Flatbed Spot Rates Hit New High as Van Rates Press 2021 Peak
FleetOwner's latest FTR and DAT roundup shows flatbed spot rates setting another record, dry van linehaul rates near all-time highs, and refrigerated freight cooling after recent gains.
Spot pricing stayed hot after Memorial Day
Flatbed spot rates set another record while dry van rates moved within a few cents of their 2021 high, according to FleetOwner's June 4 roundup of FTR Transportation Intelligence and DAT Freight & Analytics data.
The move came even as spot volumes fell across all three major truckload equipment types after the Memorial Day holiday. That split matters for fleet operators: demand softened week to week, but pricing power stayed firm in van and flatbed lanes.
Dry van and flatbed led the market
FTR said dry van spot rates rose 9 cents from the prior week and were up 53% year over year, even as dry van loads fell almost 13%. DAT put the national dry van linehaul spot rate at $2.32 per mile, up 5 cents for the week.
Flatbed was stronger. FTR reported flatbed spot rates up 9 cents and at a new high, with rates roughly 47% above last year. Flatbed loads fell 15.5%. DAT reported flatbed linehaul rates up 2 cents to $2.89 per mile.
Reefer cooled after a sharp run
Refrigerated freight moved the other direction. FTR said reefer spot rates fell a little over 10 cents after a historic four-week gain, while loads dropped nearly 20%. DAT put the national reefer linehaul rate at $2.64 per mile, down 2 cents.
For fleets, the read is practical: routing guides and bid assumptions may need another look if spot pressure keeps bleeding into contract conversations. High rates with lower volumes can also signal tight usable capacity, not just stronger freight demand.
