BEAVERTON, Ore. — Broker-posted spot rates in the Truckstop.com system for dry van and refrigerated van equipment declined modestly during the week ending June 12 as they had during the prior week.
“The drop in dry van spot rates was the largest since early January while the decrease in refrigerated spot rates was smaller than it was in the two weeks prior,” FTR said. “Van rate sluggishness in June is typical. Flatbed spot rates rose for a 24th straight week, although the latest increase was the smallest in 20 weeks.”
Total Spot Loads
Total load activity fell 11.5% week over week after rising by 9.4% during the previous week. Volume was about 45% higher than during the same 2025 week due to strength in dry van and, especially, flatbed, although refrigerated loads were modestly higher year over year, too. Truck postings ticked up 0.8%, and the Market Demand Index – the ratio of loads to trucks – fell to the lowest level in five weeks.
Total Spot Rates
The total market broker-posted rate technically increased for a 21st straight week but was up just three tenths of a cent from the previous week. Once again, the total market rate was a record.
All-in broker-posted rates were more than 51% higher than in the same week last year while rates excluding a calculated surcharge were about 50% 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. The year-over-year comparisons for all-in and fuel-adjusted rates for each of the principal equipment types are close enough that only all-in comparison will be provided in this week’s analysis for each type.
In addition to typical sluggishness in rates between Memorial Day and the beginning of July, van spot rates also might be losing the upward pressure experienced due to sharply higher diesel prices from early March to early May. The national average price of diesel has fallen 43 cents in the past five weeks, although more than 31 cents of that decrease came during the two weeks that ended June 8.
Dry Van Spot Rates
Dry van spot rates fell by 8.1 cents after decreasing less than 4 cents during the prior week. Dry van rates had come to within 3 cents of their all-time high during week 21. Rates were nearly 53% higher than during the same 2025 week. Dry van rates fell in all regions week over week, but decreases were especially large for loads originating in the Midwest, Northeast, and Mountain Central regions.
Dry van loads fell 12.9%. Volume was close to 35% higher than in the same 2025 week. Load postings fell in all regions, although the decreases for loads originating on the West Coast and in the Northeast were substantially smaller than those in other regions.
Refrigerated Spot Rates
Refrigerated spot rates declined by 3 cents after dropping 11 cents in the previous week. Rates were nearly 46% higher than during the same week last year. A sizeable increase in refrigerated spot rates for loads originating in the Southeast offset much of the decrease in rates recorded in all other regions.
Refrigerated loads decreased 6.4%. Volume was about 8% higher than during the same 2025 week. Load postings increased in the Northeast but fell in all other regions.
Flatbed Spot Rates
Flatbed spot rates moved up 2.6 cents, which is the smallest increase since rates ticked up just under 1 cent in week 3 of the year. Rates, which once again were at a record high, have risen for 29 of the past 30 weeks, but continued increases beyond the coming week would be contrary to longstanding seasonal expectations. Flatbed rates were about 52% higher than in the same 2025 week. Large decreases in rates for loads originating in the Midwest and Northeast greatly offset gains in other regions, including large increases on the West Coast and in the South Central region.
Flatbed loads fell 13.1%. Volume was close to 59% higher than in the same week last year. Load postings fell in all regions week over week.
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.
