Spot market volumes bounce back to pre-Thanksgiving volume, and then some

It is really hard to pin down. It's a national average, and while DAT has a large data set (I think 120ish billion worth of trans spend annually), it is only a portion of the trucking industry so isn't the complete picture.

I believe that directionally the trends we see there every month have almost always mirrored what we are seeing when working the freight market every day, so while I believe the RPM may not always be perfect, the trend lines are pretty dang accurate.

 

I think they're pretty realistic, if not a little subdued.
For instance, I was able to book 4 loads - 3 350 ALL miles this week (but I had to cancel due to clutch repairs) with an average of 2.60 on all miles. Perhaps 3.00 per loaded mile.
I have indulged myself lately with two full blown versions of DAT and Truckstop.com and DAT seems more consistent with the rates I was getting.

 

But Chicago Market, at first glance does not seem that much worse from what it was in the last few weeks:



Notably, outbound to New England and Florida

 

Seems to me like if you take their average number and then add in the national fuel surcharge, it’s pretty accurate. Then, work your tail off to beat the averages.

If you can beat what they are showing by 50 cents then your doing very very well. That’s just me though. I know a guy or two on here outpacing that even.

 

It's the opposite. DAT working with broker's to keep rates lower than what they are really paying.

 

My experience has pretty much mirrored @JimmyTwoTimes's - the base numbers are usually a little low, but the trend line is generally pretty accurate. Granted, I don't do much van, and I don't do *any* reefer, so I can't speak to those two segments with any authority, but flats have been cruising along about like that line there. Just depends on when/where/what.