Truckload Spot Rates Hold Steady as Equipment Markets Split

U.S. truckload spot rates stayed near recent levels for a second consecutive week, but the averages conceal different movement across dry van, refrigerated and flatbed freight. FleetOwner reported October 22 that FTR Transportation Intelligence measured slight declines for dry vans and reefers while flatbed rates edged higher. The total broker-posted market rate fell by only three-tenths of a cent.

FTR data showed dry van rates down less than one cent for the week while loads increased just over 1%. Refrigerated rates declined almost two cents even as reefer loads rose 3%. Flatbed rates gained two-tenths of a cent, although load activity fell nearly 4%. Year over year, rates remained about 47% higher for dry vans, 44% higher for reefers and 43% higher for flatbeds.

DAT's linehaul readings moved somewhat differently. Its national dry van average slipped one cent to $2.26 per mile, reefer increased one cent to $2.76 and flatbed declined one cent to $2.65. The difference between data providers reflects their separate transaction pools and methods, so fleets should avoid treating any single national number as the exact value of a specific lane.

Carriers should compare current offers with fuel, tolls, deadhead, detention and the likelihood of a paying return load. Reefers must also account for temperature-control fuel and washout time, while flatbed operators need to price securement and weather-related delays. Drivers and owner-operators should watch lane-level changes instead of assuming a stable national average means every market is flat. The present plateau may help planning, but equipment type and geography still determine whether a load produces a workable margin.