline reflects ongoing trade uncertainties, the impact of tariffs, and supply chain adjustments as importers manage inventory levels after the front-loading period," Croke said.

Load-to-truck ratios declined for the week of Sept. 7 compared to the previous seven-day period.

DAT reported:

downDry van decreased from 6.7 to 5.6 loads per truck

downReefer decreased from 10.2 to 9.3 loads per truck

downFlatbed decreased from 22.2 to 22 loads per truck

Truck posts increased 11% during the week, as there were nearly 2 million loads posted on DAT One from Sept. 7 through Sept. 13.

Still, higher equipment posts after the post-Labor Day holiday week contributed to load-to-truck ratio declines across all modes.

For example, dry van load posts saw a 13% increase in equipment posts, indicating a return of truckload capacity to the network, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in a Sept. 16 dry van market update. With a 5% week-over-week increase in load posts, the dry van load-to-truck ratio decreased as a result.

On the other hand, flatbed volumes saw the most gains.

"Last week saw a significant increase in flatbed load post volumes, reaching their highest point in nearly two months," Croke said.

The surge in flatbed load posts pushed volumes 22% higher compared to the same period last year, Croke said. Even with carriers re-entering the market after the Labor Day holiday and various truck shows nationwide, the flatbed load-to-truck ratio held steady at 22, he added.

Load-to-truck ratios generally increased the week of Aug. 31 compared to the previous seven-day period.

DAT reported:

upDry van increased from 6.7 to 6.9 loads per truck

downReefer decreased from 12.7 to 10.8 loads per truck

upFlatbed increased from 21.3 to 23.1 loads per truck

Dry van load posts fell 17% week-over-week with the short workweek leading to fewer trucks being posted by carriers on DAT's load board, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in an email.

"Last week’s dip in load posts and equipment posts aligns with post-Labor Day patterns," Croke said.

Despite the downturn in load posts, demand for truckload carriers is expected to be significantly boosted by investments in data center construction projects.

Specialized and flatbed carriers are essential for these operations due to the high value and delicate nature of most components, Croke said in a Sept. 9 flatbed market report.

"This increase in specific freight loads helps to offset declining demand in other sectors, such as agriculture, thereby creating more opportunities for transportation providers focused on this niche market," he said.

Load-to-truck ratios increased across all modes the week of Aug. 24, in anticipation for Labor Day weekend, compared to the previous seven-day period.

DAT reported:

upDry van increased from 5.9 to 6.7 loads per truck

upReefer increased from 10.9 to 12.7 loads per truck

upFlatbed increased from 21.1 to 21.3 loads per truck

Labor Day weekend pushed load posts volumes up across all modes. Flatbed loads rose 25% year over year, while reefer and dry van increased 44% and 32% YoY respectively.

Notably, in the flatbed market there was a significant increase in single-family residential completions as builders cleared a backlog of homes already under construction.

Housing data on truckload carriers is moderately positive but not dramatic, Croke said in a Sept. 2 flatbed market report. "The small gains in single-family home completions and starts in July translate to incremental increases in demand for hauling materials, appliances, and finished goods," he added.

Besides the anticipated holiday weekend, last week's CVSA's Brake enforcement event also led to the increase in load-to-truck ratios, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in an email.

"Inspection campaigns are an opportunity for carriers on the spot market: capacity tends to tighten as truckers take time off to avoid delays and exposure," Croke said in an email.

Load-to-truck ratios increased across all modes the week of Aug. 17, compared to the previous seven-day period. DAT reported:

upDry van increased from 5.5 to 5.9 loads per truck

upReefer increased from 10.3 to 10.9 loads per truck

upFlatbed increased from 20.4 to 21.1 loads per truck

Load-to-truck ratios were mainly steady, according to data from DAT.

Flatbed load posts held steady the week of Aug. 17 for a third week but up substantially from last year, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in an Aug. 26 DAT iQ Live market update.

