Spot Truckload Rates Poised to Set Records in June
Spot truckload rates on the DAT Solutions network of load boards rose again for the week ending June 16 and are on track to achieve the highest ever monthly average for van, refrigerated, and flatbed freight.

Spot truckload rates rose again and are on track to achieve the highest ever monthly average for van, refrigerated, and flatbed freight.
Source: DAT Solutions
Spot truckload rates on the DAT Solutions network of load boards rose again for the week ending June 16 and are on track to achieve the highest ever monthly average for van, refrigerated, and flatbed freight, according to the freight matching service provider.
Despite a 6% drop in posted loads and 5.4% jump in the number of available trucks from the week before, national average rates gained for all three equipment types. The flatbed rate set a record while van and reefer rates were just shy of their all-time high:
Van: $2.30 per mile, up 1 cent
Flatbed: $2.82 per mile, up 1 cent
Reefer: $2.70 per mile, up 1 cent
Van load posts fell 5% while truck posts increased 4% compared to the previous week. The van load-to-truck ratio declined 8% to 10.3 to 1.
The number of available loads increased by double-digit percentage points in key markets such as Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago, and Atlanta. Looking at spot rates, most of the top-gaining van lanes were in the West, including:
Stockton, California to Seattle, up 31 cents to $3.80 per mile
Stockton to Salt Lake City, up 30 cents to $2.87 per mile
Los Angeles to Seattle, up 23 cents to $3.75 per mile
In contrast, Houston to Dallas retreated 14 cents to $2.83 per mile last week.
Flatbed load posts slipped 7% and truck posts increased 7% last week, which pushed the flatbed load-to-truck ratio down to 88.7 to 1. It was 109 to 1 the previous week.
Reefer load posts fell 9%, truck posts increased 6%, and the reefer load-to-truck ratio dipped from 14.7 to 1 to 12.6 to 1.
Last week's increase in capacity had a bigger impact on reefer markets than on dry vans, according to DAT. While the national average reefer rate ticked upward, many high-traffic lanes had lower prices. Among them:
Dallas to Houston fell 3 cents to $3.57 per mile
Elizabeth, New Jersey to Boston was down 11 cents to $4.52 per mile
Chicago to Kansas City declined 16 cents to $2.56 per mile.
Related: How Trucking Fleets Are Dealing With a Hot Flatbed Sector
More Fleet Management

How Telematics Improves Visibility, Control, and Performance in Refrigerated Fleets
Explore how telematics help refrigerated fleets improve visibility, uptime, efficiency, compliance, and cargo protection across connected cold chain operations.
Read More →
What the U.S.-Canada Trade War Means for Trucking
Escalating U.S.-Canada tariffs could disrupt cross-border freight, reduce truck volumes, raise costs, and create new uncertainty for carriers on both sides of the border.
Read More →
What Are Trucking’s Top Concerns for 2026?
The American Transportation Research Institute wants to know what's worrying trucking fleet managers, drivers, and other stakeholders in its annual Industry Issues survey.
Read More →
American Trucking Associations Looks for a New Leader
ATA President and CEO Chris Spear abruptly left his job at the association on August 21, at a pivotal time for the trucking industry.
Read More →
Public Wi-Fi Cybersecurity Risks: How Truck Drivers and Fleets Can Protect Their Data
Public Wi-Fi can expose truck drivers and fleets to credential theft, malware, and other cyber threats. Here’s how to reduce the risk on the road.
Read More →
For Nicky Cupp, Fleet Innovation Starts With Frustration
HDT Truck Fleet Innovator Nicky Cupp turns everyday pain points at Fraley & Schilling into opportunities for better technology and smarter processes.
Read More →
Adam Buttgenbach’s Approach to Electric Trucks: Start With Where They Fit
HDT Truck Fleet Innovator Adam Buttgenbach helped PepsiCo build one of North America’s largest EV fleets by focusing on where electric trucks make operational sense.
Read More →
Deen Albert: Let Automation Do the Math, People Make the Decisions
HDT Truck Fleet Innovator Deen Albert makes sure people are still at the heart of operations at Grand Island Express, even while adopting artificial intelligence tools. AI-assisted dispatch helped boost revenue 25% with the same number of trucks.
Read More →Trimble’s New AI Agent Takes Aim at Fleet Back-Office Busywork
Arc Agent works across Trimble TMS products to automate repetitive tasks such as freight orders, maintenance, invoices, fuel costs and more.
Read More →
How HDT’s 2026 Truck Fleet Innovators Are Rethinking Fleet Operations
Meet five trucking leaders who are challenging assumptions, solving operational problems, and putting innovative ideas to work.
Read More →

