DAT: Higher fuel costs lifted April truckload rates; freight volumes eased

Rhea-AI Summary

DAT Freight & Analytics (NYSE:ROP) reported that April truckload spot and contract rates rose mainly due to higher fuel costs, while freight volumes eased.

The DAT Truckload Volume Index fell month over month for van, reefer, and flatbed, and per‑mile fuel surcharges reached their highest averages since July 2022.

Linehaul rates moved modestly, with flatbed showing the only increase large enough to suggest higher demand, and spot‑to‑contract rate spreads narrowed across all equipment types.

News Market Reaction – ROP

+3.15%

+3.15% Session close to close

In the May 18 session, ROP gained 3.15%, reflecting a moderate positive market reaction.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Market Context

This announcement provides detailed confirmation that April truckload spot and contract rates rose, ...

Analysis

This announcement provides detailed confirmation that April truckload spot and contract rates rose, but mainly due to higher fuel costs, while the DAT Truckload Volume Index showed softer volumes. Linehaul rate gains were modest, with flatbed the only segment showing a meaningful increase. For ROP holders, this adds context to earlier DAT freight intelligence updates; investors may watch future TVI and rate releases for clearer signs of demand-led recovery versus cost-driven pricing changes.

Key Figures

Van TVI: 251 Reefer TVI: 183 Flatbed TVI: 306 +5 more

8 metrics

Van TVI 251 Down 3% month-over-month, up 2% year-over-year

Reefer TVI 183 Down 9% month-over-month, up 1% year-over-year

Flatbed TVI 306 Down 3% month-over-month, up 3% year-over-year

Van spot rate $2.67 per mile Up $0.15 from March and $0.71 year-over-year

Reefer spot rate $3.11 per mile Up $0.14 from March and $0.83 year-over-year

Flatbed spot rate $3.46 per mile Up $0.37 from March and $0.94 year-over-year

Van linehaul rate $1.96 per mile Up $0.05 from March

Flatbed linehaul rate $2.61 per mile Up $0.25 from March

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: May 04 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	24h Move	Catalyst
May 04	Freight intelligence showcase	Positive	-0.8%	DAT iQ highlighted freight rate and capacity trends at Gartner symposium.
Apr 28	Global tech expansion	Positive	+0.5%	Illumia opened a Chennai GCC to expand product and technology capabilities.
Apr 28	Product integration	Positive	+0.5%	PCS Software integrated DAT One load board into Cortex tools for fleets.
Apr 23	Q1 2026 earnings	Positive	-0.3%	Roper posted strong revenue, earnings growth and raised DEPS guidance.
Apr 21	New annuity platform	Positive	+0.8%	iPipeline and FIDx launched IX Express for digital annuity distribution.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Pattern Detected

Recent ROP news has generally been positive, but price reactions have been mixed, with several instances where strong or favorable updates were followed by modest declines.

Recent Company History

Over the last month, ROP-related businesses reported multiple positive developments. A strong Q1 2026 earnings update on Apr 23 showed double‑digit revenue and earnings growth but saw a small -0.27% reaction. Product and partnership news from DAT, Illumia, PCS Software, and iPipeline between Apr 21 and May 4 were generally constructive, yet price moves stayed modest (ranging from -0.83% to +0.85%), suggesting limited immediate re‑rating on operational news.

Key Terms

truckload spot, linehaul rates, fuel surcharges, spot market rates, +1 more

5 terms

truckload spot financial

"Truckload spot and contract rates climbed sharply in April, but the gains..."

Truckload spot is the market for hiring an entire truck to move goods on short notice at current, market-driven prices instead of under a negotiated long-term contract. It matters to investors because spot rates quickly reflect supply-and-demand changes in transportation: rising spot prices can raise costs and squeeze profit margins for companies that ship products, while falling spot prices can lower costs and signal weaker economic activity or easing supply-chain strain.

linehaul rates financial

"Linehaul rates—the portion of the spot rate that excludes fuel—moved modestly."

