BEAVERTON, Ore. — Broker-posted spot rates in the Truckstop.com system continued to move in a largely seasonal fashion during the week ending Aug. 21 despite sharply higher diesel prices recently.
“Dry van spot rates fell for a seventh straight week while refrigerated van rates eked out a slight gain,” FTR said. “Flatbed spot rates declined for a 10th straight week, although that result is not unusual for late summer. The current week usually means stronger van rates, but a late Labor Day might distort the normal pattern.”
Total Spot Loads
Total load activity ticked up 0.8% week over week for the first increase of any size in six weeks. Volume was up about 12% versus the same 2025 week. Truck postings increased 4.4%, and the Market Demand Index – the ratio of loads to trucks – once again was at its lowest level since the third week of the year.
Total Spot Rates
The total market broker-posted rate fell 2.7 cents a mile week over week to its lowest level since early April. The decrease was in a typical range for late August, although it is noteworthy that fuel costs – up nearly 88 cents in the past six weeks – are not supporting higher rates as they were in March and April.
One possible factor in why fuel prices are not affecting rates the way they were four or five months ago is the recovery itself. Adjusted for fuel costs, total spot rates were running 15% to 16% higher year over year before the early March surge in diesel prices. During the jump in diesel prices over the past six weeks, fuel-adjusted total spot rates generally have been 40% to 50% higher than comparable 2025 weeks. In other words, fuel cost recovery arguably is not as critical as it was in early spring. In the latest week, rates were more than 37% higher year over year – the softest comparison since the end of April.
Dry Van Spot Rates
Dry van spot rates declined just under 2 cents to their lowest level since early May. Rates were about 36% higher than in the same 2025 week. Dry van spot rates were up modestly week over week for loads originating in the Northeast and practically flat on the West Coast and Midwest. Rates were down elsewhere, especially in the South Central region.
Dry van loads increased 2.8%. Volume was almost 19% higher than in the same 2025 week. Loads fell sharply in the Mountain Central region but were up elsewhere.
Refrigerated Spot Rates
Refrigerated spot rates ticked up 1.3 cents, which largely matches seasonal expectations for the week. Rates were 34% higher than in the same 2025 week. Refrigerated spot rates decreased for loads originating in the South Central and Southeast regions but were up elsewhere.
Refrigerated loads rose 10.8% – the largest increase in eight weeks. Volume was more than 13% higher than during the same 2025 week for the strongest prior-year comparison in 11 weeks. Load postings outperformed the total growth for the equipment type in all but the Southeast and Northeast regions, though volume was up week over week in both cases.
Flatbed Spot Rates
Flatbed spot rates fell just over 4 cents for the smallest decrease in five weeks. Once again, rates were at their lowest level since late April. Rates were close to 40% higher than during the same 2025 week. Flatbed spot rates ticked up for loads originating in the Northeast but were down elsewhere.
Flatbed loads decreased 1.6%. Volume was 10.6% higher than in the same week last year. Load postings increased in the Northeast and Southeast but were down in all other regions. The decrease on the West Coast was only a fraction of a cent, however.
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.