Reefer load posts were also mostly flat but 35% higher than last year, Croke said. "We're seeing a lot more activity in the spot market this year — very closely aligned with where we'd see load post volumes for week 34, going back seven or eight years," Croke added.

For dry van, load posts were up 2% and 25% year over year. Croke said dry van load-to-truck rations ended the week mostly unchanged at 5.9.

Load-to-truck ratios mostly went up across all modes the week of August 10, compared to the previous seven-day period. DAT reported:

downDry van decreased from 6 to 5.5 loads per truck

upReefer increased from 9.2 to 10.9 loads per truck

upFlatbed increased from 20.3 to 21.2 loads per truck

An uptick from California produce led to a 12% rise in reefer loads posts, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in an email.

"Strawberry volumes specifically increased by 8% weekly, predominantly from the Salinas/Watsonville region in Northern California, significantly benefiting the reefer market," Croke said. 

DAT specifically monitors produce volumes from the Golden State since they account for about 20% of national truckload produce volumes.

Even with higher reefer volumes, "carriers find themselves in a stronger negotiating position," Croke said, as capacity is expected to tighten right before Labor Day weekend and an upcoming Brake Safety Week from the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance.

Load-to-truck ratios decreased across all modes the week of August 3, compared to the previous seven-day period. DAT reported:

downDry van decreased from 6.6 to 5.8 loads per truck

downReefer decreased from 11.4 to 9.6 loads per truck

downFlatbed decreased from 24 to 21 loads per truck

Lower domestic produce shipments are bringing down reefer load posts, which dropped nearly 20% week-over-week, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in an email. Reefer load-to-truck ratios went down from 11.4 to 9.6.

"Summer produce volumes are running 7% lower than last year," he said.

Tariff uncertainty is also impacting produce trends across south of the border, Croke said in last week's reefer blog post.

Produce imports from Mexico tend to drive significant truckload volumes in North America during the first half of each year. The volatility in tariffs has slowed volumes, Croke said.

A slight drop in carrier equipment posts also pushed dry van load-to-truck ratios down from 6.6 to 5.8.

Demand for trucks cooled during the week of August 3 to 9 following shippers' rush to move freight at the end of a month, Croke said.

Load-to-truck ratios increased across all modes the week of July 27, compared to the previous seven-day period. DAT reported:

upDry van increased from 5.9 to 6.9 loads per truck

upReefer increased from 9.6 to 12.0 loads per truck

upFlatbed increased from 21.8 to 24.8 loads per truck

The increases were caused by similar dynamics: Across-the-board, total load posts increased week-over-week while equipment posts fell, DAT said in several blog posts. The difference was most pronounced in the flatbed market, where a 14% increase in loads was met with a 12% decrease in equipment posted, contributing to a three-point rise in its ratio.

Overall, the total number of loads on the DAT One marketplace increased by 5% week over week, while the number of trucks fell by 11%, DAT said in an email.

Load-to-truck ratios were mixed across all modes the week beginning July 20, compared to the previous seven-day period. DAT reported:

no changeDry van remained the same at 6.1 loads per truck

downReefer decreased from 10.7 to 10.1 loads per truck

upFlatbed increased from 21.6 to 22.5 loads per truck
 

Truckload demand is on a downward trend as consumers spend less, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in a reefer blog post from July 29.

In recent years, truckloads of produce have been declining, Croke added, with Del Monte Foods’ decision to declare bankruptcy due to lowering demand for packaged foods. Last week, reefer load post volumes dropped 20% compared to the previous seven-day period.

Part of the decline in truckload volumes is from what Croke called the "Ozempic effect," as GLP-1 medications are reshaping consumer food habits, driving them away from purchasing high-calorie, processed foods, resulting in higher intakes of fruits, vegetables and water.

