The national van linehaul spot rate reached a 2026 high of $2.32 per mile for the week ending May 30, 2026, according to DAT freight data. That figure stood 65 cents higher than the same week a year earlier, a sign of how sharply truckload pricing has firmed entering the summer.

The increase reflects supply-side tightening rather than a broad demand surge. The average rate across DAT's top 50 monitored lanes climbed seven cents to $2.75 per mile, running 43 cents above the overall seven-day national average. Regional figures showed the Midwest carrying some of the strongest van rates.

DAT analysts point to a freight market that has shifted after a long stretch of soft pricing. Capacity exits, steadier shipper demand, and tighter equipment availability have pushed spot rates toward levels not seen since 2021. The data covers van, refrigerated, and flatbed segments, with van volumes representing the largest share of dry-goods truckload activity. For carriers and brokers, the rising linehaul averages change the math on lane bids and contract renewals heading into the second half of the year.

Source: American Journal of Transportation / DAT - https://www.ajot.com/news/dat-spot-truckload-data-for-may-24-30-2026-week-22