Load-to-Truck Ratio Calculator
Calculate the load-to-truck ratio from loads and trucks posted on a load board, see the change from the previous period and what it means for spot rates.
The load-to-truck ratio compares how many loads shippers post on a load board with how many trucks carriers post as available over the same period. It is a quick read on the balance between freight demand and truck capacity: when there are more loads per truck, carriers can usually ask higher spot rates, and when trucks outnumber loads, rates tend to soften.
How to use this tool
- Enter the number of loads posted for one equipment type and region or lane.
- Enter the number of trucks posted for the same period.
- Optionally add the previous period’s figures to see the trend.
- Read the ratio, the market reading and the change.
Formula
Load-to-truck ratio = loads posted ÷ trucks posted
Change = (current ratio ÷ previous ratio − 1) × 100%
Use figures from the same board, equipment type and time span. A ratio of 3.0 is usually written 3:1, meaning three posted loads for every posted truck.
Example
A load board shows 3,600 dry van loads and 1,200 trucks posted this week: 3,600 ÷ 1,200 = 3.00, or 3 loads per truck. Last week it showed 3,000 loads and 1,250 trucks, a ratio of 2.40, so the ratio rose 25%. This signals more posted demand per truck; rate implications depend on normal conditions for that market and equipment. A 1:1 posting ratio does not establish market equilibrium.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good load-to-truck ratio?
There is no single good number. Each equipment type has its own normal range — flatbed ratios typically run far higher than van ratios because fewer flatbeds are posted — so compare a ratio with the same equipment and region over time rather than with a fixed threshold.
Is a high ratio good for carriers?
Generally yes: more loads competing for each truck gives carriers more pricing power. For shippers and brokers, a rising ratio is a warning that trucks will be harder and more expensive to book.
Why doesn’t the ratio match the whole market?
Load boards only see posted freight and posted trucks. Contract freight never appears, and loads that are re-posted or covered within minutes are counted unevenly, so treat the ratio as a trend indicator rather than an exact count.
Sources
Last updated: 2026-10-30