Spot Market Van, Reefer Rates Cool as Flatbeds Rise Again

National average spot van and refrigerated truckload rates fell during the week ending Feb. 17 but remain well ahead of last year's levels, according to DAT Solutions and its network of load boards.

The van rate fell 2 cents to $2.15 per mile and reefers dipped 5 cents to $2.45 per mile compared to the previous week. It was the sixth week in a row that the van rate has declined, a normal trend for this time of year. The average is still higher than at any point in 2017.

Volumes are also higher than they were a month ago. The number of available loads increased 1.5% and while trucks increased 1.1%. Load-to-truck ratios shifted slightly:

• Van: 7.2 available loads per truck, down 2%
• Flatbed: 64.2 loads per truck, up 4%
• Reefers: 9.6 loads per truck, down 6%

In the van market, load posts were unchanged and truck posts rose 2%. With a few exceptions, prices were stable out of the major markets for van freight:

• Chicago, $2.68 per mile, down 3 cents
• Houston, $1.97 per mile, unchanged
• Dallas, $1.92 per mile, up 1 cent
• Memphis, $2.50 per mile, up 1 cent
• Atlanta, $2.32 per mile, unchanged
• Los Angeles, $2.17 per mile, down 4 cents

Reefer load posts fell 5% and truck posts edged up 1%. Prices are still unusually high year over year although the current average is 25 cents less than a month ago.

The average flatbed rate was $2.30 per mile, rising for the third straight week. Load posts increased 1% and truck posts fell 3%. Altogether, flatbed volumes have held steady since an uptick at the end of January.

All reported rates include fuel surcharges. The average national cost of diesel fuel during this time was at $3.06 per gallon, down 1% from the week before.

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Snider Fleet Solutions Add TruckSeries Diagnostics

Snider Fleet Solutions, a fleet management services provider, has added Mitchell 1 diagnostic and repair capabilities to its more than 80 locations throughout the South and Midwest.

TruckSeries, Mitchell 1's suite of complete truck repair software solutions, will provide Snider Fleet Solutions' locations with integrated access to labor estimating, diagnostic trouble code procedures and repair information for all makes of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles.

Snider Fleet Solutions provides innovative outsourcing alternatives for one-truck fleets to large, multi-location trucking fleets with best-in-class maintenance, mechanical service, 24/7 emergency roadside assistance, tire retreading, and used truck buying and selling.

“As Snider Fleet Solutions continues to grow and expand their fleet service capabilities, they recognized the benefits of having an all-makes, comprehensive diagnostic and repair program available to their technicians,” said Kristy LaPage, business manager for Mitchell 1's commercial vehicle group.

Mitchell 1′s TruckSeries is the only comprehensive repair information software suite of its kind available for Class 4-8 trucks, delivering a one-stop, single log-in, all-makes data resource with scalable wiring diagrams, digital pictures, DTC-to-diagnostics, and more, all delivered in seconds. TruckSeries is integrated with Manager SE Truck Edition, Mitchell 1's industry-leading truck shop management software that delivers an end-to-end solution for every step of the repair process.

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President Donald Trump on Thursday endorsed a higher minimum age for buying certain rifles and tighter background checks for purchasers, saying "there's nothing more important than protecting our ...

ATA Offering Members a Cybercrime Reporting Tool

ATA is offering a new service to its members to help protect fleets from cyberattacks called Fleet CyWatch. 

The American Trucking Associations has launched the Fleet CyWatch service for reporting cybercrimes that affect fleet operations.

The tool was developed by ATA's Technology and Maintenance Council and Transportation Security Council in conjunction with the FBI and is being offered to ATA carrier and council members.

"As the industry responsible for delivering America's food, fuel and other essentials, security is of paramount importance, particularly in an increasingly technologically connected world," said Chris Spear, ATA president and CEO. "Fleet CyWatch is the next logical step in our association's and our industry's commitment to working with law enforcement and national security agencies to keep our supply chain safe and secure."

Fleet CyWatch assists fleets in reporting information about trucking related internet crimes and cyberattacks. The tool also provides information to fleets about threats that may impact their operations and coordinates with private and federal efforts to provide carriers with information and recommendations in the areas of cybersecurity awareness, prevention, and mitigation methods.

By subscribing to Fleet CyWatch, fleets can report all types of internet crimes related to disrupting fleet operations, which are then communicated to the proper authorities. After protecting the identity of the reporting fleet, the information is also shared with intelligence analysis agencies and the motor carrier community subscribed to Fleet CyWatch.

ATA said the program's responding alerts will address cybersecurity training and education, cyber-threat trends and patterns, and best practices development.

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In One Tweet, Kylie Jenner Wiped Out $1.3 Billion of Snap’s Market Value

Snap Inc.'s flagship platform has lost some luster, at least according to one social-media influencer in the Kardashian-Jenner clan.

Snap is sliding after Kylie Jenner tweets she doesn't use the app anymore (SNAP)

Snap is down 5.63% Thursday after Kylie Jenner tweeted about how she doesn't use Snapchat after the app's new redesign. Snap has been downgraded on Wall Street because of the redesign. The wave of negativity surrounding the rollout has caused Wall Street firms to downgrade the stock.

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