Spot Market Rates Jump as Diesel Prices Surge

Spot Market Surges as Fuel Costs Drive Rate Gains

The Spot Market for truckload freight saw sharp rate increases during the week ending March 13, 2026, as a major spike in diesel prices pushed broker-posted rates higher across all equipment types. According to data from FTR and Truckstop, spot rates for dry van, reefer van, and flatbed freight each rose by more than 10 cents per mile compared with the previous week’s report. The jump in pricing came as diesel costs increased dramatically. Analysts estimate fuel costs rose roughly 16 cents per mile in a single week, which helped drive higher broker-posted rates in the Spot Market.

Load Volumes Reach Highest Level Since 2022

Freight demand also strengthened across the Spot Market. Total load postings increased 6% week over week, reaching the highest level recorded since June 2022.

Compared to the same week in 2025, total load activity was more than 42% higher. Volume also exceeded the five-year average for the week by 7.3%, marking the strongest comparison since early December.

Truck availability increased only slightly. Truck postings rose 1.5% week over week, while the Market Demand Index—which measures the ratio of loads to available trucks—climbed to its highest level in four years.

Diesel Costs Push Spot Market Rates Higher

The overall broker-posted rate in the Spot Market increased 10.6 cents per mile, the largest weekly jump since December 2022.

However, analysts say much of the increase reflected rising fuel costs rather than stronger underlying freight pricing. When fuel surcharges are excluded from the calculation, overall spot rates actually declined by just under five cents per mile.

Fuel prices surged sharply during the week. The national average retail diesel price increased by 96.2 cents, creating pressure for carriers operating in the Spot Market. Because many spot loads do not include a fuel surcharge, higher diesel costs can quickly affect profitability.

Even so, total spot rates remained more than 16% higher than the same week in 2025, or roughly 9% higher year over year when fuel surcharges are excluded.

Dry Van Rates Reach Multi-Year High

Dry van freight experienced the largest overall increase in the Spot Market. Rates climbed 12 cents per mile, reaching the highest level since the final week of 2022.

When fuel surcharges are excluded, dry van rates actually declined by 3.5 cents per mile during the week. Even so, rates remained near the highest levels seen since 2022 outside of seasonal holiday spikes.

Compared with the same week last year, dry van rates were about 29% higher. Excluding fuel surcharges, rates were still more than 23% higher year over year.

Dry van load activity also increased. Load postings rose 3.6% week over week and were more than 38% higher than the same week in 2025.

The largest rate gains occurred on lanes originating in the Midwest, while rates also increased on the West Coast and the South Central regions.

Reefer Spot Market Rates Also Increase

Refrigerated freight also saw higher broker-posted rates in the Spot Market. Reefer rates increased by just over 10 cents per mile during the week.

However, excluding fuel surcharges, refrigerated rates fell by slightly more than five cents per mile.

Even with that decline, reefer pricing remained significantly stronger compared with last year. Broker-posted refrigerated rates were nearly 32% higher than the same week in 2025, and about 28% higher year over year, excluding fuel surcharges.

Refrigerated load postings rose 6.7% week over week and were just under 24% higher than last year. Volume growth was strongest on the West Coast, while load activity also increased in the South Central and Mountain Central regions.

Flatbed Activity Climbs to Highest Since 2022

Flatbed freight also experienced rate increases in the Spot Market. Broker-posted flatbed rates rose 10.7 cents per mile, reaching the highest level since August 2022.

However, flatbed rates excluding fuel surcharges declined by nearly five cents per mile during the week.

Compared with the same week last year, flatbed rates were about 14% higher overall, though the year-over-year increase dropped to about 7% when fuel surcharges are excluded.

Flatbed load volume also strengthened. Load postings increased 6.9% week over week, reaching the highest level since May 2022.

Compared with the same week in 2025, flatbed load postings were nearly 50% higher.

Spot Market Demand Shows Strong Freight Activity

Overall, the Spot Market showed strong freight demand during the week as load volumes increased across equipment types. However, analysts note that the rise in broker-posted rates was driven largely by higher diesel costs rather than stronger underlying pricing.

As fuel prices continue to fluctuate, future Spot Market conditions will likely depend on both freight demand and operating costs for carriers.

Industry analysts continue to monitor diesel prices, load volumes, and truck capacity levels as key indicators of short-term freight market trends.