Rates are holding up against longtime levels, according to DAT data. Compared to the nine-year seasonal average for the week beginning Sept. 13, the national average van rate was 20% higher, reefer's was 28% higher, and flatbed's was 25% higher.

For week-over-week rates, the analytics firm reported the following rates compared to the previous seven-day period:

downDry van decreased 3 cents to $2.17

upReefer increased 2 cents to $2.73

downFlatbed decreased 2 cents to $2.60

Despite the weekly drop in dry van, bellwether states showed little movement, per a blog post. Those key states represent a significantly large and core section of the spot market and can indicate where market trends are headed. Bellwether states for dry van are Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Missouri, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. 

Similarly, flatbed's bellwether states, which typically represent over half the market, posted a 6-cent week-over-week gain, according to another blog post. Bellwether states for flatbed are Alabama, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Illinois, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.

Nationally, these stronger-rate trends are expected to continue. DAT's 35-day forecasts puts van linehaul at $2.15 a mile by late October, reefer at $2.69 and flatbed at $2.55, which are "46, 61, and 50 cents above the same rates a year earlier," DAT said in an email.

Rates fell across all modes as shippers reduced volume and capacity tightened during the Labor Day holiday week, according to DAT. 

For the week beginning Sept. 6, compared to the previous seven-day period, the analytics firm reported the following national spot rate averages:

downDry van fell 1 cent to $2.20

downReefer fell 3 cents to $2.71

downFlatbed fell 4 cents to $2.62

While rates across all modes fell during the holiday week, all were running at 30% or higher when compared to a year ago, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in an email. 

“The 7-day national average van linehaul is up 34% year over year, reefer 35%, and flatbed 30%,” Croke noted.  

Where rates are heading may depend on whether volume remains consistent from industrial, infrastructure and consumer goods shippers, Croke noted in a blog post. He said that freight prices on the Institute for Supply Management’s list of commodities have been rising for six straight months. 

Croke said this serves as “a reminder that in a sideways-demand market, it’s capacity discipline, not a demand surge, doing the work on rates.”

National average rates generally made gains the first week of September, with dry van showing signs of growing momentum.

For national spot rate averages for the week beginning Aug. 30, the analytics firm reported the following rates compared to the previous seven-day period:

upDry van rose 2 cents to $2.21

upReefer increased 5 cents to $2.74

downFlatbed fell 1 cent to $2.66

But bellwether states showed greater swings — particularly for dry van. 

In dry van, 10 key states showed a 3-cent increase compared to the previous week. Bellwether states for dry van are Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Missouri, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Freight momentum in those states, compared to the rest of the country, may be tied to evolving freight makeups, DAT said in a dry van blog post. 

"The latest ISM manufacturing survey suggests freight is shifting rather than disappearing," DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in the blog post. Data centers could be helping manufacturing, but rising production costs and potentially limited consumer spending may be pressuring markets, he added.

Conversely, flatbed's bellwether states showed a greater downside than the national average. Key flatbed states posted a 2-cent decrease week over week. Bellwether states for flatbed are Alabama, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Illinois, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas.

In contrast to the dry van and flatbed bellwether swings, reefer rates were homogeneous. For the national average and bellwether states, reefer had a 5-cent increase across the board. "National produce volumes, according to the USDA, up about 4% last week, and pushing tonnage about 10% higher than a year ago," Croke said on a weekly market update, noting that likely influenced market tightening and rates.

Rising fuel prices – not freight – influenced the rates carriers were paid last week, according to DAT. 

DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said diesel increased nearly 20 cents a gallon, which added about 3 cents to the average dry van rate and 4 cents to reefer and flatbed rates to all-in rates that shippers pay brokers. However, stripping out fuel prices, van linehaul and flatbed rates actually fell week over week, Croke noted. 

For the week beginning Aug. 23, compared to the previous seven-day period, the analytics firm reported the following national spot rate averages:

downDry van fell 2 cents to $2.19

upReefer increased 6 cents to $2.69

downFlatbed fell 3 cents to $2.67

Reefer rates to destinations east of the Mississippi received the biggest lift out of Fresno, California, the nation’s largest produce market, according to Croke. Rates rose an average of 19 cents a mile on those routes, which was roughly three times the national increase. 

As for dry van, the 10 dry van bellwether states posted a moves-weighted outbound rate of $2.93, which was down 1.2% or 4 cents per mile, week over week, Croke said in a blog post. Despite the weekly drop, the rate is still up 40.6% or 85 cents per mile, year over year. 

Meanwhile, while flatbed rates fell week over week, rates were up 70 cents a mile year over year, Croke said in another blog post. He noted rates were near the top of the historical average, up 28.3% or 59 cents per mile above the nine-year average of $2.10 per mile.

Demand for spot rate freight eased during the third week of August, but reefer showed some upward momentum in key states, according to DAT. 

Dean Croke, principal analyst of DAT iQ, noted in an email that "reefer was the only equipment type whose bellwether states gained ground, up 1% to $3.65 a mile." Those bellwether states consist of key production areas and are represented by Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin.

The uptick seen in reefer's bellwether states stood out from national trends for the equipment type. For the week beginning Aug. 16, compared to the previous seven-day period, the analytics firm reported the following national spot rate averages: 

downDry van declined by 4 cents to $2.21

no changeReefer was flat at $2.63

downFlatbed decreased by 2 cents to $2.70

But the week-over-week declines are minor compared to the year-over-year shift in rates.

"There was a real cooling on the spot board last week for produce, but only if you're looking at the last seven days," Croke said on a weekly market update. "Nearly every lane in the produce market that we look at sits well above 2025."

Meanwhile, DAT forecasted that rates would decrease further in September.

Over the next 35 days, DAT iQ's RateCast suggests:

• Dry van will fall to $2.19 a mile
• Reefer will fall to $2.59 a mile
• Flatbed will fall to $2.65 a mile 

Despite the upcoming decrease, Croke noted the forecast "points to a slow drift, not a drop" in rates.

Rates fell across all modes for the week beginning Aug. 9 but remained higher when compared to a year ago, DAT One reported. 

DAT reported that, compared to the previous seven-day period: 

downDry van fell 3 cents to $2.25

downReefer fell 1 cent to $2.63

downFlatbed fell 7 cents to $2.72

Despite the weekly declines, rates for all three equipment types are up between 34% and 38% year over year, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in an email. When rates are compared to a year ago, dry van is up 38.4%, while reefer is up 33.7% and flatbed is up 35.7%.

Croke noted that capacity has shrunk while demand grows. He said truck posts were down between 25% to 30% YoY, while load posts were up between 25% and 27%.
“That combination, more freight chasing far fewer trucks, is the structural reason rates are still elevated,” Croke said. 

Croke said the national average van linehaul rate was 26% above its nine-year seasonal average, while refer and flatbed were 25% and 29% higher, respectively.   

DAT iQ’s 35-day rate forecast puts the average linehaul rate at $2.24 a mile, with reefer expected to reach $2.61. Flatbed was forecast at $2.65 by mid-September, according to DAT iQ.

Linehaul rates declined across all modes as demand fell along with available capacity for the week beginning Aug. 3, DAT reported. 

DAT reported that, compared to the previous seven-day period: 

downDry van fell 4 cents to $2.28

downReefer fell 1 cent to $2.64

downFlatbed fell 5 cents to $2.79

The wind-down from the July 4th holiday run-up is showing a notable correction in the market.

"Linehaul rates have fallen every week for five straight weeks," DAT analyst Dean Croke said in an email. "Since the week of July 5, the national average dry van rate is down 22 cents, the reefer rate is down 19 cents, and the flatbed rate is down 21 cents."

DAT Senior Product Manager Chad Kennedy noted in an Aug. 10 LinkedIn post that linehaul spot van rates are falling 2.5 times faster than normal. But other historic drops have been steeper, he added.

Despite the pullback, a 35-day DAT forecast still projects the dry van rate will be about 59 cents per mile above the level from a year ago at that time, $1.64 per mile, Croke noted in a dry van blog post.

Similarly, flatbed's 35-day DAT forecast puts the mode about 67 cents per mile above the level from a year ago at that time, $2.03 per mile, Croke also noted in another blog.

In reefer, the DAT 35-day forecast for mid-September rests at $2.61, which could deviate 6 cents above or below that figure, Croke said in a weekly market update. 

"That's 2.4% of the forecast, the narrowest band of the three," Croke said. Year over year, that reefer rate would be about 57 cents per mile higher when it was $2.04, he noted.

Linehaul rates declined across all modes as demand fell along with available capacity for the week beginning July 26, DAT reported. 
DAT reported that, compared to the previous seven-day period: 

downDry van fell 6 cents to $2.32

downReefer fell 7 cents to $2.65

downFlatbed fell 3 cents to $2.84

The national dry van spot linehaul fell 2.4% from the prior week, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said on weekly market update. However, rates remained about 68 cents a mile higher when compared to the same week last year.

In reefer, Croke said “steady was the word for reefer,” as the market cooled, but remained about 73 cents higher when compared to the same week a year ago. 

As for flatbed, contract linehaul rates continue to outpace broker-to-carrier spot rates, averaging $2.91 per mile compared with $2.83 per mile, Croke said in an email. He added the seven-day national average flatbed contract rate remained higher than the spot rate for roughly 47 months, from April 2022 through February 2026.

Flatbed has seen record-breaking spot rate highs from early May through the second week of July, and despite recent drops, the national average still stands 78 cents higher compared to a year ago.

Meanwhile, rising diesel costs drove fuel surges to increase between 6 cents and 7 cents across all modes, which helped to offset linehaul declines, Croke said in an email.

Spot linehaul rates fell across modes the week beginning July 19 as more capacity moved into the market.

DAT reported that, compared to the previous seven-day period: 

downDry van fell 6 cents to $2.38

downReefer fell 8 cents to $2.72

downFlatbed fell 8 cents to $2.87

While there were across-the-board decreases for the second week in a row, rates are still high comparatively. "The dry van rate is 74 cents higher year over year, the reefer rate is 77 cents higher, and the flatbed rate is 83 cents higher compared with Week 30 of 2025," DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in an email.

