Latest Spot Market Results: Surge in Van, Flatbed Down

Spot Market Analysis for Week 30 Shows Rate Increases in Van and Reefer as Flatbed Weakens

The spot market showed improvement during the week ending August 1, 2025 (Week 30), with rates for dry van and refrigerated (reefer) equipment rising for the first time in four weeks. According to data from FTR and Truckstop, these modest increases reversed a recent downward trend. In contrast, flatbed rates continued their decline for the fourth consecutive week. Though the decrease was marginal. At the same time, total load volumes across all segments increased compared to the previous week. However, they remain lower than the five-year average. Highlighting continued market volatility despite recent gains. This week’s trends align with typical seasonal changes as the market adjusts post-holiday.

Surge in Van and Refrigerated Spot Market Rates

Broker-posted spot rates for dry van and refrigerated (reefer) equipment saw a slight increase during the week ending August 1. This was the first positive movement in four weeks for both categories. The increase was modest, but it marked an important shift after several weeks of declines. As seasonal trends suggest, dry van rates tend to stabilize in early August, and refrigerated rates followed a similar pattern with a small rebound.

Flatbed Rates Continue to Decline

In contrast to the gains seen in the dry van and refrigerated segments, flatbed spot rates continued to decline for the fourth consecutive week. The drop was minimal, but it still reflects the ongoing weakness in the flatbed market. Seasonal trends often lead to flatbed rates fading through the summer, and this week’s data supports that expectation.

Load Volumes on the Rise

Total load activity in the spot market increased by 5.9% during Week 30. This was a notable improvement, with load volumes about 14% higher than the same week in 2024. However, the volume remained nearly 16% below the five-year average, indicating that while there is a surge, it’s still not at the level expected for this time of year. Truck postings fell by 5.2%, which led to a rise in the Market Demand Index. This index, which tracks the ratio of load postings to truck postings, reached its highest point in three weeks, signaling stronger demand relative to available trucks.

Dry Van Spot Market Insights

Dry van spot rates saw a slight increase of 1.7 cents during Week 30, recovering from a 4-cent drop the previous week. The rates remained flat compared to the same week in 2024, though they were 12% lower than the five-year average. Despite the increase in rates, dry van load volumes rose by 7.3%, indicating higher activity in this segment. However, the load volume still lagged 7% behind last year and was 27% below the five-year average.

Refrigerated Spot Market Trends

Refrigerated spot rates increased by 2.1 cents, bouncing back from a 2.6-cent decline in the previous week. This was the first positive comparison in four weeks, with rates approximately 2% higher than the same week in 2024. However, they were still more than 8% below the five-year average. Refrigerated load volumes also increased by 4.9%, although they remained over 6% lower than the same week last year and more than 35% below the five-year average.

Flatbed Performance

Flatbed spot rates remained nearly flat, declining by just 0.3 cents after a 5-cent drop the previous week. The rates were 1.4% below the same week in 2024 and about 10% lower than the five-year average. Flatbed load volumes rose by 4.9%, and the overall volume was 23% higher than last year. However, flatbed volumes were still 8% below the five-year average, reflecting a continued underperformance relative to historical trends.

Conclusion

The spot market in early August 2025 shows a mixed bag of results. While dry van and refrigerated rates experienced slight increases, flatbed rates continued their decline. Load volumes saw an overall increase, though still below the five-year average, reflecting the ongoing volatility of the market. With these developments, it’s crucial to keep an eye on how the market evolves in the coming weeks, especially as seasonal trends continue to shape rate movements.