How The Big Game Impacted Freight Volumes
Super Bowl LX drove a spike in trucking freight volumes into San Jose. New data shows which equipment types benefited most.
What does the data show about the year's biggest game's demand on freight logistics?
HDT Graphic
The Patriots and the Seahawks meet in California this Sunday for Super Bowl LX. But for supply chain, trucking, and logistics professionals, the big game isn’t just a sporting event — it’s a freight event.
Hosting the Big Game requires a massive surge of inbound freight.
Beyond food and beverages, the week leading up to the game drives demand for tailgating supplies, equipment, temporary infrastructure, and last-minute expedited shipments.
Inbound load volumes for this year’s Super Bowl in San Jose, California, compared to last year’s event in New Orleans over a three-week period leading up to the week of the event.
Truckstop.com
What the Data Shows About Big Game Freight Patterns
According to Truckstop.com, inbound load volumes to the San Jose market jumped significantly during the week of January 25–31, both week over week and year over year.
Flatbed and reefer were the big winners looking at load volumes, week over week, for the three main equipment types for this year’s NFL Championship Game. (The last week recorded was the week ending Jan. 31, so the change is compared to the week ending Jan. 24.)
Truckstop.com
Inbound Load Volume Increases
- Flatbed: +30% WoW | +200% YoY
- Reefer: +18% WoW | +3% YoY
- Van: +10% WoW | +29% YoY
Higher volumes also drove rate increases for several equipment types:
Inbound Spot Rates
- Reefer: $2.72 avg | +12.4% WoW | +22% YoY
- Flatbed: $3.02 avg | +3.4% WoW | +0.3% YoY
- Van: $2.18 avg | -5.6% WoW | -0.46% YoY
Early indications suggest reefer and flatbed carriers are the clear winners in this year’s “freight Super Bowl," according to Truckstop.com, though van may be positioning itself for a stronger run in the game
How does this year's Big Game compare to other big events?
Truckstop.com
More Fleet Management
Nominations Open for HDT Emerging Leaders
Heavy Duty Trucking is looking for accomplished trucking fleet professionals under 40 who are making an impact and helping lead the industry forward.
Read More →
Why Private Fleets Are Taking More Freight
Private fleets are putting their own trucks on demanding customers and high-cost lanes as companies seek greater control over service, costs, and capacity.
Read More →
Color Match Smarter: Tools That Restore & Perform
For fleet managers and collision repair professionals keeping heavy-duty trucks on the road, getting the color right the first time isn't just about appearance — it's about efficiency, turnaround time, and bottom-line results. Discover how today's digital color tools are transforming the repair process from guesswork to precision.
Read More →
FMCSA Pauses Biennial-Update Enforcement Amid Motus Transition
Carriers whose updates were due on or after June 1 have more time, while FMCSA works to stabilize its new registration system and warns of phishing sites impersonating its new carrier registration system, Motus.
Read More →
2026 Blueprint for Countering Smarter Supply Chain Theft
Cargo theft is no longer just the cost of doing business. It's a multi-billion-dollar criminal enterprise exploiting vulnerabilities across your fleet, drivers, and supply chain.
Read More →
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 →