Spot Market Update: Reefer Down, Flatbed Up in Week 49

Latest Spot Market Data: Rates Ease as Load Volumes Settle in Mid-December

Spot Market Trends for Week 49

Spot market rates in the FTR system slipped during the week 49 ending December 12. This was the first decline in four weeks. Reefer spot rates gave back most of last week’s large jump. Dry van spot rates also edged down after five straight weeks of gains. Flatbed rates were the exception. They rose for the fourth week in a row and reached their strongest level in ten weeks. Even with the mixed results, all three major equipment types held spot rates just over 4% higher than the same week in 2024.

Total load activity fell 4.9% after the sharp rebound seen right after Thanksgiving. Aside from last week’s spike, volume was the strongest since the week after International Roadcheck in May. Loads were still up 20% from the same week last year. Truck postings increased 1.8%. As a result, the Market Demand Index (MDI) dipped slightly after reaching its highest point since May in the prior week.

Total Spot Market Rate Movement

The total broker-posted rate dropped 1.7 cents after a 5.6-cent increase the week before. Rates were 3.5% higher than in the same 2024 week. However, a weak comparison in specialized freight softened the overall gains in dry van, reefer, and flatbed.

Week 50 normally brings more softening in spot rates. But the market often flips the week of Christmas as tight capacity leads to higher rates across all equipment types. Dry van and refrigerated equipment usually see strong gains between Christmas and New Year’s. Flatbed rates, however, often dip during that same period.

Dry Van Rates and Volumes

Dry van spot rates slipped by just under a cent after rising more than 4 cents the week before. Rates stood a little over 4% higher than the same 2024 week. They remained 6% below the five-year average. Dry van loads dropped 3.7% following the post-holiday jump in the previous week. Even so, loads were 17% above the same 2024 week, although still about 15% under the five-year average.

While rates fell, the decline was much smaller than normal. Dry van rates typically drop about 10 cents during this period, so the softer pullback shows some added resilience.

Refrigerated Rates Give Back Last Week’s Surge

Refrigerated spot rates fell 18.5 cents after a huge 21-cent increase the week before. Rates were still a little more than 4% above the same week in 2024. They remained about 2% below the five-year average for this time of year.

Reefer load volumes dropped 10.7% after the big jump that followed Thanksgiving. Loads were about 10% lower than the same week in 2024 and nearly 23% below the five-year average. Seasonal vegetables and holiday freight helped last week’s spike, but the pullback shows that demand has returned to normal levels.

Flatbed Spot Market Rates Continue Their Climb

Flatbed spot rates rose just over a cent after gaining almost 4 cents in the prior week. Rates were a little more than 4% higher than the same week in 2024 but more than 4% below the five-year average.

Flatbed loads slipped 5% after the strong post-holiday surge. Even with the decline, volumes were 34% higher than in the same 2024 week. They were also nearly 7% above the five-year average. Construction and manufacturing freight remain steady enough to support rate strength into December.