Flatbed spot rates continue to rise, hitting strongest week since 2022

The spot market’s dry van, refrigerated, and flatbed segments were all stronger than in recent years, according to FTR Transportation Intelligence and DAT Freight & Analytics. Dry van and refrigerated rates face continued week-over-week rate drops, but flatbed strength won’t quit.
March 12, 2026
3 min read

Key takeaways

  • Flatbed spot rates increased over 5 cents last week, reaching their highest level since October 2022.
  • Dry van rates declined 3.6 cents but remain 19% higher than last year.
  • Refrigerated rates fell 4.4 cents week over week yet are still 26% above last year's levels.
  • Despite declines, the overall spot market remains strong compared to recent years, with capacity tightness supporting elevated rates.
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flatbed hauling metal pipes

Last week’s spot market saw weakening dry van and refrigerated segments, but a flatbed strength that won’t quit, according to weekly reports from FTR Transportation Intelligence and DAT Freight & Analytics.

Broker-posted spot rates for flatbed reached their highest level since October 2022, FTR notes—and are even more attractive for carriers when adjusting for the fuel price difference from that period (though the ongoing fuel surge is closing that gap). Though dry van and refrigerated spot rates declined, FTR noted, they “remain very strong versus recent years.”

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

FTR Transportation Intelligence
FTR Total Spot Rates

Overall average broker-posted spot rates grew 4 cents by FTR's count, with flatbed rate gains making up for dry van and refrigerated losses.

DAT Freight & Analytics
Dry van rates fell 2 cents per mile again last week, the fourth consecutive 2-cent decrease. However, DAT's measure of dry van rates remain up year over year and compared to the week's five-year average (that average excluding the pandemic's 2021 and 2022).

Dry van rates fell 2 cents per mile again last week, the fourth consecutive 2-cent decrease. However, DAT's measure of dry van rates remain up year over year and compared to the week's five-year average (that average excluding the pandemic's 2021 and 2022).

Dry van rates and volumes

According to FTR: Average dry van spot rates decreased 3.6 cents last week. Year over year, rates are up 19%. Dry van loads declined 4.6%, but volumes in the Southeast increased regionally.

According to DAT: National average linehaul spot rates dropped 2 cents per mile again last week, averaging just below $2 per mile. This was the fourth consecutive 2-cent decrease, but the rate is still 22% (36 cents) higher than last year.

DAT Freight & Analytics
DAT refrigerated spot market rates

Average refrigerated linehaul rates dropped 3 cents to $2.38 per mile, but remain up year over year and compared to the week's five-year average (that average excluding the pandemic's 2021 and 2022).

Refrigerated rates and volumes

According to FTR: Refrigerated spot rates decreased 4.4 cents last week. Year over year, though, the average rate is still up 26%. Overall refrigerated loads declined 2.4%, but regionally, volumes rose in the West Coast, Southeast, and South Central.

According to DAT: The national reefer spot rate (excluding fuel) dropped 3 cents per mile last week, averaging $2.38 per mile. As with dry van, this is the fourth consecutive weekly decrease, but the average rate remains 25% (47 cents) higher than last year.

DAT Freight & Analytics
DAT flatbed linehaul rates

Average flatbed rates grew 4 cents to $2.33 per mile, by DAT's count.

Flatbed rates and volumes

According to FTR: Spot rates rose a little over 5 cents last week to the highest level since October 2022. Year over year, rates were up 13.4%. Flatbed rose 5.3%, marking the sixth straight increase in demand, reaching the highest level since May 2022.

"The source of flatbed’s rate and volume strength in recent months is unclear,” FTR noted, “but both largely coincide with stronger manufacturing production as reported by the Federal Reserve. Greater manufacturing output coupled with continued construction of data centers are likely the major components, exacerbated by capacity in the sector that remains tight."

According to DAT: National linehaul spot rates rose 4 cents last week, averaging $2.33 per mile. It is the fifth consecutive week of flatbed rate increases in the 3-to-4-cent range. The rate is 15% (29 cents) higher than the same time last week.

About the Author

Jeremy Wolfe
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Jeremy Wolfe

Editor

Editor Jeremy Wolfe joined the FleetOwner team in February 2024. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point with majors in English and Philosophy. He previously served as Editor for Endeavor Business Media's Water Group publications.

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