BEAVERTON, Ore. — Despite some week-over-week easing in van rates, total market broker-posted spot rates in the Truckstop.com system rose to an all-time high – at least dating back to 2014 – during the week ending April 24.
“Flatbed spot rates rose for a 17th straight week, and dry van and refrigerated van spot rates remained highly elevated,” FTR said. “Even if spot rates were to moderate in the near term, another record is likely soon due to the upcoming International Roadcheck roadside inspection event.”
Total Spot Loads
Total load activity ticked up 0.4% week over week after declining more than 4% during the previous week. Load postings were 47% higher than during the same 2025 week due mostly to flatbed volume. Truck postings increased 3.2% week over week, and the Market Demand Index – the ratio of loads to trucks – declined to the lowest level in seven weeks.
Total Spot Rates
The total market broker-posted rate increased 3.4 cents a mile – the smallest increase in nine weeks – after rising 6 cents in the prior week. All-in broker-posted rates were close to 30% higher than in the same week last year while rates excluding a calculated surcharge were nearly 23% higher. 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.
While the all-in broker-posted rate is the highest since Truckstop.com and FTR began calculating a total market rate in 2014, it is more than 20 cents a mile below the highest level when a calculated fuel surcharge is excluded. That distinction goes to the final week of 2021, and the total market rate excluding surcharges was higher in 21 weeks of 2021 than it was last week. Spot rates excluding surcharges were, however, the highest since early February 2022.
Although the unprecedented surge in diesel prices in March undoubtedly represented a big cash flow challenge for many carriers, over the course of the past seven weeks, van operations have recovered their higher fuel costs but little else.
Using a conservative fuel economy assumption of 6 mpg, carriers’ fuel costs rose about 25 cents from the diesel price surge during the week ended March 9 through the week ended April 20, which saw a drop of more than 20 cents in the national average diesel price. During that time, all-in dry van and refrigerated spot rates have increased by about 25 cents each. Flatbed spot rates, though, have surged nearly 66 cents. The fuel cost calculation does not account for whatever change in the national average price occurred last week, however.
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s annual International Roadcheck event is scheduled for May 12-14. The CVSA event invariably sidelines many drivers who want to avoid the hassle and scrutiny of a higher rate of roadside inspections. Given tight capacity, aging equipment, and the intense focus on foreign drivers, this year’s Roadcheck seems likely to result in another record for spot rates regardless of what happens between now and then.
Dry Van Spot Rates
Dry van spot rates decreased 4.5 cents after ticking up just two tenths of a cent during the previous week. Broker-posted rates were about 37% higher than in the same week last year while rates excluding fuel surcharges were up nearly 29%. Rates were up by a miniscule amount for loads originating in the Southeast but were down in all other regions, led by the Midwest and Northeast.
Dry van loads fell 5.7% for the fourth straight decrease. Volume was up by close to 18% versus the same 2025 week – the weakest comparison since the week before the major winter weather storm in late January. Loads were down in all regions, led – like rates – by the Northeast and Midwest.
Refrigerated Spot Rates
Refrigerated spot rates fell by 6.4 cents after decreasing by close to 5 cents during the prior week. All-in rates were about 34% higher than they were during the same 2025 week while rates excluding surcharges were up by nearly 26%. Rates rose substantially for loads originating in the Southeast but fell in all other regions, led by the Midwest.
Refrigerated loads increased 2.7% after falling for four straight weeks. Volume was about 12% below that in the same 2025 week. Volume was up substantially in the Southeast and South Central regions but down elsewhere.
Flatbed Spot Rates
Flatbed spot rates rose just under 5 cents for the smallest increase in 9 weeks. The all-in flatbed rate is the highest since late June 2022; the rate excluding surcharges is the highest since early June 2022. In the past 23 weeks, rates have decreased week over week just once. The total increase in the broker-posted rate during that period is more than $1.09 a mile. In the latest week, all-in broker-posted flatbed spot rates were up 27.5% while rates excluding a calculated surcharge were up about 20%. Rates were up week over week in all regions except the Mountain Central region.
Flatbed loads edged up 1.4%. Volume was 69% higher than in the same 2025 week. Volume was mixed as loads were up in the Midwest and Southeast but down elsewhere. However, the week-over-week decreases in the South Central and Mountain Central regions were very small.
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.