Federal CDL policies have limited the driver supply, especially for reefer in California, Florida and southern Texas markets, Croke said on a weekly market update. With fewer trucks, rates remain high, he said.

"Produce rates have run above the same week a year ago every single week since the start of this year, 29 straight weeks, they've averaged about 56 cents per mile higher," Croke said.

In dry van's bellwether region, rates dropped by 9 cents week over week but are still up 99 cents per mile compared to a year ago, Croke noted in a blog post.

Flatbed's bellwether states also fell by 9 cents this most recent week, but rates averaged $1.06 per mile higher than the same time in 2025, he also wrote.

The driver supply constraints are leaving rates high even as the industry experiences lower volumes, Croke also said in the market update.

Spot linehaul rates fell across modes the week beginning July 12 as more capacity moved into the market.

DAT reported that, compared to the previous seven-day period:

downDry van fell 6 cents to $2.44

downReefer fell 3 cents to $2.80

downFlatbed fell 5 cents to $2.95

Flatbed rates ended a 17-week run of increases, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in an email. He said flatbed rates added 69 cents per mile since early March. Croke noted despite the previous week’s drop, flatbed rates are 24 cents higher from the prior record set for week 29 in 2021.

Croke said the average van rate in the country’s core 10-state manufacturing region fell 12 cents to $2.93 per mile. The region includes Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee and Virginia. 

Croke said in a blog post that the dry van spot market remained 48% or 79 cents higher year over year for the week and is 32% or 77 cents higher than the five-year cyclical norm.

As for reefer, the average rate in the country’s core food production region fell 5 cents to $3.31 per mile, Croke said. The region, which includes Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Tennessee and Wisconsin, accounts for 43% of the nation’s reefer freight volume. 

Nevertheless, July is shaping up to be a major month for freight, Croke said on a weekly market update. Twenty-foot equivalent units for the month are slated to reach a new U.S. import record at 2.47 million ahead of potential tariff hikes, he said. It remains to be seen if this will take away from a peak later this year, he added.

Changes to spot rates were mixed across modes during the week beginning July 5, but companies hauling industrial and heavier freight showed some momentum.

DAT reported that, compared to the prior seven-day period:

upDry van rose 1 cent to $2.50

downReefer dropped by 2 cents to $2.83

no changeFlatbed remained at $3

Despite the small gain for national dry van loads, rates in a core manufacturing region of the country showed a higher increase, by 7 cents to $3.05 per mile in the corridor, according to DAT. The 10-state corridor — made up of Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, Ohio, North Carolina, Virginia, Missouri and Mississippi — generates 40% of the nation's volume. . 

The upward trend is also reflected in annual comparisons. Year over year, the national spot rate average is 51% higher and 33% higher than the typical five-year average for dry van, DAT noted in a blog post.

Similarly, although flatbed's national rates hardly changed from week to week, in a 10-state industrial core featuring steel mills, energy hubs and building-product plants, rates rose by 2 cents to $3.60 per mile, DAT noted in another post.

In contrast, national spot rates for reefer loads are showing some signs of cooling following the July 4 peak, but they're still about 43% higher than last year and 33% higher than a five-year period, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said on a weekly market update.

Capacity remained tight relative to demand, driving rates to increase all modes, DAT said in an email.

DAT reported the following changes for the week beginning June 28, compared to the prior seven-day period:

upDry van rose 6 cents to $2.49

upReefer rose 11 cents to $2.85

upFlatbed rose 4 cents to $3

Van linehaul rates hit a week 27 record, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in an email. The national average was 49%, or 82 cents, higher year over year. Van linehaul rates were up 31% compared to the five-year average, up 77 cents, Croke said. 

Croke noted the average van linehaul rate on DAT’s top 50 lanes increased 13 cents to $3.06 per mile. The average rate in the country’s 10-state manufacturing core — Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee and Virginia — increased 13 cents to average $2.98 per mile, he said. 

As for reefer, the season-to-date gain from mid-April through July 4 amounted to 50 cents per mile, more than double the 10-year seasonal average of 23 cents, Croke said. The national average for reefer was 39%, or 80 cents, higher YoY, and 28%, or 78 cents, above the non-pandemic five-year norm. 

Meanwhile, flatbed rates were 42% higher year over year due to infrastructure and manufacturing backlogs across the 10-state industrial corridor, Croke said. He noted while flatbed appeared to be entering a minor seasonal plateau, rates continued 16 consecutive weeks of gains. Croke said flatbed rates have increased 68 cents since early March.

Capacity crunches sent rates to highs for the year for dry van and reefer, and flatbed notched a new all-time high, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke reported.

DAT reported the following changes for the week beginning June 21, compared to the previous seven-day period:

upDry van increased by 5 cents to $2.43

upReefer increased by 6 cents to $2.74

upFlatbed increased by 2 cents to $2.96

For dry van, bellwether states covering the Midwest showed an increase of 4 cents to reach an average rate of $2.85 per mile, showing the effects of tighter capacity and serving as a signal for the rest of the country, Croke noted on a blog post.

In reefer, International RoadCheck's boost has put rates some 16% higher than before the annual inspection event, Croke noted on a weekly market update. That's meant spot pricing is  40% higher year over year, he said.

Meanwhile, flatbed rates added to the national average's 15 consecutive weeks of increases. "Additionally, these rates are now 8% ($0.21 per mile) higher than the previous record set in 2021," Croke wrote in a separate blog post.

Spot rates for reefer and flatbed were flat, while dry van increased 1 cent the week beginning June 14 compared to the previous seven-day period, DAT reported. 

Mostly unchanged linehaul rates suggest the underlying spot market hasn’t shifted, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in an email. Easing diesel prices pulled fuel surcharges down 2 to 3 cents per mile, which pushed broker-to-carrier all-in rates lower, he added.  

upDry van increased 1 cent to $2.38

no changeReefer was unchanged at $2.68

no changeFlatbed was unchanged at $2.94

While changes in week-over-week rates saw little to no movement, prices across all modes are running higher when compared to a year ago, according to DAT. 

Croke noted in a blog post that current dry van rates are 45% above last year’s levels. While reefer rates are 38% higher year over year, he said in another blog post.  

As for flatbed, Croke said in a blog post that while the mode’s rates are 40% higher YoY and remain at record-breaking levels, there are signs of a seasonal plateau, which is similar to trends in previous years. That's on account of a weekly slowing of loading postings.

Demand for spot rate freight eased during the second week of June, reflecting less pressure on inventory positioning in the lead-up to Independence Day, according to DAT.

For the week beginning June 7, compared to the previous seven-day period, the analytics firm reported the following national spot rate averages:

downDry van declined by 1 cent to $2.37

downReefer decreased by 1 cent to $2.68

upFlatbed increased by 1 cent to $2.94

Average spot rates across modes had been skyrocketing in recent weeks. But demand is expected to further rise throughout the month ahead of the July 4 holiday.

"Spot rates lost momentum last week, but the broader market continues to operate at or near historic highs," DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in an email.

Despite the broader market decline in dry van, for example, rates in the Midwest region are holding strong at $2.76 per mile, Croke noted on LinkedIn. The region is seen as a bellwether for the dry van market.

Similarly, reefer is 2 cents away from an all-time Week 24 record, Croke said.

Flatbed also continued its climb of new highs, though the latest was one of the smallest upticks over the last 13 weeks of consecutive increases.

"The exodus of capacity is what's driving the freight market now," Croke said on a weekly market update.

Rates increased across all modes the first week in June as capacity returned following the Memorial Day holiday with dry van hitting a new multiyear high and flatbed setting a new all-time record, according to DAT One. 

The analytics firm reported:

upDry van rose 7 cents to $2.39

upReefer increased 5 cents to $2.69

upFlatbed increased 4 cents to $2.93

Rising rates bucked the typical reset trend following Memorial Day, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in an email. It was the first time in weeks spot rates for all three equipment types increased the same week. 

Croke noted on a weekly market update that spot rates set records in May and were “even higher this week, setting new records just four weeks out from the seasonal July 4 peak.”   

Flatbed extended its run of rate increases to 12 consecutive weeks, he said. Croke noted the weekly average rate during that time added 62 cents per mile all together and also eclipsed the previous record set during the 2021 freight boom.   

Croke said in a blog post that dry van spot rates maintained an upward trajectory even as volumes softened. Improving manufacturing conditions are providing a lift for the industry, he said.

“For trucking, this is a demand signal worth watching: when factories are buying more, making more, and building backlogs, freight follows,” Croke said in the blog post. 

Rates hit some new records the final week of May compared to the previous seven-day period, according to DAT Freight & Analytics.

Per DAT:

upDry van rose 5 cents to $2.32

downReefer declined by 2 cents to $2.64

upFlatbed rose by 2 cents to $2.89

"Spot rates are holding, about 11% above pre-Roadcheck levels for all three equipment types. It's a very interesting trend," DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said on a weekly market update. "I do think, though, that they lack 2021's demand momentum."

Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance's International Roadcheck typically sees rates spike up during the annual inspection event but then fall back.

Robust rates in dry van delivered the highest rate of the year, according to DAT. The average rate in the 13-state Midwest region, which can act as a leading indicator of the country, increased 3 cents to $2.67 per mile, DAT noted.

Reefer's decline was in line with a seasonal transition along with volumes declining after the Memorial Day spike in demand.

Flatbed reached a new record high, making a trend in week-over-week increases extend to 11 consecutive weeks. Since early March, the average rate has increased by 58 cents per mile.

The national average flatbed spot rate set a new record the week of May 17, topping a previous highmark set in June 2021 by 13 cents, according to DAT One. 

The milestone follows 10 straight weeks of increases for flatbed, during which the weekly average rate added 56 cents per mile, DAT said.  

Per DAT:

upDry van rose 5 cents to $2.27

downReefer dropped 3 cents to $2.65

upFlatbed increased 7 cents to $2.87

DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke wrote in a blog post that current flatbed pricing is significantly elevated and is 34% higher year over year and 30% above the five-year average,excluding pandemic related volatility.   

Similarly, dry van rates bucked the historical trend of dropping the week following the annual Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s International Roadcheck. Croke said the average van linehaul rate on DAT’s 50 busiest lanes by volume increased to $2.68 per mile, which was 41 cents above the national seven-day average. 

