Trucking freight demand, spot rates show continued improvement over 2016

Freight demand in the trucking and logistics industries was mixed, but mostly positive for the week of July 9-15, according to Stifel analysts. The Truckstop.com Market Demand Index rose 129.3% to 31.48, from the same week in 2016. The index increased 11.9%, from the previous week this month.

DAT load-to-truck ratios increased in the week of July 9-15, from the same week in 2016. Dry-van load-to-truck ratio rose 92% in the week, compared to the same week in 2016.

DAT spot rates have risen throughout most of the year, compared to 2016. The dry-van spot rate rose 10% to $1.83 per mile, from the same week in 2016. The rate fell 7 cents per mile from the previous week this month. Truckstop.com dry-van rates increased 12% to $1.96 per mile. The rate fell 10 cents per mile from the previous week this month.

In the rail industry, commodity carloads and intermodal units were up 13.1% for the week of July 9-15, from the previous week. Total rail volume rose 3.9% from the same week in 2016.

Intermodal carloads jumped 17.2% in the week, from the previous week this month. Intermodal trailers rose 19.6%, and intermodal containers increased 17.1%. Intermodal carloads increased 6.5% in the week, from the same week in 2016, driven by a 6.8% rise in intermodal containers and a 2.2% increase in intermodal trailers.