Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/592176
MDI Rates Remain Steady Heading into Autumn T ruckstop.com's Market Demand Index remained relative stable through the nine-week period from Aug. 10 through Oct. 5. The MDI finished the period at 11.55 on Oct. 5 after starting at 10.84 on Aug. 10. The 11.55 mark on Oct. 5 was the highest point for the MDI throughout the period, after hitting a low of 9.96 Aug. 24. The MDI remains 9.6 points below its average at this time last year and below the five year average as posted on the weekly Trans4Cast. FTR projects the MDI to continue to remain low throughout the remainder of autumn and heading into winter, with a mark of just under 10. Overall equipment rates also remained fairly steady, finishing the period with a rate of $1.96 on Oct. 5 after starting at $1.99 on Aug. 10. Rates reached their peak Sept. 7 and Sept. 14, coming in at $2.00, while hitting its lowest point Aug. 31 at $1.94. Flatbed rates were at their highest on Aug. 10 with a rate of $2.01, but slipped to their lowest rate just four weeks later coming in at $1.94 on Aug. 31. Flatbed finished the period with a rate of $1.98 Oct. 5. Reefer rates finished the period with a rate of $2.02 on Oct. 5, after starting the period at $2.01 Aug. 10. Reefer rates inched up to $2.15 Sept. 7 and Sept 14, but fell continuously through the final three weeks of the period, coming in at the final rate of $2.02. Specialized rates rose throughout most of the nine-week period, starting off at $1.98 on Aug. 10 and finishing at their highest rate in the period at $2.56 Oct. 5. Specialized reached its lowest rate of $2.44 on Aug. 24. Van rates started the period at $1.76, but climbed to $1.80 on Sept. 7 and Sept. 14 before tailing off to $1.73 during the final three weeks of the period. Weekly on-highway diesel fuel prices continued to fall, starting out at $2.63 per gallon on Aug. 10 and dropping to the lowest point of the period on Oct. 5 at $2.47 per gallon. Trans4Cast is created through an alliance between Truckstop.com and FTR, combining Truckstop.com's rich data with FTR's deep analytical expertise to create a standard for North American Truck Market insight. Transportation Economist Noël Perry compiles the weekly report, which is essential for making critical business decisions. For more information on Trans4Cast, please contact Roxanne Bullard at 1-800-203-2540 Ext. 6230. E Q U I P M E N T R AT E S M A R K E T D E M A N D I N D E X ( M D I ) Source: Truckstop.com Trans4Cast Source: Truckstop.com Trans4Cast ™ Powered by Truckstop.com & FTR Vo l . 9 , N o . 6 TRUCKSTOP.COM 5