Croke said reefer was the only segment that saw a weekly drop in rates. Excluding fuel surcharges, reefer linehaul rates experienced a record-breaking weekly surge of 32 cents per mile. This was driven by Roadcheck week capacity constraints and the onset of produce season, he said in another blog post.

Spurred by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance's International Roadcheck annual inspection event, national average rates for major modes skyrocketed for the week starting May 10, compared to the previous-seven day period, according to DAT. 

Per DAT:

upDry van rose by 21 cents to $2.22

upReefer increased by 32 cents to $2.68

upFlatbed rose by 9 cents to $2.79

"The CVSA International Roadcheck inspection event usually has an outsized effect on truckload capacity and spot rates," DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in an email. "This year was no different, with load posts rising and truck posts declining by double-digit percentages."

The known event is also driven by preemptive measures, such as carriers not wanting to waste downtime with inspections that can take 45 minutes to an hour even when a truck is fully compliant, Croke noted.

Amid the surges, flatbed also reached a new record, surpassing a previous peak of $2.75 per mile set in June 2021, Croke noted in a blog.

Dry van and flatbed rates rose by 1 cent while reefer rates were unchanged for the week beginning May 3, as capacity continued to tighten across all segments ahead of the annual International Roadcheck week, DAT Freight & Analytics reported. 

Per DAT:

upDry van rose 1 cent to $2.01

no changeReefer was unchanged at $2.36

upFlatbed increased 1 cent to $2.70

Flatbed increased for the eighth-straight week, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in an email, adding it was the highest week-19 average rate ever recorded. He noted in a blog post that the current rate is “notably elevated compared to historical figures” and was 57 cents, or 27%, higher year over year. 

In dry van, the average rate on DAT’s top 50 lanes, based on load volume, was flat at $2.36 per mile last week but was 35 cents higher than the national seven-day rolling spot rate, Croke said. He noted in another blog post the current rates are 40 cents, or 25%, higher YoY.

Meanwhile, reefer spot rates across all temperature zones and commodities continued to hold at historically-elevated levels, Croke said. He said current rates are 44 cents, or 22%, higher YoY and 51 cents, or 22%, above the five-year average when pandemic-related peaks from 2021 and 2022 are omitted.  

Dry van and reefer rates rose by 1 cent while flatbed rates climbed higher for the week starting April 26, compared to the previous-seven day period, according to DAT Freight & Analytics. 

Per DAT:

upDry van rose by 1 cent to $2

upReefer increased by 1 cent to $2.36

upFlatbed rose by 3 cents to $2.69

Dry van's current linehaul spot rates significantly outpace historical benchmarks at 40 cents higher than last year's, and the 13-state Midwest region, a key indicator, had average linehaul rates increase 1 cent per mile, DAT said in a blog post.

"The weekly national average spot flatbed rate has increased for seven straight weeks, adding a total of 38 cents to the national average and bringing it to within 5 cents of the record rate set in late June 2022," the analytics and forecasting firm said in an email.

Reefer's spot rate increase finally pushed away multiple weeks of declines and sluggishness from April leading into Mother’s Day demand.

"We're seeing a structural tightening in capacity across all three equipment types," DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said on a weekly market update. 

Flatbed reached a new weekly rate peak for the year as capacity tightened, while dry van and reefer rates were flat for the week of April 19 compared to the previous seven-day period, DAT reported. 

Flatbed’s surge is partially credited to an increase in recreational vehicle sales, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in a blog post. Citing data from the RV Industry Association, Croke noted motorhome shipments surged 22% year over year in February. 

Croke said RV shipment data offers insight on consumer spending, adding that if the segment remains active, it also translates to increased demand for steel, aluminum, appliances, furniture and other components.  

Per DAT: 

no changeDry van unchanged at $1.99

no changeReefer unchanged at $2.35

upFlatbed increased 5 cents to $2.66

Meanwhile, dry van ended a three-week skid of rate declines, Croke said in an email. Last week’s rate was a 25% YoY improvement and 23% above the five-year average, he said.

Croke said reefer also stopped a three-week run of declines. He said in another blog post that reefer rates “remain historically high” and were 23% higher YoY and 23% above the five-year average. 

Dry van and reefer rates fell while flatbed rates climbed further for the week starting April 12, compared to the previous-seven day period, according to DAT Freight & Analytics. 

Per DAT:

downDry van fell by a penny to $1.99

downReefer declined by 4 cents to $2.35

upFlatbed rose by 3 cents to $2.61

Despite the declines in dry van and reefer, prices were still 25% higher than a year ago, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said on a weekly market update.

The national average flatbed rate is moving closer to a June 2021 peak, according to DAT data. Rates have been surging since Jan. 25 of this year.

While trucking demand appears to have flatlined, there's an important bifurcation worth noting, Croke said, pointing to a recent report by Michigan State University's Jason Miller, a supply chain professor.

While sectors tied to single-family housing are hurting, several sectors tied to the AI such as construction steel and large storage batteries are booming, Miller said on a LinkedIn post Monday.

Dry van and reefer rates fell while flatbed rates climbed for a fourth consecutive week for the period beginning April 5, according to DAT Freight & Analytics. 

The national seven-day average dry van linehaul spot rate, excluding fuel surcharges, stabilized early last week, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke wrote in a blog post. He said the decline coincided with falling diesel fuel prices.  

downDry van fell 4 cents to $2

downReefer dropped 4 cents to $2.39

upFlatbed increased 3 cents to $2.58

Croke said the current linehaul rate of $2, excluding fuel surcharges, is elevated when compared to historical data and represents a 25% increase or 40-cent year-over-year jump.

As for reefer, after three straight weeks of gains, linehaul rates fell 4 cents per mile, Croke said. However, he noted rates remain elevated and are about 27% or 51 cents higher YoY. 

Meanwhile, flatbed rates continued to see strong momentum, following the largest single-week increase in over a decade, Croke said. The current rate is 21% or 45 cents higher YoY and is 23% higher than the five- year average, excluding pandemic years.   

The national benchmark rate for flatbed jumped to a peak unseen over the last four years for the week beginning March 29, compared to the previous seven-day period, DAT said in an email. Reefer and flatbed also kept up yearslong highs, which had slightly higher peaks in recent months. Per DAT:

upDry van increased 7 cents to $2.04

upReefer rose 5 cents to $2.43

upFlatbed jumped 11 cents to $2.55

"The national average flatbed rate rose by 11 cents to $2.55 a mile, marking the largest weekly increase in over a decade," DAT said in an email. The flatbed rate is now 40 cents above where it was in the same period last year, the firm noted.

In dry van, part of the surge reflects the rising diesel costs for carriers that have dramatically spiked. But even excluding fuel, rates have improved materially.

"Excluding fuel, the current linehaul rate of $2.04 is significantly higher than previous periods: it is $0.39 (24%) above the rate from one year ago and $0.44 (21%) higher than the five-year average when excluding pandemic-affected years," DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in a dry van blog post.

Reefer is also recovering fuel costs, Croke noted.

Surging diesel prices appeared to tighten capacity further, with rates rising higher for the week beginning March 22, DAT One said in an email.

Per DAT:

upDry van increased 5 cents to $1.97

upReefer rose 6 cents to $2.38

upFlatbed jumped 10 cents to $2.44

DAT said truck posts across all modes reached their lowest counts in at least 10 years. 

The national 7-day average linehaul spot rate for dry can trucks saw a significant increase last week, sitting 34 cents higher year over year, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in a blog post. The surge occurred despite a $1.50 per gallon jump in over the road diesel to $5.40 per gallon since the conflict between the U.S. and Iran escalated about a month ago. 

As for reefer, the current rate of $2.38 per gallon reflects a 26% year-over-year improvement, Croke said in another blog post. Additionally, the rate is 50 cents per mile or 21% above the five-year average, excluding pandemic anomalies.

Flatbed experienced a significant increase last week, Croke said in a blog post. The rate is 30 cents or 14% higher YoY, and exceeds the five-year average by 42 cents, excluding pandemic years. 

Croke previously said flatbed demand in 2026 is worth watching closely. Construction related-freight, for example, including structural steel and lumbar, has been one of the steadier load sources during an otherwise soft truckload cycle. But construction backlogs recently suggested demand has been in a lull, and slowed spending can take time to reflect that.

Spot rates across multiple segments increased the week beginning March 15 compared to the previous seven-day period, according to DAT. 

no change Dry van remained at $1.92

up Reefer increased 2 cents to $2.32

up Flatbed increased 3 cents to $2.34

Despite drastic diesel surges in March, carriers were only recapturing a portion of diesel prices in recent weeks, but that may be beginning to change, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in a dry van blog post.

In the top 50 lanes, dry van spot rates improved by a penny per gallon. But 13 key Midwest states, which act as a bellwether for the country, had a 5-cent per gallon decline.

In reefer, five weeks of declines finally reversed, but in flatbed, manufacturing construction and construction-driven spending recently appeared to signal a different, slower phase, Croke noted.

Spot rates across all segments fell the week beginning March 8 compared to the previous seven-day period, according to DAT. 

down Dry van fell 8 cents to $1.92

down Reefer dropped 8 cents to $2.30

down Flatbed declined 2 cent to $2.31

The average for DAT’s top 50 van lanes by load volumes fell 6 cents last week, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in an email. Across 13 key Midwest states, which account for nearly half of the national load volume and serve as an indicator for national trends, Croke noted spot rates fell 13 cents to $2.31 per mile. 

Regardless of the rate drops, Croke said rising diesel prices increased in the last two weeks following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. That raised concerns among carriers about whether rates negotiated before the crisis will cover operating expenses, according to DAT. 

Meanwhile, reefer linehaul rates saw its biggest single-week drop of the year, falling eight cents, Croke said. It was the fifth straight week of declining rates in the segment. 

As for flatbed, the segment’s six-week streak of gains ended last week, Croke wrote in a blog post. Despite the drop, the rate is 25 cents higher year over year. 

The national average dry van and reefer truckload rates declined while flatbed's average rate rose the first week of March, according to DAT. 

