National spot rates climb for dry van and flatbed amid mixed refrigerated demand

Last week, dry van and flatbed spot rates rose slightly, according to weekly reports from FTR Transportation Intelligence and DAT Freight & Analytics.

According to FTR, “dry van and flatbed added to their gains in the previous week, and refrigerated spot rates declined only modestly from the record surge in that week. The total market spot rate did not quite match the rate at the end of 2025, but dry van spot rates surpassed year-end rates, reaching the highest level since the end of 2022. Flatbed spot rates increased for the 11th time in 12 weeks.”

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 3.6 cents last week. Year over year, rates are up 22%. Dry van loads increased 0.6%. 

According to DAT: National linehaul spot rates rose $0.07 per mile last week, averaging $2.08 per mile. This rate is 25% higher than last year.

Refrigerated rates and volumes

According to FTR: Spot rates dropped almost 6 cents last week. Rates were almost 36% higher than last year. Refrigerated loads fell 11%.

According to DAT: National linehaul spot rates rose $0.08 per mile last week, averaging $2.57 per mile. This rate is about 30% higher than last year.

Flatbed rates and volumes

According to FTR: Spot rates rose almost 4 cents last week. Year over year, rates were up about 9%. Flatbed loads rose 5.7%.

According to DAT: National linehaul spot rates rose $0.05 per mile last week, averaging $2.21 per mile. This rate is about 13% higher than last year.