Spot Market Results: Flatbed Rates Highest Since 2022

Flatbed Freight Drives Spot Market Growth

The trucking spot market showed mixed results during the week ending March 6, but flatbed freight continued to stand out. Broker-posted rates for flatbed equipment rose again, reaching their highest level since October 2022. Data from the Truckstop system shows flatbed rates increased for the 15th time in the past 16 weeks. While dry van and reefer rates slipped slightly during the week, both segments remain strong compared with recent years.

Overall activity in the spot market also increased. Total load postings rose 1.7%, reaching the highest level since July 2022.

Spot Market Demand Continues to Strengthen

Load activity remained strong across the spot market during week 9. Total load postings were about 39% higher than the same week in 2025. At the same time, truck postings declined 4.8%, which pushed the Market Demand Index—the ratio of loads to trucks—to its highest level since March 2022.

The overall broker-posted rate across all equipment types increased 4.3 cents. That pushed the total market rate to its highest level since the final week of 2022. Compared with the same week last year, total rates were nearly 15% higher.

Fuel Costs Continue to Influence Spot Market Rates

Fuel prices are also playing an important role in the current spot market environment. When adjusting rates to account for fuel cost differences between today and fall 2022, spot rates appear even stronger. However, the gap is shrinking as fuel prices rise again.

The increase in fuel prices follows recent military activity involving Iran, which has pushed energy costs higher in recent weeks.

Because fuel remains one of the highest operating costs for small carriers working in the spot market, rising diesel prices could quickly reduce the advantage carriers are currently seeing in spot rates.

Dry Van Rates Slip but Remain Strong

Dry van spot market rates decreased 3.6 cents during the latest week. Even with that decline, rates remain strong compared with last year. Dry van spot rates were about 19% higher than the same week in 2025.

Dry van load postings dropped 4.6% week over week. However, volume remained strong compared with last year, with load postings 31.5% higher than the same week in 2025. The Southeast was the only region that saw an increase in dry van volume during the week.

Refrigerated Market Rates Decline After Storm Surge

Reefer spot market rates also declined slightly during the week. Rates dropped 4.4 cents, though they remain about 26% higher than the same week last year. The recent decline follows a surge in week 8 caused by winter storms. During that period, refrigerated rates increased sharply as weather disrupted freight movement.

Once conditions improved, refrigerated rates—especially in the Northeast—fell again. Loads originating in that region dropped more than 14 cents during the latest week. Refrigerated load postings declined 2.3%, but volume remained about 5% higher than last year.

Flatbed Leads Rate and Load Growth

Flatbed freight continues to lead the spot market in both rate growth and demand. Rates increased 5.6 cents during the week, reaching their highest level since October 2022. Rates were 13.4% higher than the same week last year, the strongest annual comparison since April 2022.

Flatbed load postings also increased 5.3%, marking the sixth straight weekly increase. Volume reached its highest level since May 2022, and load postings were more than 49% higher than the same week in 2025.

Most regions saw gains in flatbed freight, including the Northeast, Southeast, and South Central regions, while the West Coast recorded a decline.

Manufacturing and Construction May Be Driving Spot Market Strength

The exact cause of the recent flatbed surge in the spot market is not fully clear. However, industry data suggests manufacturing and construction activity may be key factors.

Manufacturing production has increased in recent months, according to Federal Reserve reports. At the same time, construction activity—particularly the building of large data centers—has continued to grow.

These trends may be increasing demand for flatbed freight. With capacity still tight in that sector, stronger industrial activity could continue supporting flatbed rates in the spot market.