Spot rates per mile for the week of March 1 compared to the previous seven-day period, per DAT data, showed:

downDry van declined by 2 cents to $2

downReefer declined by 3 cents to $2.38

upFlatbed increased by 4 cents to $2.33

"Reduced overall capacity, not a surge in freight volumes, continues to drive long-term spot-market pricing trends," DAT said in an email.

In dry van, continued decreases over the last month have wiped out gains from winter storms, but the average spot rate is still elevated at 22% higher than a year ago, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in a blog.

"In the 13 key Midwest states, which represent around 47% of national load volume and often indicate future national trends, spot rates decreased by $0.01 per mile to $2.44 per mile, which was $0.44 above the national 7-day rolling average," he also said.

The average reefer rate is 25% higher year over year, and flatbed is 15% higher, Croke noted.

The national average dry van and reefer truckload rates declined while flatbed remained active the week beginning Feb. 22, according to DAT. 

down Dry van fell 2 cents to $2.02

down Reefer declined 5 cents to $2.41

up Flatbed increased 3 cents to $2.29

The national average spot flatbed rate was 28 cents higher year over year and 15 cents more than the same week in 2018, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in an email. Flatbed activity was bolstered by data center construction across many parts of the country. 

Croke said severe weather is impacting seasonal freight opportunities. He said that produce volumes in California fell 14% week over week and are down nearly 30% year to date, citing Department of Agriculture data 

In Florida, fruit and vegetable volume was 30% lower year-to-date, adding that up to 80% of the remaining strawberry harvests and about 90% of the remaining blueberry crops were affected by freezing temperatures. 

For the week beginning Feb. 15, national average spot rates per mile generally fell compared to the previous seven-day period, reflecting a more seasonal pattern, according to DAT.

down Dry van decreased by 2 cents to $2.04
down Reefer dropped by 7 cents to $2.46
up Flatbed increased by 2 cents to $2.26

"The national average spot reefer rate fell 11 cents per mile over the previous two weeks, eliminating half the pricing gains made during Winter Storms Fern and Gianna," DAT Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in an email.

"Despite cooling, the national average reefer spot linehaul rate was 53 cents higher year over year." In reefer, pricing leverage tilted back to shippers and brokers as van loan posts fell 11% while truck posts only dropped by 3%, Croke noted. But rates are holding relatively firm,up 40 cents compared to a year ago.

Meanwhile, flatbed volume is drastically different than a year ago — almost 50% higher.

Spot rates for dry van and reefer cooled the week beginning Feb. 8 as freight movement normalized following three straight weeks of national weather volatility, DAT said in an email. 

Per DAT:

down Dry van fell 2 cents to $2.06

down Reefer dropped 4 cents to $2.53

up Flatbed increased 3 cents to $2.24

Demand for flatbed remained steady due to rising activity for moving construction and manufacturing-related freight, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in an email. 

Croke also said in a blog post that the East Coast dry van freight network experienced improved conditions last week in the aftermath of recent winter storms. As severe weather subsided, capacity increased and drove rates lower.  

Easing weather conditions also led to a drop in reefer rates, Croke said in another blog post. However, despite the weekly decline, the current rate is 59 cents per mile above the rate from a  year ago.

Meanwhile flatbed rates rose for the third straight week, Croke said in a third blogpost. Busy activity in February traditionally precedes seasonal rise in demand for outdoor projects requiring longer, warmer days.

National benchmark rates for major modes increased the first week of February compared to the previous seven-day period, according to data from DAT.

upDry van increased 7 cents to $2.08

upReefer increased 8 cents to $2.57

upFlatbed increased 5 cents to $2.21

"Winter weather continued to ripple through freight networks during the week of Feb. 1-7, tightening available capacity across the eastern half of the country," DAT said in an email.

The weather and February restocking activity are pushing rates higher, and a leading indicator suggests demand may follow in other states. In 13 key Midwest states, representing around 45% of the national load volume, the average spot rate increased 19 cents to $2.58, DAT noted.

The reefer spot rate is commanding a premium due to the weather, where sub-zero temperatures are disrupting transport services, and the national flatbed average is 30 cents per mile higher than the 5-year average, excluding pandemic years, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke noted in blog posts.

Severe winter storms fueled spikes in the national benchmark rates for dry van and reefer for the week beginning Jan. 25, according to data from DAT. 

A combination of heavy snow, ice accumulation and dangerous travel conditions during Winter Storm Fern and in the days that followed caused widespread paralysis of supply chains and fed demand for available trucks, DAT said.  

Last week’s 11-cent increase in the national average spot dry van rate was the largest week-over-week increase in more than three years, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke wrote in an email to Trucking Divel. He added that the current rate is 30 cents higher year over year. 

Croke said extreme cold weather reduced truckload capacity, which exacerbated availability in the reefer market as shippers competed for insulated trailers to protect dry van freight from freezing. 

Flatbed rates also increased, though only modestly compared to the van and reefer markets, Croke said. However, flatbed rates were 19 cents higher YoY and exceeded the five-year average — excluding the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021 — by 25 cents, he said.

National benchmark rates fell a second straight week beginning Jan. 18, according to data from DAT.  

With expected factory shutdowns in China due to the approaching Lunar New Year, West Coast truckload carriers are likely to encounter “a significantly softer spot market in the weeks following the holiday,” DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke wrote in an email. The holiday this year starts Feb. 17 and ends March 3.

However, carriers with diversified freight bases may be better positioned to weather the downturn, he said. 

Severe winter weather disrupted transportation, notably in southern states with snow in Texas and ice in Georgia, as many regions also dealt with power outages. Croke noted activity could pick up as areas impacted by last week’s storms recover.  

Meanwhile, dry van spot rates have fallen 15 cents the first three weeks of 2026, Croke wrote in a blog post. Despite the decline, the current rate is 17 cents or 10% higher year over year. 

There is less optimism for the reefer spot market as rates have plummeted 20 cents per mile since the beginning of the year, according to DAT. 

Although flatbed spot rates also are down, the segment has weathered recent setbacks less severely —  with rates dropping 4 cents per mile since the start of the year, per DAT. 

National benchmark rates fell the week beginning Jan. 11, according to data from DAT. For rates per mile across modes: 

downDry van decreased 8 cents to $1.96

downReefer sank by 12 cents to $2.41

downFlatbed slipped by a penny to $2.17

"Last week’s national average spot linehaul van rate was 18 cents higher year over year, despite falling nearly 10 cents since the start of the month," DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in a blog. "Moreover, it was 26 cents above the five-year average, excluding 2020 and 2021, the pandemic years."

While spot rates continue to retreat, there's still been a notable year-over-year improvement that's currently 10% higher, Croke noted in a weekly market update.

Last week, J.B. Hunt Transport Services President and CEO Shelley Simpson noted that the freight market feels fragile, and small capacity crunches are having ripple effects in a bigger-than-usual manner.

National benchmark rates generally fell in the week beginning Jan. 4, according to data from DAT. For rates per mile across modes,

downDry van decreased 2 cents to $2.04

downReefer dropped 4 cents to $2.53

no changeFlatbed stayed at $2.18 

Dry van spot rates generally decline by 20 to 25 cents per mile on average over the first 10 days of January. But that change for 2025 was only 7 cents.

"Rates are retreating much slower than usual," DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said on a market update. It's unclear what's causing the tempered retreat at this point, but time could tell, he suggested.

Meanwhile, the national average reefer rate was 33 cents higher than the same period last year, and when excluding pandemic-influenced years, it exceeded the five-year average by 45 cents, DAT noted. 

Additionally, flatbed rates are booming compared to recent years. "Excluding the record-setting rates in 2022, the Southeast started the year with the highest flatbed linehaul rates seen in a decade," Croke also said in an email.

National benchmark rates increased across modes for the week beginning Dec. 7, compared to the previous week. Per DAT:

upDry van increased by 8 cents to $1.89

upReefer increased by 3 cents to $2.21

upFlatbed increased by 2 cents to $2.07

Winter weather and the holiday season sent rates climbing. The week's 3 million load posts was the second-highest total of the year, only behind the previous week, which saw over 3.3 million posts, DAT noted. 

"Truckload capacity tightened rapidly, driving a surge in dry van spot rates amid a multi-week run of winter storms," DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in an email. "Dry van spot rates are up 13% over the past month, rising by roughly 7 cents per mile in each of the last three weeks as weather disruptions sidelined capacity."

The rates reached the highest outside the pandemic years of 2020-2021 across all three major equipment types, showing how quickly short-term shocks can strain an already fragile capacity, Croke noted.

But the broader market remains unchanged with soft demand, DAT noted. Carrier exits, bankruptcies and U.S. regulatory policies are affecting capacity but not in sustained, impactful ways that affect pricing power, the organization suggested.

That suggests the current uptick may merely be a "sugar rush" driven by weather and calendar effects, Croke said.

DAT said the combination of winter weather in the Midwest and the repositioning of groceries after the Thanksgiving holiday increased demand for trucks across all three equipment categories. 

“We saw our first big winter weather event drive up rates in the Midwest,” Dean Croke, DAT iQ principal analyst, said on a weekly market update.

In a weekly van market report, Croke said the average rate for DAT’s top 50 lanes by load volume increased by 5 cents per mile last week, averaging $2.13 cents per mile. It was 32 cents higher than the national seven-day rolling average spot rate, he said.

As for flatbed, after holding steady for three weeks, the national average flatbed spot rate rose 4 cents to $2.05 per mile, per a weekly flatbed market report. The 9 cent improvement represents a 5% year-over-year gain.

National benchmark rates largely increased the final week of November, compared to the previous week. Per DAT:

upDry van increased by 7 cents to $1.75

upReefer increased by 5 cents to $2.13

no changeFlatbed remained unchanged at $2.01

Dry van rates jumped higher than reefer rates during the Thanksgiving holiday week, something that's usually the other way around, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said during a weekly market update. 

But that jump may just be a blip.

DAT's top 50 van lanes saw an overall uptick. However, 13 key Midwest states — which can serve as a proxy for future national trends — saw a 3-cent decrease to $1.91 per mile, DAT reported.

Meanwhile, reefer demand rose significantly in the Philadelphia region, driven by South American produce imports; that meant spot rates rose to $2.25 per mile, the analytics firm said. Produce volumes also rose on the southern U.S. border.

