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State of Logistics 2016: Pursue mutual benefit DAT reports a strong end of year run for spot market activity OPEC’s production cuts are greatly overrated U.S.-bound retail container volumes see gains despite mixed signals, says Port Tracker U.S. Ports Update: Building for the future More Logistics News Digital Evolution: Streamlining Logistics and Supply Chain Operations Virtual Conference | Dec 8, 2016 | 1pm ET Keynote Address: The Digital Re-imagination of Supply Chains All Resources December saw a strong finish to 2016, with spot truckload freight activity and volume having a strong month, according to data issued by DAT , a subsidiary of Roper Industries. The company’s North American Freight Index was up 8 percent in December, marking the sixth straight month of volume gains. DAT attributed strong momentum for e-commerce and grocery shipments as the main growth drivers for December, a month that is typically quiet for the spot market. DAT defines the North American Freight Index as a measure of conditions on the spot truckload freight market. DAT said van freight availability jumped 10 percent from November to December, while posting a 52 percent annual gain in December, which represented an average van load-to-truck ratio, which measures the number of available of loads for each truck posted on the DAT load board network, of 3 to 8, representing a 22 percent gain from November to December and an 80 percent annual gain. On the rate side, DAT reported that the national average spot truckload rate for vans was $1.73 per mile, including a fuel surcharge, with this marking the highest average rate for 2016 as it was up 7 cents compared to November and up 1 cent annually. “Van rates and volumes shot up in places like Memphis and Columbus, both associated with e-commerce fulfillment, and even Denver […]