Latest Spot Market Results Show Rates Down Across Board

Spot Market Rates Decline Across All Equipment Types

The Spot Market experienced a broad slowdown during the week ending June 19, marking the first time since October that broker-posted spot rates declined across all three major equipment types: dry van, refrigerated van, and flatbed.

According to the latest data from Truckstop, load volumes continued to ease following several weeks of strong activity. While rates and volumes remain significantly higher than they were a year ago, seasonal patterns appear to be returning as the industry moves closer to the Independence Day holiday period.

Spot Market Load Volume Falls Again

Total Spot Market load activity declined 7.7% week over week after falling 11.5% during the previous week. Total spot loads finished the week at 186.4.

Despite the recent slowdown, load volume remained more than 37% higher than during the same week in 2025. Flatbed and dry van freight continue to outperform year-ago levels by a wide margin.

Truck postings increased 4.2% during the week, pushing the Market Demand Index (MDI)—the ratio of loads to available trucks—to its lowest level in seven weeks.

Spot Market Rates Ease as Fuel Prices Drop

The overall broker-posted Spot Market rate declined 2.3 cents per mile to $3.65. The decrease ended a streak of 21 consecutive weeks of rate increases.

However, when fuel surcharges are removed from the calculation, rates actually increased slightly. Diesel prices have fallen by more than 46 cents per gallon nationwide during the past three weeks, reducing the fuel-related portion of freight rates.

Fuel-adjusted rates increased for both dry van and flatbed freight, while refrigerated rates posted a small decline. Compared to the same week last year, all-in spot rates were more than 52% higher, while fuel-adjusted rates were up more than 53%.

Dry Van Spot Market Remains Strong

Dry van spot rates slipped by less than one cent to $2.94 per mile. Excluding fuel surcharges, rates increased by nearly 2 cents.

Dry van rates remained more than 53% higher than the same week in 2025, while fuel-adjusted rates were up more than 55%.

Regionally, rates increased sharply in the Northeast and posted modest gains in the South Central region. Other areas experienced slight declines.

Dry van load volume fell 2.2% from the previous week but remained more than 33% above year-ago levels. Load postings increased in the Northeast and Mountain Central regions while declining elsewhere.

Industry analysts expect dry van rates to receive seasonal support during the next two weeks as shipping activity builds ahead of the July 4 holiday.

Refrigerated Freight Sees Larger Rate Decline

Refrigerated Spot Market rates fell by just over 3 cents to $3.38 per mile. Fuel-adjusted rates declined by less than one cent.

Even with the weekly decrease, refrigerated rates remained more than 46% higher than during the same week last year.

Refrigerated loads declined 2.9% week over week. Volume remained approximately 5% above 2025 levels.

The Mountain Central region posted the strongest growth in refrigerated load postings, while the West Coast saw modest increases. Most other regions recorded declines.

Flatbed Rate Streak Comes to an End

One of the biggest developments in the latest Spot Market report was the end of flatbed’s 24-week streak of consecutive rate increases.

Flatbed spot rates declined 1.2 cents to $3.84 per mile. However, after adjusting for fuel costs, rates actually increased by 1.4 cents.

The latest decline was only the second weekly decrease for flatbed rates in the past 31 weeks.

Compared to the same week last year, flatbed spot rates were 52.5% higher, while fuel-adjusted rates were up 53.7%.

Flatbed load volume fell 10% from the previous week but remained 48.5% higher than a year ago. Load activity increased in the Mountain Central and Northeast regions but declined elsewhere.

While the streak of weekly gains has ended, flatbed demand continues to significantly outperform historical levels, suggesting the market remains stronger than seasonal freight patterns alone would indicate.