Rates for all modes fell for the week starting Nov. 9, according to DAT Freight & Analytics. 

DAT’s top 50 van lanes by load volume averaged $1.97 per mile last week, down 3 cents week over week but was 29 cents higher than the seven-day rolling average spot rate. However, in 13 key Midwest states, which represent 45% of the national load volume and often serves to forecast future national trends, the average spot van rate fell by 3 cents to $1.91 per mile, per DAT.

no change Dry van was flat at $1.68

no change Reefer was flat at $2.08

no change Flatbed was flat at $2.01

In the reefer segment, a surge in load posts was likely fueled by recent enforcement actions by the California Department of Transportation plus Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Dean Croke, DAT iQ principal analyst, wrote in DAT’s weekly reefer report. However, tightened capacity likely won’t impact near-term reefer spot rates as West Coast produce growers are now in the off season. 

As for flatbed, the national average spot rate for the segment experienced the largest single-week-drop since the beginning of August, falling 4 cents week over week to $2.01, DAT said in an email. Despite the decrease, the rate was 5 cents higher per mile year over year.  

Rates for dry van and flatbed remained unchanged for the week starting Nov. 2, a reflection that translates to less freight on the road, DAT iQ principal analyst Dean Croke said in a Nov. 11 market update. 

While reefer rates increased 1 cent from the previous week, Croke said in an email that “the temperature-controlled market experienced uncharacteristic weakness three weeks out from Thanksgiving.”

no change Dry van was flat at $1.70

up Reefer increased one cent to $2.09

no change Flatbed was flat at $2.05

Though dry van rates were unchanged, they are higher when compared to a year ago, according to DAT’s dry van market report.  

Across 13 key Midwest states, which represents 46% of national dry van load volume and often indicate future trends, spot rates remained unchanged at $1.94 per mile, which was $0.25 above the national 7-day rolling average, per DAT.

As for flatbed, the 7-day national average remained stable, according to DAT’s flatbed market report.  

DAT said last week’s flatbed spot rates surpassed the 2017 rate by 4 cents per mile and was 7 cents per mile higher than the average for Week 45 over the past decade.

Spot rates across modes fell by 2 cents per mile the week beginning Oct. 26, compared to the previous seven-day period.

Spot rates fell across all modes as load posts on the DAT One load board also fell by 6% for the week ending Nov. 1, highlighting a sluggish environment for carriers.

down Dry van fell two cents to $1.70

down Reefer dropped two cents to $2.08

up Flatbed increased two cents to $2.05

However, demand for dry van equipment on the spot market persisted along the U.S.-Mexico border, particularly in Texas and Arizona where ongoing Immigration and Customs Enforcement activities affected capacity, DAT iQ principal analyst Dean Croke said in an email.

Dry load posts in both states surged 17% week over week, with the Nogales, Arizona, freight market reporting a 35% week-over-week increase in available loads. In Texas, the Laredo market jumped 20% and the McAllen market saw a 34% increase. 

Croke said reefer loads historically increase by 17% the week before Halloween, but this year fell by nearly 14%. He said uncertainty surrounding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program may have affected shipments in several states, including Florida and New York, which both announced SNAP benefits would end Nov. 1 due to the U.S. government shutdown affecting funding. 

Reefer markets in the Midwest, particularly in Missouri, are tightening as fresh turkey production increases ahead of Thanksgiving Day, Croke said. Reefer load-post volumes in Missouri surged 10% last week and are up 33% over the past month.

National benchmark rates went up for the most part during the seven days starting Oct. 19, compared to the week prior.

Per DAT:

upDry van went up two cents to $1.72

upReefer went up two cents to $2.10

no changeFlatbed stayed the same at $2.07

Despite a rough environment, national dry van and reefers rates made some recent gains.

"National 7-day average spot linehaul van and reefer rates increased, a sign that demand to move goods ahead of Thanksgiving is starting to build," DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in an email.

Higher spot rates compared to the same time last year along with falling diesel prices are a welcome sign for truckers as the holidays near, Croke said.

He said the reefer market in Lakeland, Florida is months away from produce season, but it's already seeing a rise of 10 cents per mile for reefer rates. The rate is three cents higher year over year.

Reefer rates in McAllen, Texas also went up seven cents, last week, reaching $2.03 per mile — 14 cents higher YoY, Croke said.

DAT cited those areas as markets seeing crunches due to immigration enforcement affecting supply.

Meanwhile, dry van spot rates in the 13 key Midwest dates went up two cents to $1.95 per mile, which is 23 cents above the national 7-day rolling average. The states represent 46% of national load volumes that often signal future national trends.

National benchmark rates stayed mostly even during the seven days starting Oct. 12, compared to the week prior.

Per DAT:

no changeDry van stayed the same at $1.70

upReefer went up one penny to $2.08

no changeFlatbed stayed the same at $2.07

DAT's 35-day forecast indicates there will be an 11-cent increase in reefer spot prices a week before Thanksgiving, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in an email.

The increase could present a challenge for brokers with reefer loads, he said. 

Ahead of Thanksgiving seasonality, the number of reefer trucks also continued to tighten — an ominous sign, Croke said.

Furthermore, reefer national spot rates continue to outpace previous years, being 4% higher than last year, Croke said in an Oct. 21 reefer market update.

"Spot rates have risen by $0.11 per mile over the last month, reaching an average of $1.06, not including fuel," Croke said.

A reefer truck shortage was also reported in certain lanes and areas, benefitting remaining carriers in the Southeast U.S., Southwest Indiana and Southeast Illinois. State average reefer rates in outbound Illinois are $2.84 per mile, a nearly 10% increase year over year.

National benchmark rates stayed mostly even during the seven days starting Oct. 5. Still, rates are higher year over year.

Per DAT:

no changeDry van stayed the same at $1.70

upReefer went up two cents to $2.07

no changeFlatbed stayed the same at $2.07

Dry van and flatbed spot rates remained unchanged while reefer went up two cents per mile, according to data from DAT.

"We're starting to outperform the last two years at the same point of the year," but it's still falling within seasonal trends in the lead-up to Thanksgiving, Ken Adamo, chief of analytics at DAT Freight & Analytics, told Trucking Dive.

The analytics firm is likening recent pressures, such as stronger non-domiciled CDL identification requirements, as an effect that feels similar to Roadcheck, where truckers may park their vehicles temporarily to avoid violations.

Nevertheless, volumes are severely subdued, and the freight cycle has essentially paused, Adamo said, adding rates are "just not moving. And that is extremely uncommon."

Adjustments in tariff policy, rather than a fixed schedule, are also disrupting planning across supply chains. The National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates projected on Oct. 8 that twenty-foot equivalent units will fall 3% to 24.79 million this year.

Additionally, tariffs continue to come forward, and truckmakers are also still waiting to hear details on imported trucks threatened for Nov. 1 by President Donald Trump.

National benchmark spot rates increased the seven days starting Sept. 28, with reefer showing the most growth compared to dry van and flatbed spot rates.

Per DAT:

upDry van went up three cents to $1.70

upReefer went up four cents to $2.05

upFlatbed went up one penny to $2.07

Reefer spot rates are seeing a distinct upward trend, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in an Oct. 7 reefer market update. Previously, rates were mirroring the past two years.

Additionally, brokers saw some capacity tighten in temperature-controlled markets along the U.S.-Mexico border. Truck activity is faltering in places like southern Texas, where Immigration and Customs Enforcement is very active, Croke said.

"Outbound McAllen reefer rates were up $0.03 per mile last week but up $0.16 per mile on the 1,600 mile long haul lane west to Los Angeles, the source of the majority of capacity in that market," Croke added.

National benchmark spot rates increased the seven days starting Sept. 21, with dry van rates increasing the most by two cents.

Per DAT:

upDry van went up two cents to $1.67

upReefer went up one penny to $2.01

upFlatbed went up one penny to $2.06

Spot rates went up modestly in the last full shipping week of Q3, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in an email.

Flatbed went up $0.11 cents year over year to $2.06 per mile, maintaining a $0.05 per mile lead over 2017, Croke said in a Sept. 30 flatbed market update. 

2017 was a notable year as flatbed carriers benefited from a robust industrial economy, he said. Croke said DAT is monitoring this trend since it appears to be more than coincidental.

Although spot rates went up, there is an indication of rates flattening when looking at 13 key Midwest states, Croke said in a dry van market report. 

"Carriers in these states earned an average of $1.87 per mile, which remained $0.20 above the national 7-day rolling average," he said. These states represent 46% of national load volumes and often indicate future national trends.

National benchmark spot rates mostly declined the seven days starting Sept. 14, according to DAT.

Per DAT:

downDry van went down one penny to $1.65

downReefer went down two cents to $2.00

upFlatbed went up two cents to $2.05

Flatbed freight was 11 cents per mile higher than the same week last year, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in an email.

The rate is also 4 cents per mile higher than it was in 2017 — a year that saw a strong industrial economy for flatbed carriers, Croke said in a flatbed market update on Sept. 23.

 "We are monitoring this trend closely, although it may simply be a coincidence," Croke added.

Flatbed truckers should also be wary of an emerging decline in lumber prices, Croke said. Interfor, one of the largest producers of lumber in North America, recently announced plans to reduce its output by approximately 12%.

"This reduction, totaling approximately 145 million board feet by year-end, or the equivalent of 12,000 to 14,000 flatbed truckloads," Croke said.

National benchmark spot rates declined the seven days starting Sept. 7, the first full week after the Labor Day holiday week.

Per DAT:

downDry van went down three cents to $1.66

downReefer went down three cents to $2.02

downFlatbed went down three cents to $2.03

The declines erased the two previous weeks' gains for dry van and flatbed while reversing an upward trend that persisted since Aug. 10 for reefer.

Even with the decline, average national spot rates are higher year over year on all modes, according to multiple DAT market updates from Sept. 16.

"The average linehaul rate for DAT’s top 50 van lanes by load volume fell 2 cents to $2.01 per mile, 35 cents better than the national average," DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in an email. 

Spot rates in the 13 key Midwest states went down one penny to $1.91 per mile. These Midwest states represent 46% of national load volume and often indicate future national trends, Croke said.

