# Flatbed report: Raw steel production cools

According to the American Iron and Steel Institute ( [AISI](https://www.steel.org/industry-data/)), domestic raw steel production was 1,716,000 net tons, while the capability utilization rate was 77.3% for the week ending April 20. Compared to last year’s period, when production was 1,769,000 net tons at 78.6% utilization, raw steel production is 3% lower year-over-year (y/y). Production for the week ending April 20, 2024, is down 0.6% from the previous week.

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Adjusted year-to-date production through April 20, 2024, was 26,939,000 net tons at a capability utilization rate of 76%. That is down 2.5% from the 27,622,000 net tons during the same period last year when the capability utilization rate was 77.9%.

The raw steel production tonnage provided in this report is estimated by the AISI and compiled from weekly production tonnage provided by approximately 50% of the domestic production capacity combined with the most recent monthly production data for the remainder.

### Market watch

**_All rates cited below exclude fuel surcharges unless otherwise noted._**

Despite loads moved in Texas increasing by 5% last week, outbound available capacity eased in Texas, with linehaul dropping by $0.02/mile to $2.10/mile, just over $0.08/mile higher than 2019 and $0.24/mile lower than last year. In the largest spot market in Houston, loads moved were flat, with spot rates down $0.03/mile to $2.30/mile.

In the combined Gary/South Bend, IN, markets, capacity also eased following a 13% week-over-week increase in loads moved. Linehaul rates dropped by $0.04/mile to $2.37/mile and are just over $0.20/mile lower than last year. In Cleveland, OH, linehaul rates dropped a penny per mile to $2.57/mile on a 2% lower volume of loads moved. On the high-volume regional lane from Cleveland to Harrisburg, a 40% higher load volume pushed up spot rates by almost $0.01/mile to $2.44/mile last week.

### Load-to-Truck Ratio

After dropping for the last five weeks, Flatbed load post volumes reversed course following last week’s 5% week-over-week increase. Volumes are 5% lower than last year and 6% higher than in 2019. Flatbed equipment posts dropped last week as available capacity tightened, increasing the load-to-truck ratio by 15% week-over-week to 18.12.

### Spot rates

Flatbed linehaul rates increased slightly through last week’s end-of-month shipping period, averaging $2.03/mile. The national average is $0.11/mile lower on a 20% higher volume of loads moved than last year.

### Weekly reports

- [Dry van](https://www.dat.com/blog/category/van-markets)
- [Reefer](https://www.dat.com/blog/category/reefer-markets)
- [Flatbed](https://www.dat.com/blog/category/flatbed-markets)