Dry van and flatbed spot rates climbed toward record territory across U.S. truckload markets in mid-2026, while refrigerated freight cooled, according to FleetOwner's market tracking. The split shows a freight economy strengthening on the supply side as carriers that exited during the prolonged downturn reduce available capacity.

Flatbed demand drew strength from construction and industrial shipping, supporting some of the firmest rate gains in the segment. Dry van rates advanced on steadier retail and consumer-goods volumes. Refrigerated rates eased as seasonal produce patterns shifted, illustrating how individual equipment types can diverge even when the broader market tightens.

Analysts describe the pattern as a market inversion, where shrinking capacity rather than booming freight volume drives pricing higher. Spot rates serve as an early signal for contract rates, which carriers and shippers renegotiate on a lag. The data suggests carriers entering the second half of 2026 hold more pricing leverage than at any point in the prior two years. For fleet operators, the divergence between rising van and flatbed rates and softer refrigerated pricing underscores the value of lane-level visibility when planning equipment deployment.

Source: FleetOwner - https://www.fleetowner.com/news/rates/news/55381769/dry-van-and-flatbed-spot-rates-climb-toward-record-levels-as-refrigerated-freight-softens-across-truckload-markets