As we step into the first month of 2024, let’s take a look at what’s happening with trucking rates per mile. These rates act as a guide to carriers, owner operators, and shippers. We’ll explore the different truck freight rates like dry van, reefer, and flatbed rates across the states of the US.
Table of Contents
Dry Van Rates Per Mile
Right now, the average dry van rate per mile across the country is $2.14. That’s a small increase of $0.03 from the December average of $2.11 per mile. As of December 2023, the load to truck ratio for a dry van is 1.93.
The Midwest has the highest average dry van rates, at $2.46 per mile. The Northeast has the lowest rates, with an average charge of $2.00 per mile.
Reefer Rates Per Mile
The cost for transporting goods with a reefer is currently $2.57 per mile, slightly lower by $0.09 compared to December’s average of $2.48. A national reefer can hold 2.58 loads to a truck.
The average reefer rate is highest in the Midwest at $3.12 per mile and lowest in the Southeast at $2.24 per mile.
Flatbed Rates Per Mile
Currently, the average flatbed rate per mile is $2.47. It’s a bit less by $0.05 compared to December when it was $2.42 per mile. As of December 2023, the ratio of flatbed load to truck is 5.13.
Midwest, offers the highest flatbed rates at an average of $2.75 per mile. Meanwhile, the West offers the lowest average at $2.21 per mile.
Diesel Fuel Price
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration the On-Highway Diesel Fuel Prices in dollars are as follows:
| 01/08/24 | 01/15/24 | 01/22/24 | Week Ago | Year Ago | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. | 3.828 | 3.863 | 3.838 | -0.025 | -0.766 |
| East Coast (PADD1) | 3.959 | 3.992 | 3.979 | -0.013 | -0.831 |
| New England (PADD1A) | 4.322 | 4.296 | 4.288 | -0.008 | -0.816 |
| Central Atlantic (PADD1B) | 4.249 | 4.249 | 4.232 | -0.017 | -0.837 |
| Lower Atlantic (PADD1C) | 3.814 | 3.865 | 3.853 | -0.012 | -0.833 |
| Midwest (PADD2) | 3.692 | 3.729 | 3.704 | -0.025 | -0.769 |
| Gulf Coast (PADD3) | 3.531 | 3.592 | 3.584 | -0.008 | -0.736 |
| Rocky Mountain (PADD4) | 3.797 | 3.755 | 3.696 | -0.059 | -1.040 |
| West Coast (PADD5) | 4.570 | 4.576 | 4.504 | -0.072 | -0.591 |
| West Coast less California | 4.063 | 4.083 | 3.992 | -0.091 | -0.765 |
| California | 5.152 | 5.142 | 5.092 | -0.050 | -0.392 |
To learn about the trucking rates per mile for the month of December, see our earlier blog post.
Note: All the above data is from DAT, and you can check their official website for more details.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, here’s what we found out about trucking rates per mile in January 2024: Dry van rates went up a bit, reefer rates went down, and flatbed rates faced a marginal decrease. Keep an eye on our future blogs to stay updated on these trends.
Yoga Laxmi
Sometimes English is just silly. That's what got me hooked on writing in the first place. Why on earth can't "grateful" be spelled "greatful"? Here's the thing, I love untangling the knots of language just as much as I love untangling the complexities of logistics. In my blog posts, I'll do both! No "greatful" mistakes here, just good info and a smooth journey through the world of shipping.
