How truck spot rates are shifting | Trucking Dive

Tracking the changes to dry van, reefer and flatbed truck freight rates provides a window into the state of the market.

Tracking the latest trucking spot rates can help trucking executives and shippers alike anticipate future contract rates and needs.

These highlights for national spot rates come from data from DAT Freight & Analytics, measuring a weekly moving average that excludes a fuel surcharge.

While rates surged when the COVID-19 pandemic caused demand to spike, the industry has subsequently been stuck in weaker conditions for about two years. Because rates are constantly shifting, Trucking Dive is working with DAT to bring readers frequent insights into how spot rates are shifting.

Scroll further for a deeper look at trends since 2019, in a chart, as well as frequent updates below.

Comments, questions or feedback? Send an email to Trucking Dive’s editors.

Keep up with the story. Subscribe to the Trucking Dive free daily newsletter

Linehaul spot rates, which exclude a fuel surcharge, rose year over year across transportation modes in September.

Year over year, those rates increased by 2 cents to $1.59 for dry van, 3 cents to $1.95 for reefer and 6 cents to $1.92 for flatbed, per DAT.

“September showed we’re firmly into a new freight cycle after nearly 22 months of rather extreme expansion and 27 months of contraction,” Ken Adamo, DAT chief of analytics, said in a news release.

National benchmark averages tended to decrease the week of Oct. 6, compared to the previous week. Per DAT:

downDry van decreased by a penny to $1.64

downReefer decreased by a penny to $1.96

no changeFlatbed remained at $2

Despite minimal movement in national averages, regional rates saw some significant variations due to recent hurricanes.

The major reefer lane of Atlanta to Lakeland, Florida, had rates down by 22 cents per mile, but that was expected to return as the market reopens, DAT Principal Analyst Dean Croke said on a weekly market update.

Meanwhile, Helene appeared to squeeze spot markets, but broker-posted rates cooled during the week ending Oct. 11, FTR said.

Roads eventually became more passable following the end of hurricanes Helene and Milton. Dry van linehaul rates in the southeastern U.S. experienced about a 6-cent week-over-week decrease following a 10-cent gain before that, Croke said.

National benchmark averages tended to increase the week of Sept. 29, compared to the previous week. Per DAT:

upDry van increased by 4 cents to $1.65

no changeReefer remained at $1.97

upFlatbed increased by 1 cent to $2

“Hurricane Helene’s impact on spot truckload freight was regional and considerable” and reflected constrained capacity, DAT Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in a statement.

Spot rates were largely unmoved by the three-day work stoppage that ended Oct. 3, analysts said.

National average van linehaul rates, not including a fuel surcharge, were up 3 cents to $1.60 per mile in August year over year, increasing for the first time since March 2022, DAT reported.

The year-over-year trend, “should continue into the fall shipping season,” Ken Adamo, DAT chief of analytics, said in a news release. “However, year-over-year comparisons are little consolation for truckers looking for better pricing now.”

Contract rates were still negative year over year, a prolonged drag since August 2022 that highlights pricing challenges, DAT noted.

August also wiped away spot rates gains from the summer. Dry van decreased by 5 cents compared to July, while reefer sank by 4 cents and flatbed by 7 cents, per DAT.

Meanwhile, a DAT volume index increased by 2.8% month over month for van, while reefer volumes increased by 4.3% and flatbed inched higher.

National benchmark averages were mixed the week of Aug. 18, compared to the previous week. Per DAT:

Spot rates were flat at $1.99 on DAT's top 50 lanes, DAT Principal Analyst Dean Croke said on a weekly market update. He also noted a railroad unionized labor dispute in Canada affected some routes, particularly longhaul lanes, and cross-border volumes increased.

Dry van load post volumes were "9% lower last week and 22% behind last year as we approach the end–of the month/quarter during brake check week and the Canadian rail strike right before Labor Day," Croke wrote in a blog post. "This is most likely the calm before the storm regarding market disruption."

upDry van decreased by a penny to $1.61

no changeReefer stayed flat at $1.97

no changeFlatbed stayed flat at $1.97

National benchmark average were varied across multiple equipment types the week beginning June 30, compared to the previous week. Per DAT:

no changeDry van stayed flat at $1.70

upReefer increased by a penny to $2.04

downFlatbed decreased by 3 cents to $2.05

For dry van, “spot rates last week were identical to this time last year,” DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said on a weekly market update. “They’re also identical to the eight-year average week-over-week change for the week of July 4.”

But within the top 50 lanes of loads moved, dry van rates were up 6 cents per mile, he said.

National benchmark average increased across multiple equipment types the week beginning June 23, compared to the previous week. Per DAT:

upDry van increased by a penny to $1.70

upReefer increased by 3 cents to $2.03

upFlatbed increased by 2 cents to $2.08

Total trucks on DAT One decreased by 3.4% to fewer than 321,000 last week, the fourth straight week of declines, a spokesperson said in an email to Trucking Dive.

Meanwhile, total loads were virtually unchanged year over year, and truck posts fell 16%, tightening rates.

National benchmark average rates once again didn’t change much; spot rates held steady across multiple equipment types the week beginning June 9, compared to the previous week. Per DAT:

no change Dry van stayed flat at $1.66

up Reefer increased by a penny to $1.98 due to rounding

no change Flatbed stayed flat at $2.08

“Linehaul rates continue to be flat,” DAT said in an email. “They have moved little for the past four weeks, a time when demand typically builds toward a July 4 peak.”

National benchmark average rates varied across multiple equipment types the week beginning May 26, compared to the previous week, per DAT:

up Dry van increased by 1 cent to $1.66

down Reefer decreased by 1 cent to $1.97

no change Flatbed essentially remained flat at $2.07

“Flatbed linehaul rates have remained mostly flat for the last three weeks,” DAT wrote in another blog post. Flatbed spot rates stayed above $2 per mile since breaking that threshold in May, a national average weekly rate last seen in July 2023.

DAT noted that carriers took time off or rejected tendered loads during the annual International RoadCheck truck inspection blitz.

Dry van load-post volume on DAT One spiked by 30% while reefer load posts increased 33% week over week, a DAT spokesperson said.

National benchmark average rates tightened across equipment types the week beginning May 12, compared to the previous week, per DAT:

up Dry van increased 6 cents to $1.61

up Reefer increased by around 6 cents to $1.96

up Flatbed increased by about 4 cents to $2.03

DAT Chief of Analytics Ken Adamo noted little movement in spot rates and also suggested dry van rates merited a spotlight.

National benchmark average varied across equipment types the week beginning May 5, compared to the previous week, per DAT:

up Dry van increased by less than a penny to $1.55

down Reefer decreased by a penny to $1.87

down Flatbed dropped by a penny to $1.99

“We’re getting very very very close to year-over-year parity with 2023 in dry van,” Adamo said on a market update. He said rates over the next week-and-a-half should be interesting.

DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke also said on the market update that load post volumes have been relatively flat month over month and up around 4% year over year.

National benchmark average rates increased across equipment types the week of April 28 through May 4, compared to the previous week, per DAT:

up Dry van increased by 1 cent to $1.54

up Reefer increased by 2 cents to $1.86

up Flatbed increased by 2 cents to $1.99

Reefer's increased rates came ahead of Mother's Day floral shipments, DAT noted.

Week over week, load post volumes increased 12% in reefer and 11% in dry van, where the latter’s volume reached the highest level in six weeks, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke noted in blog posts. Flatbed volumes were down 5%.