"Given GLP-1 users consume 16-39% less food annually — equating to 320-780 pounds per person — and account for 8-10% of the U.S. population, the result is a potential 2% reduction in national food and beverage truckload volume, or nearly 450,000 fewer truckloads per year," Croke said.

Load-to-truck ratios decreased for all modes the week beginning July 13, compared to the previous seven-day period. DAT reported:

downDry van decreased from 7.4 to 6.1 loads per truck

downReefer decreased from 13.9  to 10.7 loads per truck

downFlatbed decreased from 27 to 21.6 loads per truck

All three modes are cooling off from the post-Independence Day surge in activity.

Reefer, dry van, and flatbed load posts dropped 23%, 17% and 16% respectively. The declines were all influenced by an increase in carrier equipment, Croke said in multiple blog posts.

“Load posts on DAT One gave back most of the previous week’s gains, falling 18% to 2.2 million loads,” DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in an email.

While truck posts did increase 4% to 245,420, it was still 41% lower year over year, he added, making it the “the lowest total for week 29 in at least nine years.”

Load-to-truck ratios increased for all modes the week beginning July 6, compared to the previous seven-day period. DAT reported:

upDry van increased from 6.3 to 7.7 loads per truck

upReefer increased from 13.2 to 14.8 loads per truck

upFlatbed increased from 22.8 to 28.0 loads per truck

The number of van load posts, at 1.17 million on the DAT One network, was the highest it's been since the week of International Roadcheck of May 11 to May 17, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in an email.

Reefer loads were also the highest they’ve been since International Roadcheck, up 13% week over week. Reefer loads per truck were also up 14.8 from 13.2, per DAT data.

Flatbed loads soared 47% week over week and are up 19% year over year.

“This led to a 23% rise in the flatbed load-to-truck ratio, reaching 28.04, even as flatbed carrier equipment posts also increased by 20%,” Croke said in a Tuesday blog post.

Load-to-truck ratios mostly decreased the week beginning June 29, compared to the previous seven-day period. DAT reported:

downDry van decreased from 6.7 to 6.6 loads per truck

upReefer increased from 13.2 to 13.9 loads per truck

downFlatbed decreased from 25.1 to 23.5 loads per truck

There was a predictable decline in load and truck posts during the July 4 holiday week, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in an email.

Croke said there were 1.93 million loads on the DAT One network during the week of June 29 through July 5. “That’s down 20% compared to the previous week, which is expected when comparing a holiday week to a full workweek,” he added.

Last week, outbound reefer rates climbed due to tightened reefer capacity, primarily in the South.

Some key lanes included Atlanta, Florida and Texas where there was an increase in loads moved, Croke said.

Load-to-truck ratios increased on all modes the week beginning June 22, compared to the previous seven-day period. DAT reported.

upDry van increased from 5.1 to 6.8 loads per truck

upReefer increased from 9.0 to 13.4 loads per truck

upFlatbed increased from 24 to 25.7 loads per truck

Loads went up 14% across all modes week over week but declined 2% year over year at a time when truck posts are 45% lower than they were a year ago, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in an email.

Reefer saw a flash of seasonality, with loads jumping 35% due to a last-minute rush in produce shipments, Croke noted in a July 1 blog post.

"Looking ahead to the short workweek leading up to July Fourth, we anticipate a last-minute surge in produce volume," Croke wrote. "This, combined with the holiday, is likely to cause rate volatility and tighter capacity in key domestic produce."

Load-to-truck ratios mostly increased the week beginning June 15, compared to the previous seven-day period. DAT reported:

upDry van increased from 5.2 to 5.3 loads per truck

upReefer increased from 8.8. to 9.5 loads per truck

no changeFlatbed stayed the same at 24 loads per truck

Leading up to the July 4 holiday, reefer truckload shipments remain tepid, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in an email.

In reefer, load post volumes declined by 3%, but transportation providers slipped even further, with equipment posts dropping 10% week over week.

