BEAVERTON, Ore. — Spot rates rise again sharply due to the ongoing surge in diesel prices continuing to bolster broker-posted spot rates in the Truckstop.com system during the week ending March 27.
“Both the total market rate and flatbed spot rates posted their largest increases ever in a non-holiday week,” FTR said. “Dry van and flatbed spot rates were the highest since the summer of 2022 even excluding the portion needed to recover fuel costs. Refrigerated spot rates were the highest since late 2022 aside from recent holiday and weather distortions.”
Total Spot Loads
Total load activity increased 4.1% week over week to the highest level since June 2022. Load postings were about 35% higher than during the same 2025 week. Truck postings increased just 0.7% week over week, and the Market Demand Index – the ratio of loads to trucks – rose to the highest level since February 2022.
Total Spot Rates
The total market broker-posted rate rose 11.4 cents week over week to the highest level since July 2022. The increase was the largest ever in a week that did not fall in late December. Excluding a calculated fuel surcharge, rates rose 7 cents and were the strongest since July 2022 as well. Rates were about 20% higher than in the same 2025 week all in and about 10% higher excluding a calculated fuel surcharge.
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. FTR estimates that carriers’ fuel costs per mile have risen by about 24 cents at 6 mpg and 21 cents at 7 mpg in just three weeks. However, that calculation does not consider whatever happened with fuel prices in the latest week; the Energy Information Administration (EIA) publishes that figure on Tuesday mornings.
On Friday, March 27, U.S. crude oil closed at its highest price since July 2022, so prospects for any significant reversal of diesel prices seem dim. In the first three weeks of U.S. military operations against Iran, the national average retail price soared by just under $1.48 a gallon – the most by far in any three-week period on record.
Dry Van Spot Rates
Dry van spot rates jumped 10.7 cents after easing less than a penny in the previous week and were at the highest level since June 2022. Excluding a calculated fuel surcharge, rates increased more than 6 cents. Broker-posted rates were up nearly 33% versus the same week last year while rates excluding fuel surcharges were up about 22%.
For the first time in three weeks, rate moves in the Midwest did not distort the overall dry van rate picture in either direction, although the increase was smaller than those in all other regions except for the Mountain Central region, which saw a small decrease in rates.
Dry van loads increased 7.8% for the largest gain in eight weeks and were up about 51% versus the same 2025 week. Volume rose in all regions.
Refrigerated Spot Rates
Refrigerated spot rates increased 4.3 cents – the third straight increase but the smallest of the three by far. Excluding a fuel surcharge, rates were essentially flat, though as noted, that is based on latest reported EIA average and does not account for diesel price changes last week. Broker-posted rates, which were the highest in seven weeks, were about 42% above the same 2025 week, and rates were nearly 37% higher when fuel surcharges are excluded. As was the case with dry van a week earlier, refrigerated rates for loads originating in the Midwest region fell, partially offsetting gains in all other regions.
Refrigerated loads declined 5.5% after rising 17.0% in the previous week. Volume was up 26% versus the same 2025 week. The largest drop was in the Midwest, and only the Southeast and Northeast saw higher load volume week over wee
Flatbed Spot Rates
Flatbed spot rates surged 12.7 cents to the highest level since August 2022. Excluding fuel surcharges, flatbed rates increased more than 8 cents based on last week’s EIA diesel price and were, like broker-posted rates, at the highest level since August 2022. Broker-posted rates were nearly 19% higher than they were during the same 2025 week. Excluding fuel surcharges, rates were up 9%. All regions except the Midwest saw double-digit rate increases; the increase in the Midwest was nearly 8 cents a mile.
Flatbed loads increased 3.1% to the highest level since May 2022. Load postings were about 33% higher than in the same 2025 week. While still quite strong, prior-year comparisons have softened recently due to unusual strength during the same period last year. Load volume in the latest week eased in the Northeast and Southeast regions but increased elsewhere – especially in the South Central region and on the West Coast
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.
