National spot truckload rates rose sharply in June 2026, according to data from DAT Freight & Analytics and FTR Transportation Intelligence. Aggregate linehaul rates, excluding fuel, climbed 43 percent year over year, while flatbed spot rates posted gains of nearly 50 percent compared with the same period in 2025.
Spot Rates by Equipment Type
National linehaul spot rates averaged $2.72 per mile in the most recent reporting week, down 8 cents from the prior week. Dry van rates settled at $2.97 per mile, refrigerated rates at $3.37 per mile, and flatbed rates at $3.58 per mile. All three segments posted modest week-over-week declines ranging from 2 to 4 cents per mile.
Compared with Week 30 of 2025, reefer rates were up 77 cents per mile and flatbed rates were up 83 cents per mile. June data showed dry van rates at $3.00 per mile, reefer rates at $3.39 per mile, and flatbed rates at $3.69 per mile—the latter marking an all-time high.
Load and Equipment Postings
Flatbed load posts in Week 30 fell 9.2 percent from the previous week but remained 34.5 percent above year-ago levels. Equipment posts declined 1.6 percent on the week and were 27.9 percent lower than last year. The resulting imbalance kept broker-to-carrier all-in rates relatively steady despite softer volumes.
Regional and Seasonal Trends
Year-over-year rate premiums across four eastern lanes ranged from 21 percent to 103 percent. On the West Coast and in the South, load postings declined, while flatbed rates fell by roughly 6 cents to their lowest level since early May. Despite softening capacity, flatbed rates have held firm, supported by ongoing construction demand.
Market Context
The national average diesel price rose 33 cents per gallon to $5.13, prompting fuel surcharges to increase by 6 to 7 cents. ACT Research’s July forecast indicated that contract rates were 13 percent higher year over year, reflecting continued upward pressure across both spot and contract segments.