Although May volumes for reefer and dry van rose modestly due to shippers frontloading cargo, there is an expected decline coming July, analysts say.

With an absent trade policy that people can trust, “I think we’re going to see a very flat freight market and I fear that some carriers and brokers may not survive this market, because it’s just not enough demand,” Croke told Trucking Dive in an interview.

The California market saw a late surge in shipments with a 25% increase in outbound produce volumes. Still, the boost wasn't enough to lift the national reefer marker, Croke said in a June 24 reefer blog post.

Load-to-truck ratios mostly decreased the week beginning June 8, compared to the previous seven-day period. DAT reported:

downDry van decreased from 5.5 to 5.4 loads per truck

no changeReefer stayed the same at 9.1 loads per truck

downFlatbed decreased from 25.9 to 25 loads per truck

During the second week of June there were 1.8 million loads on the DAT One network,  DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in an email. While volumes were 8% less than the prior week, load posts were still in line with the same week in 2024.

The dry van load-to-truck ratio was tied to similar decreases in load and truck posting decreases, Croke noted in a blog.

"Market's definitely cooling," Croke said on a weekly market update. "Shippers have certainly got pricing power."

However, he projected the reefer market will improve in the coming weeks in the leadup to the July Fourth holiday weekend.

Load-to-truck ratios decreased the week beginning June 1, compared to the previous seven-day period. DAT reported:

downDry van decreased from 6.1 to 5.5 loads per truck

downReefer decreased from 9.5 to 9.1 loads per truck

downFlatbed decreased from 29.0 to 25.9 loads per truck

Load post volumes came down from the previous week's reefer gains, DAT IQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in an email.

Reefer markets in Phoenix; Atlanta; Fresno, California; Houston; Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas all went down week over week, Croke said.

Still, there were some positive increases in the top high-volume reefer outbound markets located in Tifton, Georgia; San Francisco and Ontario, California at 24%, 16% and 3%, respectively. Croke said reefer load posts from these markets retreated compared week over week.

Meanwhile, there was a 3% uptick in dry van load posts, which nearly matched last year's post-Memorial Day performance, Croke said in a dry van blog post. However, truck posts also shot up, affecting the overall ratio.

"These dynamics resulted in the dry van load-to-truck ratio declining by 10% to 5.46 last week," he added.

Load-to-truck ratios mainly increased the week starting May 25, compared to the previous seven-day period. DAT reported:

upDry van increased from 6.1 to 6.3 loads per truck

upReefer increased from 9.8 to 10 loads per truck

downFlatbed decreased from 32.7 to 29.9 loads per truck

While loads across equipment types mostly increased, week-over-week flatbed load posts slumped the most with a nearly 28% decline, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in an email.

Flatbed load posts were down most significantly across the Southeast when compared to outbound week-over-week changes, Croke said. Markets included in that drop were Savannah, Georgia; Atlanta; Houston; Birmingham, Alabama; and Decatur, Georgia.

"Montgomery, Alabama, was the outlier, increasing 15% to more than 40,000 available flatbed loads," Croke said.

Load-to-truck ratios dropped in week 21, beginning May 18, compared to the previous seven-day period. DAT reported:

downDry van decreased from 7.2 to 6.5 loads per truck

downReefer decreased from 15.4 to 10.7 loads per truck

downFlatbed decreased from 39.9 to 34.3 loads per truck

Load posts declined 11.6% to 2.6 million ahead of Memorial Day weekend, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in an email.

Truck posts rose 1.4% to 242,792 as "the number of available trucks on the DAT One [network] has averaged slightly more than 250,000 per week since the start of the year," Croke said.

Reefer load posts saw the biggest decrease from all three modes when compared week over week, dropping nearly 27%.

At the same time reefer equipment did go up 5% week over week. "At 10.7, the reefer load-to-truck ratio declined but was the second-highest Week 21 value in nine years," Croke said.