National benchmark spot rates went up for the seven days starting Aug. 31 as less loads moved during the short week.

Per DAT:

upDry van went up two cents to $1.69

upReefer went up one penny to $2.05

upFlatbed went up one penny to $2.06

Spot rates rose during the short week from the Labor Day holiday with momentum yet to be seen next week,  DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in an email.

Carriers taking time off for the holiday weekend along with carriers existing in the industry or reducing their fleet size has resulted in tighter capacity last week, Croke said in a Sept. 9 reefer market update.

DAT is monitoring if the trend persists as the industry returns to full operation next week, he added.

Notably, reefer rates have risen for four weeks straight.

In the reefer market, 2025 potato season is projected to see a decrease in shipments due to reduced demand for processed potato products.

"In Washington, the second-largest potato producer in the U.S., acreage is expected to decline from 159,500 acres in 2024 to between 145,000 and 150,000 in 2025," Croke said.

National benchmark spot rates went up across the board for the week beginning Aug. 24 as demand spiked before the long Labor Day weekend.

Per DAT:

upDry van went up two cents to $1.67

upReefer went up seven cents to $2.04

upFlatbed went up two cents to $2.05

Spot rates increased on all modes as there was a push for moving goods ahead of Labor Day weekend, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in an email

“Demand for truckload capacity pushed spot rates higher for all three equipment types,” Croke said.

There was also a slowdown of exit rates for interstate truckload capacity in August compared to July, Croke said. The decrease is an indication that the market may be stabilizing, he added.

Still, there are mixed signs of the freight market improving.

The trucking ton-mile index showed a weakened seasonally adjusted freight demand in  June. Activity declined 0.2% from May but went up 1% YoY.

Even with year-over-year demand growth, it still isn't enough to create expansionary pricing conditions, Croke said in a Sept. 2 dry van market update.

“The recent downturn suggests pre-tariff frontloading and weakening single-family home construction,” Croke said.

National benchmark spot rates were mixed for the seven days starting Aug. 17 as national shipments volumes rose 2.4% quarter-over-quarter, DAT said.

Per DAT:

no changeDry van remained the same at $1.65

upReefer went up one penny to $1.97

downFlatbed went down one penny to $2.03

While spot rates were mixed, reefer rates remained stable for a second consecutive week, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in an Aug. 26 reefer market update.

Notably, reefer rates were $1.97 per mile, nearly similar to both last year and 2023. Reefer rates showed stability as late summer and early fall produce began to affect capacity in the Pacific Northwest, Croke said.

Signs of recovery in the freight market are also being seen, according to the U.S. Bank Freight Index from Q2. Momentum was seen with volumes rising 2.4% quarter-over-quarter and spending increasing 1.2%.

Still, year-over-year comparisons show a weakened freight market with shipments down 9.8% and spending down 4.9% YoY, per the report.

National benchmark spot rates increased week-over-week across the board for the seven days starting August 10, with rates moving higher as Labor Day approaches.

Per DAT:

upDry van went up one penny to $1.65

upReefer went up one penny to $1.96

upFlatbed went up two cents to $2.06

The last time spot rates increased across all modes was in May during the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s International Roadcheck.

Dry van linehaul spot rates were a particular bright spot: While they only went up by one penny week-over-week, the average rate of $1.65 per mile was 2 cents higher than the same time last year, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in an email.

Spot rates are also expected to pick up before Brake Safety Week taking place Aug. 24 through Aug. 30, Croke said. The event scheduled right before the Labor Day weekend is "the annual campaign organized by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance involves roadside inspections to identify and address brake-related issues," he said.

National benchmark spot rates declined across the board during the week starting August 3 compared to the previous week.

Per DAT:

downDry van went down one penny to $1.64

downReefer went down one penny to $1.95

downFlatbed went down three cents to $2.03

Spot market rates declined for dry van, reefer and flatbed during the start of August as volumes cooled down from the last week of July, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in an email.

Dry van rates went down one cent to $1.64 per mile after holding steady through the second half of July.

“Overall, the first full week of August saw softer demand across most segments, with regional rate resilience in the Midwest and continued weakness in seasonal produce shipments,” Croke said.

In 13 key Midwest states, Croke said, spot rates rose by one cent despite a 17% drop in loads moved. This region matters because these states account for 46% of national van load volumes and often signal future national trends, he added.

Overall, rates seem to be holding up better during August than in normal years, Croke said on a weekly market update show. Typically rates decrease fairly consistently in August, but Croke said he isn't sure what this means, just yet. It's something to keep an eye on as the market rebalances.

National benchmark spot rates did not change for a second week straight at the end of July, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in several blog posts on Aug. 5.

Per DAT:

no changeDry van remained the same at $1.65

no changeReefer remained the same at $1.96

no changeFlatbed remained the same at $2.06

However, some variations were evident when compared to previous years.

Dry van rates were $1.65 per mile, two cents more than the same week in 2023, Croke said in an email. Meanwhile, flatbed was eight cents higher than the same week of 2024 at $2.06 per mile.

By contrast, reefer rates were identical to the last two years, driven in part by declines in volumes from Mexico, Croke said in an email.

"Produce from Mexico drives significant truckload volumes in North America during the first half of each year, accounting for over one-third of total produce volume," Croke said. Tariff uncertainties continue to influence truckload volumes as produce volumes are 5% lower year-to-date compared to the first half of 2024, he said.

National benchmark rates decreased across the board during the week starting July 20 compared to the previous week. Per DAT:

downDry van went down one penny to $1.65

downReefer went down two cents to $1.96

downFlatbed went down two cents $2.06

The results meant national average spot rates fell for the third straight week, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in an email.

"Despite a gradual decline, spot rates tracked seasonally and remained in line with those from the last two years," Croke said.

Dry van was at $1.65 per mile, three cents higher than it was at the same time last year. Croke said the average rate for DAT’s top 50 van lanes by load volume decreased by one cent to $2 per mile. The rate is 35 cents higher than the national seven-day rolling average.

Thirteen key Midwest states saw rates fall three cents per mile on a 1% lower volume of loads moved, Croke said in a dry van blog post. These states represent 45% of national load volumes and often indicate future national trends, he added.

National benchmark decreased across the board during the week starting July 13 compared to the previous week. Per DAT:

downDry van went down three cents to $1.66

downReefer went down two cents to $1.98

downFlatbed went down two cents $2.08

With a three cent decrease in dry van linehaul spot rates, last week, it is the largest decrease since the start of April, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in a dry van blog post.

“The market continues to face difficulties from slower freight growth and elevated equipment costs, which are a result of tariffs on steel, aluminum, and parts,” he wrote, adding that equipment purchase behavior is also putting a damper on growth.

Flatbed spot rates also saw its most significant weekly drop in a month, falling by three cents per mile to $2.08 per mile, Croke said in a flatbed blog post. “Despite this decrease, the current rate remains $0.09 per mile higher than the same week in 2024 and $0.02 higher than in 2023,” he added.

Reefer on the other hand saw spot rates decline for a second consecutive week at $1.98 per mile but the rate is currently on par with last year’s figures and slightly below 2023 levels, Croke said.

National benchmark mostly decreased across the board during the week starting July 6 compared to the previous week. Per DAT:

downDry van went down one penny to $1.69

downReefer went down five cents to $2.00

no changeFlatbed remained the same at $2.10

Shippers were able to catch up after the shorter workweek caused by the July Fourth holiday as loads jumped 32% to 2.5 million during the week of July 6 to July 12, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in an email.

Even with higher load-to-truck ratios, the "national average van and reefer spot rates declined as load volumes approached a seasonal drop," Croke said.

The Independence Day holiday also led to lower reefer spot rates as it marks the start of a slowdown in produce-hauling activity, Croke said. Reefer went down five cents to $2.00 per mile, two cents higher than last year and nearly the same in 2023.

"This predictable loosening of available reefer capacity marks the beginning of the 'dog days of summer,' bringing with it lower spot market freight volumes," Croke said in a reefer market blog post from Tuesday.

National benchmark mostly increased across the board during the first week of July compared to the previous week. Per DAT:

upDry van went up five cents to $1.70

upReefer went up nine cents to $2.05

downFlatbed went down two cents to $2.10

The national average van and reefer spot rates increased during the week of June 29 to July 5 as shippers dealt with fewer available trucks during the July 4 holiday weekend, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in an email.

While California reefer rates increased 5 cents from the previous week to $2.46 per mile, it was still lower year over year.

On the other hand, fuel and operating costs rose for truckers.

“The national average diesel price rose 1 cent to $3.739 per gallon last week, according to EIA,” Croke said. The one cent rise is 30 cents over the previous four weeks, showing a 3-cent increase in the average carrier’s cost per mile, he added.

National benchmark mostly decreased across the board during the last week of June compared to the previous week. Per DAT:

downDry van went down two cents to $1.65

upReefer went up one penny to $1.96

downFlatbed went down one penny to $2.12

Rates are still lingering amid wait-and-see approaches with U.S. tariff policy, DAT suggested.

"The truckload freight market remains stagnant as shippers await clarity on tariffs," DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said.

President Trump's 90-day pause on tariffs is scheduled to end on July 9. The potential impact could mean higher prices for shippers.

Tariffs are already creating a challenging market for carriers. If tariffs go through, demand will continue to fall. Even a 1% tariff could reduce truckload demand by 0.15% or 2% if there's a 10% tariff rate, according to an Uber Freight Q2 market update and outlook.

National benchmark decreased across the board during the third week of June compared to the previous week. Per DAT:

downDry van went down one penny to $1.67

downReefer went down three cents to $1.95

downFlatbed went down four cents to $2.13

Rates are down across all modes reflecting an early peak season and challenges ahead for trucking, analysts say.

However, the week-over-week decrease in rates masks a different fact: Spot rates in several modes are generally higher now than they were a year ago, and some lanes are significantly higher than the national average, per DAT.

For example, the average van rate on DAT's Top 50 lanes was $1.99 per mile, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in an email. And, he added, at $2.13 per mile, the national average flatbed spot linehaul rate "is still higher than the same week in 2024."

