Latest Spot Market Results: Rates Ease in Week 30

Spot Market Rates Mostly Decline in Seasonal Slowdown

The Spot market continued its seasonal slowdown during the week ending July 31, with most broker-posted rates declining despite continued pressure from higher diesel prices. According to the latest Truckstop.com Market Demand Index, refrigerated freight posted a slight increase, while dry van and flatbed rates recorded their largest declines for this time of year in four years.

Although rates softened week over week, they remained significantly higher than the same period in 2025. Analysts say the latest data suggests the market has largely adjusted to higher fuel costs and may now be following more typical seasonal patterns.

Spot Market Activity Slows as Loads and Rates Decline

Overall Spot market activity weakened during week 30.

Total broker-posted loads fell 2.8% from the previous week to 152.3, marking the second-lowest weekly volume of 2026. Load activity was still just over 9% higher than the same week last year, but it represented the first single-digit year-over-year increase of the year, signaling slower growth.

Truck postings increased 1.5%, causing the Market Demand Index (MDI)—which measures the ratio of loads to available trucks—to fall to its lowest level since the third week of 2026.

The overall broker-posted rate dropped 6 cents to $3.32 per mile, its lowest level since early May.

Despite the weekly decline, total all-in spot rates remained more than 43% higher than the same week in 2025, while rates excluding a calculated fuel surcharge were up more than 46% year over year.

Higher Diesel Prices Are no Longer Pushing Rates Higher

One of the most notable trends in the latest report is the relationship between fuel prices and freight rates.

Diesel prices climbed more than 73 cents per gallon over a three-week period, yet spot rates followed their normal seasonal pattern instead of increasing more sharply.

Earlier this year, rising fuel costs helped push spot rates above seasonal expectations. This time, however, that additional pressure did not materialize.

According to Truckstop.com, the latest results suggest spot rates have likely reset to a higher baseline and may now move primarily with seasonal changes unless freight demand or truck capacity changes significantly.

The report also notes that the recent performance raises the possibility that spot rates may have reached their peak for now rather than continuing to climb.

Dry Van Spot Market Rates Post Largest Seasonal Decline

Dry van rates experienced the weakest performance among the three major equipment types.

The average dry van spot rate fell about 7 cents to $2.75 per mile, the lowest level since the week before the International Roadcheck event in May.

Even with the decline, all-in dry van rates remained nearly 42% higher than one year ago.

Dry van load volume slipped 1.5% compared to the previous week and was about 6% above the same week in 2025, representing the softest year-over-year comparison since January.

Regionally, dry van rates increased in the Mountain Central region but declined across most other parts of the country, with the largest decreases occurring in the South and along the West Coast.

Refrigerated Freight Shows Modest Improvement

Refrigerated freight was the only segment to record a weekly increase.

Average refrigerated spot rates edged up 1 cent to $3.30 per mile, marking the first weekly gain in four weeks. However, Truckstop.com noted that refrigerated rates typically increase more during this period of the year, making the latest improvement smaller than normal.

Refrigerated loads rose 3.2% from the previous week and were just over 3% higher than the same week last year.

Performance varied significantly by region. The strongest gains occurred in the Northeast, Midwest, and Mountain Central regions, while rates and load postings fell sharply on the West Coast, as well as in the Southeast and South Central regions.

Flatbed Spot Market Weakens

Flatbed freight also experienced seasonal softness.

Average flatbed spot rates fell by slightly more than 6 cents to $3.48 per mile, their lowest level since early May.

Despite the weekly decline, all-in flatbed rates remained about 47% higher than the same week last year, while fuel-adjusted rates were roughly 51% higher.

Flatbed load volume declined 5.4% from the previous week but remained 10% above year-ago levels, although that represented the weakest annual comparison since late December.

Regionally, flatbed rates increased modestly in the Mountain Central and Midwest regions but declined across most other markets.

Seasonal Trends Continue Despite Fuel Costs

The latest Spot market report suggests freight conditions are following normal seasonal patterns despite significantly higher diesel prices.

While overall loads, demand, and rates all softened during the week, broker-posted rates remain well above last year’s levels across all major equipment types.

For now, Truckstop.com says the market appears to have adjusted to higher fuel costs, with future spot rate movements likely depending more on changes in freight demand and truck capacity than on diesel prices alone.