BEAVERTON, Ore. — Total broker-posted spot rates in the Truckstop.com system rose for the 13th straight week during the week ending April 17, but the latest week’s gain is solely due to flatbed’s continued surge.
“Dry van spot rates technically increased week over week but barely so, and refrigerated van spot rates fell for a second straight week,” FTR said. “However, spot rates for all three principal equipment types are quite robust year over year even excluding the portion of the rate needed to recover soaring fuel costs.”
Total Spot Loads
Total load activity decreased 4.2% week over week after ticking up 1.5% during the previous week. Volume was down for all three principal equipment types. Load postings were about 55% higher than during the same 2025 week as dry van and – especially – flatbed volume were extraordinarily strong year over year. Truck postings increased 3.0% week over week, and the Market Demand Index – the ratio of loads to trucks – declined to the lowest level in five weeks after hitting the highest level since February 2022 in the prior week.
Total Spot Rates
The total market broker-posted rate increased 6 cents a mile – the smallest increase in six weeks – after rising more than 7 cents in the prior week. Total broker-posted rates were the strongest since June 2022, but rates excluding a calculated fuel surcharge were the strongest since April 2022. Although carriers operating in the spot market typically do not receive surcharges, the calculation is a proxy for the portion of the rate needed to offset higher fuel costs. All-in broker-posted rates were close to 27% higher than in the same week last year while rates excluding a calculated surcharge were up close to 18%.
Using a conservative fuel economy assumption of 6 mpg, carriers’ fuel costs have risen almost 29 cents since the beginning of the diesel price surge during the week ended March 9. During that time, all-in dry van spot rates have increased by just over 29 cents and, thus, have matched fuel cost recovery needs but nothing more. Refrigerated spot rates are only barely stronger over the period at up about 31 cents. However, flatbed spot rates have surged by about 61 cents – more than double the increased fuel cost, again assuming 6 mpg.
Dry Van Spot Rates
Dry van spot rates ticked up a nearly insignificant two tenths of a cent after declining 2 cents during the previous week. However, the prior-year comparisons were slightly stronger both for the all-in rate and the spot rate excluding fuel surcharges. Broker-posted rates were about 39% higher than in the same week last year while rates excluding fuel surcharges were up by just over 29%. Small gains in rates for loads originating in the Northeast and Southeast basically offset small decreases in the Mountain Central and Midwest regions.
Dry van loads declined 4% after decreasing 7.4% in the prior week. Volume was up by close to 45% versus the same 2025 week. Loads were down in all regions, though the decrease in the Southeast was markedly smaller than those in other regions.
Refrigerated Spot Rates
Refrigerated spot rates declined by 4.7 cents after falling 8 cents during the prior week. All-in rates were 35.5% higher than they were during the same 2025 week while rates excluding surcharges were up by nearly 27%. Rates varied notably by region as they fell in the West Coast, South Central, and Mountain Central regions but were up week over week elsewhere.
Refrigerated loads decreased 10.7% after falling 14% in the previous week. Volume was about 11% below that in the same 2025 week – the first negative prior-year comparison in eight weeks – but the same week last year was the week leading into Easter, which is, of course, one of the year’s major food-centric holidays. Volume was up week over week in the Southeast but down in all other regions, led by the West Coast and South Central regions.
Flatbed Spot Rates
Flatbed spot rates rose 8 cents, which matches the increase in the previous week. Rates were at their highest level since late June 2022 whether a calculated fuel surcharge is excluded or not. All-in rates were than 24% higher than in the same 2025 week while rates excluding a surcharge were up by more than 15%. The prior-year comparison has risen steadily for several weeks. Rates were up for loads originating in all regions except for the West Coast, which saw a modest decline.
Flatbed loads declined 3.8% after rising about 6% in the prior week. Volume was 73.5% higher than in the previous week – the strongest comparison in 12 weeks. Loads were up in the Northeast and Mountain Central regions but down elsewhere.
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.
