Economic forces, consumer demand, seasonality, natural disasters and myriad other factors contribute to transport's cyclical market.

The charts below show the latest data on Class 8 truck orders, trailer orders, monthly tonnage, linehaul rates and load-to-truck ratios. We'll update this page frequently as new data is released.

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Load-to-truck ratios

Load-to-truck ratios from DAT Freight & Analytics serve as indicators of supply and demand in the spot market. The ratio is calculated based on the number of load posts compared to the number of truck posts on the DAT One load board. Ratio changes can signal upcoming fluctuations in spot rates.

Load-to-truck ratios increased across equipment types for the week beginning Sept. 22, compared to the previous seven-day period. DAT reported:

• Dry van increased from 3.1 to 3.8 loads per truck
• Reefer increased from 4.6 to 5.2 loads per truck
• Flatbed increased from 12.1 to 13.3 loads per truck

Hurricane Helene's deadly and devastating destruction spread through local markets.

"Spot load posts for all three equipment types increased across the Southeast last week as shippers staged freight or moved inventory to safer locations ahead of Hurricane Helene," DAT said in a statement. "This week, road closures, power outages, and delays in getting fuel from racks to gas stations make it hard for anything to move across the Southeast."

In particular, reefer load posts increased by 16% week over week in the Southeast region and by 20% week over week along Florida’s Big Bend, DAT noted. "They jumped by 52% week over week in DAT’s Tallahassee market, where Hurricane Helene made landfall," the firm added. In Tallahassee, dry van load posts rose 18% week over week, and flatbed load posts surged 81% week over week.

Spot linehaul rates

DAT’s linehaul rates measure a seven-day moving average for spot rates in dry van, reefer and flatbed hauls. They often reflect the balance of supply and demand in the spot market. The rates are derived from DAT’s RateView database and do not include a fuel surcharge.

National benchmark averages generally stayed flat the week of Sept. 22, compared to the previous week. Per DAT:

• Dry van was flat at $1.61
• Reefer remained at $1.97
• Flatbed increased by 2 cents to $1.97

Compared to three-month trailing averages in linehaul, dry van and flatbed rates fell by 3 cents per mile and reefer by 2 cents in late September, DAT reported.

Tonnage

The ATA For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index increased by 1.8% in August to 115.8 compared to the previous month when seasonally adjusted, per a news release. The organization also revised July's figure upward to 113.8, from a previous estimate of 113.7.

"August tonnage levels rose to the highest level since February 2023," ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello said in a monthly report, adding that the industry is at an inflection point in the freight market.

Trailers

Net trailer orders were down 30% year over year to 6,661 units in August, according to FTR data. But last month’s orders were up 17% from July.

In a monthly report, FTR noted that truck freight fundamentals are stagnant, with total trailer build 30% lower than the average August for the past five years.

"Higher-than-ideal trailer inventories at dealers across most segments, reduced trailer capital expenditures at fleets, and declining backlogs likely will exert downward pressure on build rates for the rest of 2024," FTR Senior Analyst of Commercial Vehicles Dan Moyer said in the report.

Truckload linehaul rates

The Truckload Linehaul Index from Cass measures per-mile linehaul rates. In the chart below, the baseline is 100, which represents conditions in 2005. Rates fluctuate as a result of supply, demand and balance (or a lack thereof) in the market, but they also include factors such as fuel prices and insurance costs.

The index, which includes spot and contract freight, decreased 0.6% in August compared to the month prior and fell 3% year over year, Cass reported. 

The monthly decline, its fourth in a row, suggested "the soft market balance persists and overcapacity keeps bids highly competitive," ACT Research VP and Senior Analyst Tim Denoyer wrote for Cass’ monthly report.

Class 8 orders

Preliminary Class 8 net orders increased to 13,400 units in August, from 12,400 units in July, according to a report from FTR.

Remarking on the small uptick, FTR said the typical increase during that time is around 20%.

"The combination of a stagnant truck freight market and full or nearly full 2024 order boards presumably are the main factors behind a smaller than typical increase," the firm said.