Rates for several transportation modes are expected to fall in the future, though. Flatbed spot rates are expected to decline seasonally until the end of August, and reefer rates are on the decline.

Although reefer rates typically rise before the July 4th holiday, this year, rates are $0.06 per mile less than last year’s rates, according to DAT's reefer blog post.

"Despite an anticipated surge in spot market volumes over the next two weeks, it will most likely be insufficient to trigger the usual July 4 spot rate spike," Croke said in the blog post.

National benchmark rates mainly decreased during the second week of June compared to the previous week. Per DAT:

downDry van went down one penny to $1.68

upReefer went up one penny to $1.98

downFlatbed went down one penny to $2.17

The average van rate was $2.02 per mile, based on load volume for DAT’s Top 50 lanes, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in an email.

Although the average reefer spot rate went up by one penny, it was still lower compared to June 2023. That's notable given that volumes were 10% higher at that time, Croke said.

Reefer rates are also slightly down from a year ago.

"Currently, month-to-date produce volumes are down 9% (or 6,500 fewer truckloads) compared to the same period last year," he said.

National benchmark rates mainly stayed flat during the first week of June compared to the previous week. Per DAT:

no changeDry van stayed flat at $1.69

no changeReefer stayed flat at $1.97

downFlatbed decreased by one penny to $2.18

Reefer spot rates held steady at $2.18 per mile after seeing two straight weeks of decline, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in a reefer blog post.

The flattening of the reefer rate reflects this year's subdued produce season, Croke added.

“Normally, the four weeks leading up to Independence Day see a surge in produce volumes, but this year starts 19% behind last year’s truckload volumes, with California’s figures lagging 29%,” Croke said.

Truckload produce volumes jumped during that timeframe in 2024, bringing an 8-cent boost in rates, DAT noted. But there is still potential for rates to increase this year due to produce seasonality.

However, there seems to be a modest increase rather than a significant spike this year, Croke said.

National benchmark rates mainly dropped the week of May 25, compared to the previous week. Per DAT:

downDry van decreased by one penny to $1.69

downReefer decreased by five cents to $1.97

no changeFlatbed stayed flat at $2.19

The average rate on van lanes based on load volumes was $2 per mile, based on DAT's Top 50 lanes, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in an email. 

Those van lanes were "1 cent higher than the previous week and 31 cents more than last week’s national average," he added.

The average outbound spot rate was $1.89 per mile in the Midwest, which represents 44% of the nation’s load van freight volume and typically reflects national trends, Croke said.

Reefer spot rates tend to rise before the July 4 holiday but have declined for a second consecutive week so far.

"At $1.97 per mile, the average rate is the same as last year but 7 cents lower than in 2023," Croke said about reefer rates.

National benchmark rates went down for the week of May 18, compared to the previous week. Per DAT:

no changeDry van stayed flat at $1.70

downReefer decreased by three cents to $2.02

downFlatbed decreased by two cents to $2.19

Flatbed carriers moving raw goods, machinery and other oversized or heavy freight have economic uncertainty at the top of their mind, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in an email.

"Last week, flatbed load post volumes decreased by 2%, but remained 18% above last year’s levels and nearly equal to the historical average for Week 21," Croke said. 

The flatbed rate during week 21 at $2.19 a mile was 14 cents higher year over year and equal to the average in 2023.

Croke said key flatbed markets were Lubbock, Texas, up 50%; Portland, Oregon, up 24%; and Montgomery, Alabama, up 15%. All three reflect outbound post week-over-week changes.

On the other hand, reefer load-post volumes saw an offset from the previous week's surge before the Memorial Day holiday.

Spot rates went up across the board during the week of May 11 due to the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s International Roadcheck, according to a DAT blog post.

Per DAT, compared to the previous week:

upDry van increased by 10 cents to $1.70

upReefer increased by 14 cents to $2.05

upFlatbed increased by 6 cents to $2.21

Rates for dry van, reefer and flatbed were the highest in three years for week 20, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said.

The CVSA's safety blitz, per DAT, impacted dry van, reefer and flatbed rates, resulting in capacity crunch on all three modes.

The reefer rate rose the most last week, increasing by $0.14 per mile, the highest rate for Week 20 in three years, per the DAT blog post. At  $2.05 per mile, reefer spot rates were $0.06 per mile higher than last year.

Dry van spot rates were 8 cents per mile higher than last year, Croke said in an email.

Flatbed also saw higher rates — up by 6 cents, after seeing two weeks of declines.

Spot rates went down across all modes during the week of May 4 amid weaker demand for trucks, according to an email from DAT iQ.

Per DAT, compared to the previous week:

downDry van decreased by two cents to $1.60

downReefer decreased one penny to $1.91

downFlatbed decreased by one penny to $2.15

However, full-month results showed April was a better-than-expected month for spot market carriers, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in a blog post.

"Dry van linehaul rates decreased by almost $0.02/mile last week to a national average of $1.60/mile on a 1% lower volume of loads moved," Croke said. Still, linehaul rates remained three cents per mile higher than last year and almost identical to 2024, he added.

Spring is typically a time when the spot market sees more carriers join, and last month was no exception, Croke said. While it came as a surprise for some analysts, “small fleet capacity turned positive for the second month in April, as the most new carriers entered the market in two years.”

There was a 48% month-over-month jump and a 30% year-over-year increase for new carrier authorities in April. When compared to the pre-pandemic April average, levels were 49% higher than last month’s new entrants.

Spot rates mostly went up for the week of April 27 as capacity is expected to tighten ahead of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s International Roadcheck, Dean Croke, principal data analyst for DAT iQ said in an email.

Per DAT, compared to the previous week: 

upDry van increased by one penny to $1.62

upReefer increased by two cents to $1.92

downFlatbed decreased by one penny to $2.16

Available reefer capacity tightened slightly last week, according to a DAT blog post, and spot rates ended the week at $1.92 per mile, lifted by a 2% week over week lift in produce and month-end shipping volumes.

Looking ahead, floral shipments moving out of Miami ahead of Mother's Day are expected to drive a surge in truckload volumes from southern Florida.

Besides Mother's Day, truckers are preparing for the annual three-day, high-visibility commercial vehicle and driver inspection in Canada, Mexico and the United States, Croke said. The initiative, known as the International Roadcheck, is managed by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance and runs from May 13 to 15.

“Inspectors will focus on two critical areas: tires and records of duty status (e.g., hours-of-service compliance),” he said in the email. “It’s not unusual to see capacity tighten this week with truckers wanting to avoid enforcement exposure and inspection-related delays.”

Spot rates went up by one cent across the board for the week of April 20 as shippers frontloaded cargo ahead of tariffs, according to Dean Croke, principal data analyst for DAT iQ.

Per DAT, compared to the previous week:

upDry van increased by one penny to $1.61

upReefer increased by one penny to $1.90

upFlatbed increased by one penny to $2.17

While spot rates rose across all three modes the last week of April, reefer’s uptick seems to be from produce season picking up in the Southwest and West, Croke said in an email.

The timing coincides with the start of peak shipping season for produce like strawberries, the leading small fruit crop in California and Florida, according to a DAT blog post.

Notably, reefer rates for Florida jumped week over week, led by the Lakeland market, Croke said. The weekly average gained 18 cents to $1.89 a mile, with Atlanta as the top destination.

On the other hand, flatbed spot rates continue to face uncertainty in the market as reduced demand has discouraged builders from initiating new projects, according to a DAT blog post.

"Persistently high home prices and mortgage rates have kept many potential buyers from entering the market for months," Croke said.

Still, flatbed spot rates have risen in each of the last two weeks after a one-week drop followed eight straight weeks of increases.

National benchmark rates were mixed across the board during the week of April 13 compared to the previous week. Per DAT:

downDry van decreased by two cents to $1.60

upReefer increased by one penny to $1.89

no changeFlatbed remained unchanged at $2.16

"Reefer spot rates are $0.04/mile higher than last year and $0.03/mile higher than 2019," according to a DAT blog post on the reefer market.

This week marks the beginning of peak shipping season ahead of Mother's Day on May 11.

"Large truckload carriers have already implemented a temporary 10% holiday surcharge that will apply to all products shipped outbound from Florida with a ship date of April 24, 2025, through May 7, 2025," according to the blog post.

Similarly, on the West Coast, a 20% temporary holiday surcharge will apply to outbound products shipped from California during the same timeframe.

National benchmark rates went down across the board during the week of April 6 compared to the previous week, marking the first overall decrease since late January. Per DAT:

downDry van decreased by four cents to $1.62

downReefer decreased by two cents to $1.88

downFlatbed decreased by three cents to $2.16

The declines also marked a shift for flatbed rates, which had been consistently rising in previous weeks. However, flatbed spot rates dipped in early April due to tariff uncertainty and tighter capacity, Ken Adamo, DAT chief of analytics, said in an email.

“Tariff uncertainty was a factor, but so was tighter capacity,” Adamo said. “Roughly 30% of flatbed loads move on the spot market compared to 12 to 15% for vans and reefers. The equipment and driver skills are specialized and spot-market demand is highly seasonal."

The flatbed market is affected more than the others when there are fewer trucks, he added.

National benchmark rates went up across the board during the week of March 29, compared to the previous week. Per DAT:

upDry van increased by three cents to $1.66

upReefer increased by one penny to $1.90

upFlatbed increased by four cents to $2.19

The overall rise is the first time in months spot rates have increased across dry van, reefer and flatbed loads. The last time it occurred was the week of November 10, 2024, per DAT data.

"Shippers typically feel an urgency to move goods out of inventory before the end of a quarter, which increases spot volumes, constrains capacity, and puts upward pressure on rates," Dean Croke, DAT iQ principal analyst, said in an email.

Reefer and dry van rates have stayed relatively flat throughout March. Flatbed rates rose for the eighth consecutive week, up 18 cents to $2.19 a mile, Croke said, adding that the rate was 9% higher than last year.

National benchmark rates were mixed the week of March 23, compared to the previous week. Per DAT:

no changeDry van remained unchanged at $1.63

no changeReefer remained unchanged at $1.89

upFlatbed increased by two cents to $2.15

"Last week was the last full shipping week of Q1," Dean Croke, DAT iQ principal analyst, said in an email. "Shippers typically feel an urgency to move goods out of inventory before the end of a quarter, which increases spot volumes, constrains capacity, and puts upward pressure on rates.