Top reefer markets last week were Tallahassee, Florida; Columbus, South Carolina; and Jacksonville, Florida. Outbound post week-over-week changes in each market went up 33%, 16% and 16%, respectively.

Load-to-truck ratios skyrocketed for the week beginning May 11, compared to the previous seven-day period. DAT reported:

upDry van increased from 4.8 to 7.4 loads per truck

upReefer increased from 9.7 to 15.8 loads per truck

upFlatbed increased from 30.3 to 41.0 loads per truck

Truck load posts went up for dry van, reefer and flatbed due to a capacity crunch during the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance International Roadcheck enforcement event from May 13-15.

"The number of posted loads on DAT One jumped to 2.9 million, the highest weekly total for the year and a 28.6% increase compared to the previous week," DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in an email. 

Last week's safety roadcheck resulted in 20% fewer flatbed carriers to post their trucks on the DAT load board, Croke said in a blog post. The weekly decrease was the highest from all of the three equipment types tracked by DAT, he added.

"The capacity crunch caused an 11% [week-over-week] increase in load post volumes and a 40% [week-over-week] increase in the flatbed load-to-truck ratio," Croke said.

Load-to-truck ratios went mostly up for the week beginning May 4, compared to the previous seven-day period. DAT reported:

upDry van increased from 4.6 to 4.8 loads per truck

upReefer increased from 8.5 to 9.7 loads per truck

downFlatbed decreased from 30.9 to 30.3 loads per truck

In total, 249,820 trucks were posted onto the platform, a 5.5% week-over-week drop.

“Truck posts on DAT One are 41% lower than the same period last year and the lowest Week 19 total in at least eight years,” DAT iQ Principal Analysts Dean Croke said in an email. But the number of loads posted went up 10% year over year.

On the other hand, reefer load posts volumes bounced back as Mother’s Day volumes shot up demand. Early produce volumes also boosted demand, especially in Florida.

Notably, Florida saw a shortage of trucks for the third week, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, DAT said.

Load-to-truck ratios went down for the week beginning April 27, compared to the previous seven-day period. DAT reported:

downDry van decreased from 5.0 to 4.8 loads per truck

downReefer decreased from 9.9 to 8.8 loads per truck

downFlatbed decreased from 35.4 to 32.1 loads per truck

Reefer load-post volumes "uncharacteristically" dropped last week, Dean Croke, DAT iQ principal analyst, said in an email.

Reefer load-post volumes typically start to increase during this time, especially at month-end when shippers clear their loading docs of inventory. However, Croke said "lower load and equipment posts resulted in a national average reefer load-to-truck ratio of 8.8, a 7% dip compared to the previous week."

While dry van and flatbed load posts also declined, reefer loads led the overall decreases with an 11.8% week-over-week drop. Overall, the number of loads posted to DAT One slipped to 2.19, down 4.2% week over week, Croke said.

Load post volumes went up across the board as shippers pushed products into supply chains due to tariff uncertainty, Dean Croke, DAT iQ principal analyst, said in an email.

DAT reported the following metrics for the week beginning April 20, compared to the previous period:

upDry van increased from 4.2 to 5.0 loads per truck

upReefer increased from 7.8 to 9.9 loads per truck

upFlatbed increased from 32.4 to 35.4 loads per truck

The beginning of produce harvests are helping drive the increase in reefer load posts.

"Reefer load-post volumes rose for the third week as produce season picked up in the U.S. Southeast and West," Croke said in an email.

While load posts increased, domestic produce volumes in the U.S. are 23% lower year over year, and California volumes were 49% lower, according to Croke.

Load-to-truck ratios saw mixed results for the week beginning April 13, compared to the previous seven-day period. DAT reported:

upDry van increased from 3.9 to 4.2 loads per truck

upReefer increased from 6.9 to 7.8 loads per truck

downFlatbed decreased from 34.9 to 32.4 loads per truck
 

Compared to last week’s plunge, dry van load posts settled into a more conventional pattern, Dean Croke, DAT iQ principal analyst, said in an email.

