BEAVERTON, Ore. — Broker-posted spot rates in the Truckstop.com system for flatbed equipment have set records for three straight weeks and now dry van spot rates during the week ending May 29 have come within 3 cents of their all-time high at the end of 2021.
“Flatbed spot rates posted their strongest week-over-week increase in eight weeks, but refrigerated spot rates retreated modestly immediately after recording their largest four-week gain ever,” FTR said. “Spot volume fell as expected due to the Memorial Day holiday.”
Total Spot Loads
Total load activity fell 15.1% week over week during the week that included the holiday. Volume was more than 67% higher than in the same 2025 week as flatbed loads were nearly double the prior year’s level. However, all equipment types were up year over year. Truck postings fell 11.5% during the holiday week, and the Market Demand Index – the ratio of loads to trucks – declined modestly.
Total Spot Rates
The total market broker-posted rate rose by 7.7 cents a mile, which is a little more than a penny softer than the gain in the previous week. The total market rate again was at a record level.
All-in broker-posted rates were 48.5% higher than in the same week last year while rates excluding a calculated surcharge were about 45% 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.
Dry Van Spot Rates
Dry van spot rates rose by just over 9 cents after rising by just under 45 cents during the previous four weeks. Broker-posted rates were less than 3 cents below the record set in the final week of 2021. Rates excluding a calculated surcharge were about 28 cents lower than the all-time high in that same week.
All-in dry van spot rates were 53% higher than the same week last year while rates excluding a fuel surcharge were up more than 49%. Rates were up week over week in all regions, but the largest gains were for loads originating in the Northeast, West Coast, and Midwest.
Dry van loads dropped 12.8% during the holiday week. Volume was more than 43% higher than in the same 2025 week. Load postings were down in all regions, although the percentage decrease in the Northeast was much smaller than it was for other regions.
Refrigerated Spot Rates
Refrigerated spot rates fell a little more than 10 cents after surging nearly 74 cents in the previous four weeks, mostly due to a record spike of more than 52 cents during International Roadcheck week. Broker-posted rates were about 52% higher than in the same 2025 week while rates excluding a fuel surcharge were up close to 49%. Half of the six broad regions saw small week-over-week gains, but rates fell sharply for loads originating in the Southeast, Mountain Central, and South Central regions.
Refrigerated loads fell 19.9% during the holiday week. However, volume was about 21% higher than in the same 2025 week for the strongest prior-year comparison in nine weeks. Load postings were down sharply in all regions.
Flatbed Spot Rates
Flatbed spot rates rose by a little more than 9 cents for the strongest gain in eight weeks and another all-time high level. Rates have risen for 22 straight weeks and in 27 of the past 28 weeks. All-in flatbed rates were more than 47% higher than in the same 2025 week while rates excluding a surcharge were up nearly 44%. Rates rose on loads originating in all regions except the Mountain Central, which recorded a miniscule decrease week over week.
Flatbed loads decreased 15.5% during the holiday week. Volume was close to 94% higher than in the same 2025 week. Load postings fell in all regions.
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.
