On Gateway
By the Numbers
An extensive , multi-channel , interactive freight shipping dashboard can be found at https :// www . joc . com / gateway / about
Wide gap between spot truckload , intermodal rail rates persists
Average spot rates for US truckload and domestic intermodal rail , in USD per mile
USD per mile
$ 3.0
$ 2.5 $ 1.0 $ 2.0 $ 1.7 $ 1.5
$ 1.0 L 2021
2022 2023
2024 Jan , 2025
Spot Truckload Shipper Rates
Notes : Rates reflect an average of the same 120 lanes in truckload and intermodal rail .
Source : Intermodal Savings Index
Spot Intermodal Shipper Rates
© 2025 S & P Global
L
On Gateway
Even with rail rates jumping in Southern California , US shippers tapping the spot intermodal market rather than brokering to full truckload saved more than 20 % on average in the fourth quarter , according to the Journal of Commerce Intermodal Savings Index . Under a contract , domestic intermodal shippers have saved between 25 % and 28 % across the US since January 2023 . In raw dollars , shippers saved an average of $ 750 per container across the US on spot market loads and $ 850 per container on contractual business in 2024 .
The Gateway is an online shipping dashboard of more than 140 continuously updated charts from S & P Global and identified external data sources organized by trade lane , mode and topic . https :// www . joc . com / gateway
DAT spot rates experience significant monthly surge
The DAT Freight and Analytics average US truckload spot rate peaked at $ 1.84 per mile on Jan . 11 , 2025 . However , it saw a slight decline back to $ 1.80 per mile on Jan . 18 , 2025 , up 2.9 % from the $ 1.75 per mile recorded on Jan . 20 , 2024 . Overall , market conditions remain favorable , driven by evolving supply and demand dynamics .
$ 1.85 |
Up 4.6 % from Dec . 2024 |
$ 1.80 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ 1.75 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ 1.70 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ 1.65 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ 1.60 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ 1.55 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ 1.50
3-Feb-24
2-Mar-24
Source : DAT Solutions
|
30-Mar-24 |
27-Apr-24 |
25-May-24 |
22-Jun-24 |
20-Jul-24 |
17-Aug-24 |
14-Sep-24 |
12-Oct-24 |
9-Nov-24 |
7-Dec-24 |
4-Jan-25
© 2025 S & P Global
|
Xeneta Asia to US West Coast short and long-term rates
Xeneta aggregates freight rates for both short-term contracts valid for less than 32 days , and long-term contracts valid for 87 days or more . Terminal Handling Charges ( THCs ) are excluded . The Feb . 13 , 2025 average spot rate from Asia to US West Coast was $ 4,286 per FEU , down 1.8 % from the previous week . Rates in long-term contracts signed within the last three months increased 0.6 % from the previous week to $ 2,559 per FEU , while overall long-term contract rates ticked up 0.1 % to $ 2,007 per FEU .
Short-term rates Contract rates signed in last three months
Contract rates
USD per FEU
$ 10,000 $ 8,000 $ 6,000 $ 4,000 $ 2,000
$ 0 01 / 07 / 2021
01 / 09 / 2025
Xeneta ’ s ocean freight spot and contract pricing benchmarks gather over 10 million rates monthly from large volume global shippers and forwarders . Before releasing any market information , a minimum of five daily rates per route , per equipment type is required .
74 Journal of Commerce | March 3 , 2025 www . joc . com