"Compared to the previous year, volumes were nearly identical and 27% higher than the long-term Week 16 average (excluding the pandemic-impacted years 2020 and 2021)," Croke said.

A drop in produce shipments last week still didn't deter refer load posts from increasing by 7%. Demand was spread across key markets for Easter and Mother's Day in the western U.S. and in southern Florida, per DAT.

Flatbed load post volumes on the other hand declined for a third consecutive week, Croke said, as open-deck demand softens in the spot market.

Load-to-truck ratios saw mixed results for the week beginning April 13, compared to the previous seven-day period. DAT reported:

upDry van increased from 3.9 to 4.2 loads per truck

upReefer increased from 6.9 to 7.8 loads per truck

downFlatbed decreased from 34.9 to 32.4 loads per truck
 

Compared to last week’s plunge, dry van load posts settled into a more conventional pattern, Dean Croke, DAT iQ principal analyst, said in an email.

"Compared to the previous year, volumes were nearly identical and 27% higher than the long-term Week 16 average (excluding the pandemic-impacted years 2020 and 2021)," Croke said.

A drop in produce shipments last week still didn't deter refer load posts from increasing by 7%. Demand was spread across key markets for Easter and Mother's Day in the western U.S. and in southern Florida, per DAT.

Flatbed load post volumes on the other hand declined for a third consecutive week, Croke said, as open-deck demand softens in the spot market.

Load-to-truck ratios all decreased the week beginning April 6, compared to the previous seven-day period. DAT reported:

downDry van fell from 5.5 to 4.1 loads per truck

downReefer dropped from 9.8 to 7.1 loads per truck

downFlatbed decreased from 45.1 to 36.3 loads per truck

While flatbed posts continued to decline, reefer posts marked their first decline in a month.

"After surging by 22% the week prior, reefer load post volumes cooled last week, dropping by 27% on the back of a 16% drop in North American produce volumes last week," according to a DAT blog post from April 15.

The decline was partly due to a surge in produce imports from Mexico last month, but produce volumes on the southern border have since dropped by 32%, per the blog post. As a result, the national reefer load-to-truck ratio went down to 7.11 after being 9.8 the previous week.

Load-to-truck ratios saw a general week-over-week rise for the week beginning March 23, Flatbed load post volumes were the exception, as loads per truck saw a small dip after a series of increases since mid-January. DAT reported:

upDry van increased from 5.2 to 5.8 loads per truck

upReefer increased from 8.3 to 10.3 loads per truck

downFlatbed decreased from 49.0 to 46.8 loads per truck

Tariff concerns continue to drive the trend in rising loads per truck. DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said there was an unseasonal jump in North American reefer volumes, driven by a surge in produce loads at the southern border. Croke added companies were moving "as much produce as possible" to avoid potential U.S. tariffs.

"In McAllen, Texas, reefer load posts were up 28% last week, San Antonio posts increased 39%, Laredo posts were up 16%, and Houston posts rose 9%," Croke said in an email. In a blog post.

Load-to-truck ratios all rose for the week beginning March 23, compared to the previous seven-day period. DAT reported:

upDry van increased from 4.5 to 5.2 loads per truck

upReefer increased from 6.9 to 8.3 loads per truck

upFlatbed increased from 46.9 to 49.0 loads per truck

There were 2.4 million loads posted to DAT One last week, according to DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke.

The number reflects the highest weekly total since the first full week of January, Croke said in an email, and a 10.2% jump compared to the previous week. Croke also said truck posts fell to 231,806, which is down 9.5% when compared to the previous week.

