Dry van and refrigerated rates mixed as freight volumes rebound post-Memorial Day

Dry van and refrigerated spot rates were mixed last week after a long stretch of consecutive increases. Rates remain significantly higher year over year, according to weekly reports from FTR Transportation Intelligence and DAT Freight & Analytics. 

FTR still predicts dry van rates will reach a new all-time high by the end of July. Meanwhile, flatbed rates continued their 2026 surge. Loads, on the other hand, rose across all equipment types following the typical Memorial Day holiday lull.

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 dropped almost 4 cents last week. Year over year, rates are up 55%. Dry van loads rose almost 14%.

According to DAT: National linehaul spot rates rose 7 cents last week, averaging $2.39 per mile.

Refrigerated rates and volumes

According to FTR: Spot rates fell 11 cents last week. Rates were about 50% higher than last year. Refrigerated loads rose almost  9%.

According to DAT: National linehaul spot rates rose 6 cents last week, averaging $2.69 per mile. 

Flatbed rates and volumes

According to FTR: Spot rates rose a little over 5 cents last week, the smallest increase in six weeks. Year over year, rates were up 49%. Flatbed loads rose 7.4%. 

According to DAT: National linehaul spot rates rose 4 cents per mile last week, averaging $2.93 per mile.