A measure of the spot truckload freight market edged downward in January as the level of freight settled into a typical post-holiday pattern, though at significantly elevated levels compared to this time last year. The DAT North American Freight Index dropped 2.5% in January compared to an exceptionally strong December and was 56% higher year-over-year, according DAT Solutions and its network of load board Spot van, refrigerated, and flatbed rates in January were higher year-over-year, but an influx of capacity from contract carriers onto the spot market, particularly on high-traffic lanes, depressed rates compared to December.