Load-to-truck ratios mostly rose the week beginning March 16, compared to the previous seven-day period. DAT reported:

downDry van decreased from 4.9 to 4.5 loads per truck

upReefer increased from 6.41 to 6.9 loads per truck

upFlatbed increased from 41.1 to 46.9 loads per truck

“Flatbed load post volumes increased for the ninth week following last week’s 3% gain,” DAT Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in a blog post. “Volumes are 30% higher than last year and now 2% higher than in 2017 as that year began the slow recovery following the 2016 soft market.”

Load-to-truck ratios mostly decreased the week beginning March 9, compared to the previous seven-day period. DAT reported:

downDry van decreased from 5.1 to 4.9 loads per truck

downReefer decreased from 7.3 to 6.4 loads per truck

upFlatbed increased from 39.5 to 41.1 loads per truck

"Flatbed load post volumes increased for the eight week following last week’s 7% gain," Dean Croke, principal analyst at DAT iQ, said in a blog post. "Volumes are 34% higher than last year and 5% lower than the long-term average for Week 11, excluding the pandemic-impacted years."

Load-to-truck ratios mostly rose the week beginning March 2, compared to the previous seven-day period. DAT reported:

no changeDry van stayed flat at 5.1 loads per truck

upReefer increased from 7.2 to 7.3 loads per truck

upFlatbed increased from 38.6 to 39.5 loads per truck

Total loads posted on the DAT One marketplace fell by 2% to 2.18 million last week compared to the previous week. The drop was driven by fewer dry van and reefer loads posted, while flatbed loads increased week over week. Meanwhile, truck posts declined for the sixth straight week.

"Flatbed load volumes are 24% higher than last year but 9% lower than the long-term average for Week 9, excluding the pandemic-impacted years," Dean Croke, DAT principal analyst, said in an email

Load-to-truck ratios mostly increased the week beginning Feb. 23, compared to the previous seven-day period. DAT reported:

upDry van increased from 4.9 to 5.2 loads per truck

downReefer decreased from 8.7 to 7.5 loads per truck

upFlatbed increased from 33.2 to 39.4 loads per truck

“Flatbed load post volumes increased for the sixth week following last week’s 14% gain,” DAT Principal Analyst Dean Croke noted on a blog. “Volumes are 41% higher than last year and just 4% lower than the long-term average for Week 9, excluding the pandemic-impacted years.”

Load-to-truck ratios were mixed the week beginning Feb. 16, compared to the previous seven-day period. DAT reported:

downDry van decreased from 5.1 to 4.9 loads per truck

upReefer increased from 8.1 to 8.7 loads per truck

upFlatbed increased from 28 to 33.2 loads per truck

Total loads posted on DAT One marketplace increased by 5.4% to 2.05 million last week compared to the previous seven-day period. Truck posts declined for the third straight week, falling 4.9% to 236,217, DAT noted.

"Both trends reflect the seasonality of the spot market in mid-February, when retailers start positioning summer goods into inventory, Florida and California harvests begin to build, and heavy machinery, construction materials, and home-improvement products are on the move," DAT said in an email.

Load-to-truck ratios were mixed the week beginning Feb. 9, compared to the previous seven-day period. DAT reported:

upDry van increased from 4.7 to 5.1 loads per truck

downReefer decreased from 8.6 to 8.1 loads per truck

upFlatbed increased from 26.4 to 28 loads per truck

"The total number of load posts stayed nearly the same week over week, but truck posts dropped by 7.5%," DAT said in an emailed statement. "Weather likely influenced this, along with the ongoing seasonal decline in reefer demand."

Load-to-truck ratios were mixed the week beginning Feb. 2, compared to the previous seven-day period. DAT reported:

downDry van declined from 5.8 to 4.7 loads per truck

upReefer increased from 8.2 to 8.6 loads per truck

upFlatbed increased from 22.5 to 26.4 loads per truck

"Load posts are sitting around 2% higher than last year," DAT Principal Analyst Dean Croke noted on a blog. Furthermore, they are "4% higher than this time in 2018," he said, recalling a rate rally surge that year.

