Trucking spot rates hold steady as refrigerated freight leads modest seasonal gains

Spot rates barely moved last week, according to weekly reports from FTR Transportation Intelligence and DAT Freight & Analytics.

According to FTR, despite the plateau of total broker-posted spot rates, refrigerated and dry van rates saw seasonal increases. The firm noted that “Rates were—like volume—basically flat versus the same 2024 week at down 0.1% but were about 8% below the five-year average for the week.”

Here is how rates and volumes changed across the three major spot market equipment types:

Dry van rates and volumes

According to FTR: Spot rates rose just under 2 cents after dropping just under 1 cent last week. Year over year, rates are down around 3%. Dry van loads decreased 2.9% week over week and were up 2% year over year.

According to DAT: National linehaul spot rates dropped just under a penny per mile last week, averaging $1.69 per mile. This rate is 2% higher than last year.

Refrigerated rates and volumes

According to FTR: Spot rates rose 5 cents last week, the strongest increase in 10 weeks. Rates were almost 2% higher than last year. Refrigerated loads rose 1.6% last week, with volumes down 18% compared to last year.

According to DAT: The national seven-day rolling average for spot rates increased by a penny per mile week over week, reaching $2.09. This rate is 2% higher than last year.

Flatbed rates and volumes

According to FTR: Spot rates dropped four-tenths of a cent last week. Year over year, rates were up 1%. Flatbed loads fell 13.2% last week—the largest drop since the 4th of July—and are up 5% compared to last year.

According to DAT: National linehaul spot rates remained stable last week, averaging $2.05 per mile. This rate is 4% higher than last year.