Linehaul rates are the charges for moving goods over the main part of a shipment’s journey—typically the long-distance transport between terminals or cities—excluding local pickup or delivery fees. For investors, these rates are a major driver of a carrier’s revenue and profit margins because they reflect demand for capacity, fuel and labor costs, and pricing power; think of them as the highway toll for freight that determines how much a transport business can earn per trip.

fuel surcharges financial

"Per-mile fuel surcharges in April hit their highest monthly averages since July 2022:"

Fuel surcharges are extra fees that transport, shipping, and travel companies add to bills to cover rises in fuel costs; they act like a temporary add-on to regular prices when energy becomes more expensive. Investors watch them because surcharges can protect a company’s profit margin when fuel prices climb but may also reduce demand or complicate revenue comparisons, so changes in surcharges affect cash flow, margins and forecasting.

spot market rates financial

"National average contract freight rates also increased in April, although spot market rates..."

The spot market rate is the current price at which an asset can be bought or sold for immediate delivery, meaning you pay now and take possession right away. Investors use it as a real-time benchmark for an asset’s value—like a store price tag for buying immediately—so it drives trading decisions, short-term valuations, hedging choices and opportunities for quick profit when spot prices diverge from future or contract prices.

contract freight rates financial

"National average contract freight rates also increased in April, although spot market rates..."

Contract freight rates are the agreed prices shippers pay carriers for moving goods under a formal, usually time-bound agreement rather than on the spot market. Think of it like a long-term subscription versus buying single tickets: contracts lock in predictable shipping costs and capacity, which helps companies forecast expenses, protect profit margins from sudden rate swings, and gives investors insight into future revenue stability and cost risk.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

See more from StockTitan in Google Search and AI answers. Adds StockTitan as a preferred source · opens Google

Add on Google Not now

PORTLAND, Ore., May 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Truckload spot and contract rates climbed sharply in April, but the gains came almost entirely from higher fuel costs, reported DAT Freight & Analytics, provider of the industry's leading load board and freight analytics.

The DAT Truckload Volume Index (TVI), an indicator of loads moved in April, declined month over month for van, refrigerated, and flatbed equipment types:

• Van TVI: 251, down 3% from March, up 2% year over year
• Reefer TVI: 183, down 9% from March, up 1% year over year
• Flatbed TVI: 306, down 3% from March, up 3% year over year
  

Modest movement in linehaul rates

Driven largely by fuel costs, national average spot truckload freight rates rose in April and were significantly higher year over year:

• Van: $2.67 per mile, up 15 cents from March and 71 cents higher year over year
• Reefer: $3.11 per mile, up 14 cents from March and 83 cents higher year over year
• Flatbed: $3.46 per mile, up 37 cents from March and 94 cents higher year over year
  

Linehaul rates—the portion of the spot rate that excludes fuel—moved modestly. The average van linehaul rate rose 5 cents to $1.96 per mile; reefer increased 4 cents to $2.34; and flatbed climbed 25 cents to $2.61. The flatbed increase was the only move large enough to suggest a meaningful rise in demand.

“Fuel was the story in April,” said Dean Croke, principal industry analyst at DAT. “Linehaul rates barely moved in van and reefer, and the volume of loads moved fell across the board. Small carriers continue to exit the market under sustained cost pressure. That’s not what a demand-based truckload freight recovery looks like.”

Per-mile fuel surcharges in April hit their highest monthly averages since July 2022:

• Van: 71 cents, up from 61 cents in March
• Reefer: 77 cents, up from 67 cents
• Flatbed: 85 cents, up from 73 cents
  

Spot-contract rate spread narrowed in April

National average contract freight rates also increased in April, although spot market rates continued to rise faster across most equipment types:

• Van: $2.85 per mile, up 13 cents from March
• Reefer: $3.22 per mile, up 12 cents
• Flatbed: $3.71 per mile, up 28 cents
  

Spot-to-contract spreads have compressed substantially since late 2025 and have remained in a tight range through April. The average spot van rate was 18 cents higher than the contract rate, down from 20 cents in March. The reefer spread was 11 cents, down from 13 cents, while the flatbed spread narrowed to 25 cents from 34 cents in March.