Nevertheless, the dry van load-to-truck ratio still moved downward. But capacity is easing amid weaker spot rates, DAT noted.

Load-to-truck ratios were mixed the week beginning Jan. 26, compared to the previous seven-day period. DAT reported:

downDry van declined from 6.3 to 6 loads per truck

downReefer dropped from 10.7 to 8.5 loads per truck

upFlatbed increased from 21.4 to 23.1 loads per truck

An oversupply of trucks in the market left the dry van ratio largely unchanged, and softer reefer demand has caused load post volumes to be about 4% lower this year compared to 2024, DAT Principal Analyst Dean Croke said on a weekly market update.

Load-to-truck ratios decreased across the board for the week beginning Jan. 19, compared to the previous seven-day period. DAT reported:

downDry van declined from 7.8 to 6.3 loads per truck

downReefer dropped from 11.4 to 10.7 loads per truck

downFlatbed decreased from 27.4 to 21.4 loads per truck

"The freight market slowed last week, most likely impacted by the freezing cold temperatures across the eastern half of the country," DAT Principal Analyst Dean Croke wrote on a blog post, noting reductions in load and equipment posts.

Load-to-truck ratios generally decreased for the week beginning Jan. 12, compared to the previous seven-day period. DAT reported:

downDry van decreased from 9.1 to 7.8 loads per truck

downReefer declined from 14.3 to 11.4 loads per truck

upFlatbed rose from 26.4 to 27.4 loads per truck

"Even though flatbed load post volumes were 8% higher than last week and 17% higher than the same week last year, they are within 6% of the long-term average for week three of the shipping year," DAT Principal Analyst Dean Croke wrote on a blog post. "As a result, last week’s flatbed load-to-truck ratio (LTR) increased by 4%."

Load-to-truck ratios increased across equipment types for the week beginning Dec. 29, compared to the previous seven-day period. DAT reported:

upDry van increased from 5.5 to 5.8 loads per truck

upReefer rose from 11.2 to 11.7 loads per truck

upFlatbed jumped from 13.2 to 14.6 loads per truck

New Year's Day falling on a Wednesday effectively created a two-day shipping week, complicating week-over-week and year-over-year comparisons.

When analyzing daily load postings over the last three years for the start of the year, there was a lot of consistency and not much difference, DAT Principal Analyst Dean Croke said on a market update.

Load-to-truck ratios decreased across equipment types for the week beginning Dec. 8, compared to the previous seven-day period. DAT reported:

downDry van decreased from 6.5 to 5.7 loads per truck

downReefer dropped from 8.7 to 6.7 loads per truck

downFlatbed declined from 15.8 to 15.3 loads per truck

The dry van ratio was almost double that of last year during the same time, DAT Principal Analyst Dean Croke noted. 

Signs of tightening occurred again, and the flatbed ratio last week was very healthy, Croke said on a weekly market update.

Load-to-truck ratios increased across equipment types for the week beginning Dec. 1, compared to the previous seven-day period. DAT reported:

upDry van increased from 3.8 to 6.5 loads per truck

upReefer increased from 4.4 to 8.7 loads per truck

upFlatbed increased from 8.9 to 15.8 loads per truck

Ratios rose compared to the week of Thanksgiving, as expected. But DAT Principal Analyst Dean Croke also noted on blog posts that dry van, reefer and flatbed ratios were also significantly higher than a year ago.

Load-to-truck ratios decreased across equipment types for the week beginning Nov. 24, compared to the previous seven-day period. DAT reported:

downDry van decreased from 4.3 to 3.8 loads per truck

downReefer decreased from 6.5 to 4.4 loads per truck

downFlatbed decreased from 12.6 to 8.9 loads per truck

"Relative to the busy week before, truck and load posts on the DAT One marketplace fell sharply during Thanksgiving week," the firm said.

Loads on the network fell 46% to 1.02 million compared to the previous week, and the number of trucks fell 30% to 223,837, DAT reported.