Spot freight rates for dry vans and reefers remain well above year-ago levels despite a modest weekly decline, according to the latest market data compiled by DAT Solutions.
Current Spot Rates
Dry van linehaul rates averaged $2.38 per mile this week, a 2.5% drop—or $0.06 per mile—from the previous week. Reefer rates averaged $3.39 per mile, 4 cents higher than the May average. Year-over-year, dry van rates are 74 cents higher and reefer rates are 77 cents higher.
Load-to-Truck Ratios
The national van load-to-truck ratio stood at 10.61 loads per truck, compared with the June average of 9.38. Ratios remained relatively even across major regions, though the top 10 origin states accounted for 87.2% of all U.S. outbound loads during the week.
Regional Performance
California posted the smallest week-over-week decline among leading origins, down just 0.1%. Other major origins saw larger drops as summer volumes eased. Refrigerated freight on the West Coast remained supported by steady produce volumes and tightening capacity around peak harvest periods.
Capacity Outlook
ACT Research’s June For-Hire Trucking Index indicates freight rates near record territory while capacity continues to tighten. Class 8 tractor sales remain below replacement levels, and new federal driver regulations are further constraining the labor pool, according to the report.