National benchmark rates were mixed the week of March 16, compared to the previous week. Per DAT:

downDry van decreased by one cent to $1.63

no changeReefer remained unchanged at $1.89

upFlatbed increased by four cents to $2.13

"Flatbed is off to the best start to a year since 2017 when the market was up 13% year-to-date (YTD)," DAT Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in a blog post. "This year, the national 7-day rolling average flatbed rate is up 8% YTD."

National benchmark rates were mixed the week of March 9, compared to the previous week. Per DAT:

downDry van decreased by two cents to $1.64

downReefer decreased by two pennies to $1.89

upFlatbed increased by two cents to $2.09

"The national 7-day rolling average flatbed rate has now increased for the fifth week," Dean Croke, principal analyst for DAT iQ, said in a March 18 blog post. “Flatbed linehaul rates are $0.11/mile or 6% higher, $0.12/mile lower than 2018 and $0.07/mile higher than 2019."

National benchmark rates were mixed the week of Feb. 23, compared to the previous week. Per DAT:

no changeDry van remained at $1.66

downReefer decreased by four pennies to $1.91

upFlatbed increased by 2 cents to $2.04

"Following last week’s brief pause in the decline in dry van linehaul rates, spot rates dropped again, making it seven of the last eight weeks that dry van rates have fallen," DAT Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in an online blog post regarding dry van. "Excess capacity continues to weigh on the spot market despite the volume of loads increasing by 11% last week and almost 2% in the last month, he noted.

National benchmark rates mostly decreased the week of Feb. 16, compared to the previous week. Per DAT:

no changeDry van remained at $1.66

upReefer increased by a penny to $1.95

upFlatbed increased by 2 cents to $2.02

"After easing for the last five [weeks], available capacity showed some signs of tightening last week," DAT Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in an online blog post regarding dry van. "Linehaul rates were up almost a penny per mile" and volumes, despite declining 2% week over week, were up 10% compared to a year ago, he noted.

National benchmark rates mostly decreased the week of Feb. 9, compared to the previous week. Per DAT:

downDry van declined by 2 cents to $1.66

downReefer dropped by 5 cents to $1.94

no changeFlatbed remained at $2

"After starting off January with a lot of strength, a lot of the momentum has fallen out of the market, except for flatbed," DAT Principal Analyst Dean Croke said on a weekly market update Tuesday.

National benchmark rates generally fell the week of Feb. 2, compared to the previous week. Per DAT:

downDry van declined by 4 cents to $1.68

downReefer dropped by 5 cents to $1.99

no changeFlatbed remained at $2

In recent weeks, reefer rates have steadily declined. But when excluding pandemic-influenced freight demand, the average reefer rate was 7 cents per mile higher than other years over the last decade, DAT Principal Analyst Dean Croke noted on a blog.

National benchmark rates fell across the board the week of Jan. 26, compared to the previous week. Per DAT:

downDry van declined by 4 cents to $1.72

downReefer dropped by 7 cents to $2.04

downFlatbed slipped by a penny to $2

"Uncharacteristically, spot rates cooled at month end. It's normally a time when we see a slight surge in volume and decline in capacity as shippers clear their docks," DAT Principal Analyst Dean Croke said on a weekly market update.

National benchmark rates decreased across the board the week of Jan. 19, compared to the previous week. Per DAT:

downDry van declined by 5 cents to $1.76

downReefer dropped by 5 cents to $2.11

downFlatbed decreased by 2 cents to $2.01

"Spot rates did cool, ending the week at about identical to where they were in week four last year," DAT Principal Analyst Dean Croke said on a market update, noting that some markets experienced challenges given record-setting snowstorms in the U.S.

National benchmark rates decreased across the board the week of Jan. 12, compared to the previous week. Per DAT:

downDry van decreased by 3 cents to $1.81

downReefer dropped by 6 cents to $2.16

downFlatbed fell by a cent to $2.03

"Reefer spot rates began to cool following last week’s $0.05/mile decrease to a national average linehaul rate of $2.16/mile," DAT Principal Analyst Dean Croke wrote on a blog post. "Looking back to 2016 and excluding the pandemic-influenced freight markets, last week’s 7-day rolling average reefer rate was $0.15/mile higher than the long-term Week 3 average."

National benchmark rates generally increased the week of Jan. 5, compared to the previous week. Per DAT:

upDry van increased by 4 cents to $1.84

no changeReefer remained at $2.22

upFlatbed increased by 6 cents to $2.04

At a time when reefer rates typically cool, they impressively held ground. That came as Winter Storm Blair blasted communities across Kansas and Nebraska, jolting outbound rates there upward by 19 cents per mile, DAT Principal Analyst Dean Croke said on a weekly market update.

National benchmark rates were mixed the week of Dec. 29, compared to the previous week. Per DAT:

downDry van decreased by 1 cent to $1.80

upReefer increased by 5 cents to $2.22

downFlatbed dropped by a penny to $1.98

"Reefer linehaul rates have increased about 21 cents a mile in the last four weeks, although that typically marks the peak in the seasonal rate movement," DAT Principal Analyst Dean Croke said in a weekly market update, noting an expected retreat from those higher levels.

Winter Storm Blair and protect-from-freeze provisions may help reefer rates further, though, like the polar vortex in January 2024 hiking rates by 7 cents per mile, Croke said on a blog post.

National benchmark rates were mixed the week of Dec. 8, compared to the previous week. Per DAT:

upDry van increased by 2 cents to $1.74

downReefer dropped by 4 cents to $2.01

upFlatbed increased by 2 cents to $1.99

The dry van linehaul rate increased for the fifth consecutive week, and for the latest week, the national average rate was 12 cents higher than the same week in 2023, DAT reported.

National benchmark rates were mixed the first week of December, compared to the previous week. Per DAT:

upDry van increased by 1 cent to $1.72

no changeReefer remained flat at $2.05

downFlatbed decreased by 1 cent to $1.97

Dry van and flatbed spot rates were about 7 cents higher than the same time last year, DAT Principal Analyst Dean Croke said Tuesday on a weekly market update. Reefer spot rates were 10 cents higher YoY.

"The ongoing exodus of small carriers was evident as available capacity tightened, resulting in a $0.01/mile increase in the national average dry van linehaul rate," Croke also wrote on a Dec. 9 blog post.

National benchmark rates generally increased the last week of November, compared to the previous week. Per DAT:

upDry van increased by 4 cents to $1.71

downReefer decreased by 1 cent to $2.06

upFlatbed increased by 1 cent to $1.98

A shortage in capacity drove the dry van rate increase, DAT reported in a blog. Rates remained about 6 cents higher than the three-month trailing average, the firm also reported.

National benchmark rates increased the week of Nov. 17, compared to the previous week. Per DAT:

upDry van increased by a penny to $1.67

upReefer increased by 2 cents to $2.06

upFlatbed increased by 1 cent to $1.97

In line with seasonal expectations, produce is moving ahead of Thanksgiving. But reefer rates are also closing in on 2022 levels amid stronger demand, DAT noted in a weekly market update. They're also notably higher than the three-month trailing average, Principal Analyst Dean Croke said on the show.

National benchmark rates were mixed the week of Nov. 10, compared to the previous week. Per DAT:

downDry van decreased by 1 cent to $1.66

upReefer increased by 1 cent to $2.04

downFlatbed decreased by 3 cents to $1.96

While loads moved increased by 1% in dry van, capacity was sufficient to meet demand, resulting in spot rate drops, DAT noted in a blog post. Similarly, flatbed's spot rate declines came amid a 4% increase in loads moved. 

"The combination of lower spot rates, fewer load posts, and a higher number of loads moved suggests better routing-guide compliance on primary tenders and lower rejection rates last week," DAT said in an email.

Reefer spot rates improved again with fresh and frozen food moving ahead of Thanksgiving, the firm also noted.

National benchmark rates increased the week of Nov. 3, compared to the previous week. Per DAT:

upDry van grew by 2 cents at $1.67

upReefer increased by a penny to $2.03

upFlatbed rose by 2 cents to $1.99

Kicking off November, even though dry van load volumes declined, capacity tightened, DAT Principal Analyst Dean Croke said Tuesday on a weekly market update. 

Linehaul rates are holding around 11 cents a mile higher compared to last year and have noticeably gained about 4 cents per mile since the International Longshoremen’s Association strike and hurricanes Helene and Milton hit, he said.

"Up until that point, spot rates had been tracking almost identically with last year, but since the start of October, they've made a noticeable diversion," he said.

Reefer and flatbed spot rates also improved as the holidays approach.

National benchmark rates on average stayed flat or increased the week of Oct. 27, compared to the previous week. Per DAT:

no changeDry van remained at $1.65

upReefer increased by 4 cents to $2.02

no changeFlatbed held at $1.97

In reefer, rates jumped with regional demand for seasonal holidays including Thanksgiving and Christmas, DAT Principal Analyst Dean Croke said on a weekly market update.

National benchmark rates halted or pulled back on average the week of Oct. 20, compared to the previous week. Per DAT:

no changeDry van remained flat at $1.65

downReefer decreased by 1 cent to $1.98

downFlatbed decreased by 1 cents to $1.97

"Spot rates are holding steady — in the dry van market in particular," DAT Principal Analyst Dean Croke said on a weekly market update, adding that dry van rates appeared to be trending at elevated levels in the last month.

National benchmark averages tended to increase the week of Oct. 13, compared to the previous week. Per DAT:

upDry van increased by a penny to $1.65

upReefer increased by 3 cents to $1.99

downFlatbed decreased by 2 cents to $1.98

"The 3-day International Longshoreman Association (ILA) has concluded, but the impact of disruptions at East and Gulf Coast ports on September imports is still evident," DAT Principal Analyst Dean Croke wrote on a blog post regarding dry van. He said there were noticeable diversions in imports from the East Coast, with West Coast volumes rising 21% year over year.

Regional dry van, reefer and flatbed lanes also received volume and spot rate boosts in the southeastern U.S. as reopening and restocking began in communities recovering from damage caused by Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, Croke noted

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%.