Freight market update
Spot rates
National averages, broker to carrier, Oct 17–23, 2026. Source: DAT Freight & Analytics
| Equipment | All-in rate | Linehaul | Last week | Linehaul vs last year | Loads per truck |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry van | $3.07 | $2.24 | −2¢ | +33% | 9.5 |
| Reefer | $3.63 | $2.73 | −3¢ | +31% | 14.8 |
| Flatbed | $3.61 | $2.63 | −3¢ | +28% | 34.9 |
All-in includes the fuel surcharge. Loads per truck is DAT's load-to-truck ratio: the higher it is, the more freight there is for each available truck.
What's going on
Spot rates slipped 2 to 3 cents as load posts cooled, but they're still about 30% above last year because trucks are scarce.
Trucks are scarce
Truck posts on DAT are 20–26% below a year ago. That's what keeps rates high even as freight cools.
Source: DATDiesel is expensive
The U.S. average is over $6 a gallon, about $2.60 more than a year ago. Fuel surcharges are doing a lot of the work in all-in rates.
Source: EIAShippers are paying more
Freight spending rose 32% from a year earlier in the third quarter, while shipment volume grew only 0.5%.
Source: U.S. Bank Freight Payment IndexNext few weeks
DAT's forecast has van linehaul holding near $2.24 into late November, reefer edging up to $2.78 and flatbed easing to $2.59.
Source: DAT iQ RateCast
Latest trucking news
More from DAT in the news- Data centers, consumers are keeping trucking demand afloatTrucking Dive · Oct 30, 2026
- Schneider and Norfolk Southern partner to expand domestic intermodal capacityThe Trucker · Oct 30, 2026
- Trailer leasing demand hits record highsFreightWaves · Oct 30, 2026
- DAT: Spot truckload rates dip 2 to 3 cents a mile as load posts coolThe Trucker · Oct 26, 2026
Headlines update automatically from FreightWaves, Trucking Dive and The Trucker. Links open the original articles.
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