“In a typical freight upcycle, strong demand for truckload services pushes spot rates above contract rates,” said Croke. “What we’re seeing now is different. Spreads are tightening because there are simply fewer trucks available relative to demand, while much of the recent rate increase is being absorbed by fuel costs instead of improving carrier margins.”

For previous TVI reports, visit: https://www.dat.com/news-releases

About the Truckload Volume Index
The DAT Truckload Volume Index measures monthly changes in loads with a pickup date during that month. A baseline of 100 equals the number of loads moved in January 2015, based on data from DAT RateView, part of the DAT iQ freight analytics platform, which tracks rates paid on actual shipments. Benchmark spot rates reflect invoice data for hauls of 250 miles or more, offering a consistent view of truckload demand and spot rate trends across the United States and Canada.

About DAT Freight & Analytics
DAT Freight & Analytics operates the DAT One truckload freight marketplace; Convoy Platform, an automated freight-matching technology; DAT iQ analytics service; Trucker Tools load-visibility platform; and Outgo factoring and financial services for truckers. Shippers, transportation brokers, carriers, news organizations, and industry analysts rely on DAT for market trends and data insights, informed by nearly 700,000 daily load posts and a database exceeding $1 trillion in freight market transactions.

Founded in 1978, DAT is a business unit of Roper Technologies (Nasdaq: ROP), a constituent of the Nasdaq 100, S&P 500, and Fortune 1000. Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, DAT continues to set the standard for innovation in the trucking and logistics industry. Visit dat.com for more information.

Media contacts:

Georgia Jablon
DAT Freight & Analytics
904-305-6454; georgia.jablon@dat.com

Stephen Petit
SiefkesPetit Communications
425-443-8976; petit@siefkespetit.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fcc5b0a2-a23a-4be6-acb9-0dd57ee915af.

FAQ

How did April 2026 truckload spot rates change according to DAT Freight & Analytics (ROP)?

April truckload spot rates increased, driven mainly by higher fuel costs. According to DAT, national average van, reefer, and flatbed spot rates all rose month over month, with year-over-year gains of $0.71, $0.83, and $0.94 per mile respectively.

What happened to the DAT Truckload Volume Index (TVI) for April 2026?

The DAT Truckload Volume Index declined month over month across all equipment types. According to DAT, van TVI fell 3%, reefer TVI dropped 9%, and flatbed TVI decreased 3%, although each category showed small year-over-year increases in load volumes.

How did fuel surcharges affect April 2026 truckload rates reported by DAT (ROP)?

Fuel surcharges rose to their highest monthly averages since July 2022, lifting total truckload rates. According to DAT, van fuel surcharges reached $0.71 per mile, reefer $0.77, and flatbed $0.85, significantly contributing to higher all-in spot and contract rates.

What were April 2026 linehaul rate trends for van, reefer, and flatbed freight?

Linehaul rates moved only modestly, with flatbed showing the largest gain. According to DAT, van linehaul increased $0.05 to $1.96 per mile, reefer rose $0.04 to $2.34, and flatbed climbed $0.25 to $2.61, suggesting limited demand-driven pricing strength.

How did April 2026 contract truckload rates compare to spot rates in the DAT data?

Both contract and spot rates increased, but spot rates rose faster. According to DAT, average contract rates reached $2.85 van, $3.22 reefer, and $3.71 flatbed per mile, while spot-to-contract spreads narrowed to $0.18, $0.11, and $0.25 respectively.

What does DAT say about market capacity and carrier pressures in April 2026?

DAT highlights sustained cost pressure and shrinking carrier capacity. According to DAT, small carriers continue to exit the market, and tightening spot-to-contract spreads reflect fewer trucks relative to demand, with fuel increases absorbing much of the recent rate gains.