PORTLAND, Ore. —Truckload freight volumes rose across all major equipment types in March while a sharp jump in fuel costs pushed spot and contract rates to their highest levels in more than two years, according to DAT Freight & Analytics.
DAT Truckload Volume Index
The DAT Truckload Volume Index (TVI), which measures demand for truckload services, increased month over month, reflecting strong early-season demand to move retail goods, produce, and construction and industrial equipment:
- Van TVI: 253, up 12% compared to February.
- Reefer TVI: 196, up 7%.
- Flatbed TVI: 314, up 18%.
Spot Pricing: Fuel Drives Freight Rates Higher
National average truckload spot rates increased in March, driven almost entirely by fuel cost recovery:
- Spot van rate: $2.52 per mile, up 11 cents from February.
- Spot reefer rate: $2.97 per mile, up 9 cents.
- Spot flatbed rate: $3.09 per mile, up 37 cents.
Spot rates, which are negotiated between the freight broker and carrier as all-in rates with no separate fuel surcharge, were substantially higher across all modes year over year. The average spot van rate was up 53 cents from March 2025, the reefer rate was up 70 cents, and spot flatbed rates increased 56 cents.
Van and Reefer Spot LInehaul Rates
Van and reefer spot linehaul rates—the portion of the truckload rate excluding fuel—surged toward the end of March as shippers rounded out Q1, but actually declined month over month, falling 9 cents and 13 cents, respectively. Flatbed was the exception: the average linehaul rate rose 13 cents.
“Linehaul rates were still under pressure through most of March, which tells you demand hasn’t fully caught up yet,” said Ken Adamo, DAT chief of analytics.
The national average diesel fuel surcharge surged across all equipment types, compressing linehaul margins even as total rates climbed. Last month’s average van fuel surcharge rose from 41 cents to 61 cents per mile, the highest since late 2022. The reefer surcharge climbed 22 cents, to 67 cents per mile, and the flatbed surcharge rose 24 cents, to 73 cents per mile.
“For context, monthly average van fuel surcharges averaged around 40 cents per mile throughout most of 2025,” Adamo said. “The March reading represents a 50% increase from that baseline.”
Contract Rates: Moving Higher with Fuel
Contract freight rates increased sharply in March, driven largely by the same fuel-cost dynamics that affect the spot market.
- Contract van rate: $2.72 per mile, up 20 cents month over month.
- Contract reefer rate: $3.10 per mile, up 22 cents.
- Contract flatbed rate: $3.43 per mile, up 30 cents.
As shippers and carriers navigate RFP season in this environment, Adamo offered a pointed assessment of current trucking industry trends and freight pricing strategies.
“Right now, the smartest players are pricing contracts based on where they believe the market is going and being transparent about those assumptions, leaving room to adjust if conditions change,” Adamo said.
Dana Guthrie is an award-winning journalist who has been featured in multiple newspapers, books and magazines across the globe. She is currently based in the Atlanta, Georgia, area.
