National linehaul spot rates for dry van freight averaged $2.44 a mile in the third week of July, down 6 cents from the prior week, according to DAT Freight & Analytics data reported by FleetOwner. Refrigerated rates fell 2 cents to $2.80 a mile, and flatbed rates dropped 5 cents to $2.95 a mile, continuing a seasonal pullback in the truckload spot market.

Separate estimates from FTR Transportation Intelligence showed steeper weekly declines, with dry van and refrigerated rates each down more than 8 cents and flatbed down just over 3 cents. Freight volumes fell alongside rates: dry van loads dropped nearly 8% for the week, refrigerated loads fell almost 7%, and flatbed loads declined just over 7%, per FTR figures cited in the report. Rate declines were not uniform nationwide, with dry van and refrigerated rates rising along the West Coast and flatbed rates increasing in the Northeast.

Despite the recent softening, spot rates remain well above year-ago levels. Dry van and flatbed rates are each up roughly 47% to 50% year over year, and refrigerated rates are up about 41%, according to FTR. The pullback comes as total market broker-posted rates fell almost 5 cents for the week, a smaller drop than the week before, signaling the seasonal rate correction may be leveling off.

Source: FleetOwner - https://www.fleetowner.com/news/rates/news/55392844/latest-data-shows-a-decline-in-spot-market-rates-for-dry-van-refrigerated-and-flatbed-freight