DAT: Spot truckload rates rise in May on capacity pressure across the market

DAT Freight & Analytics (ROP) reported that in May 2026 U.S. truckload spot rates rose even as freight demand fell.

Rhea-AI Summary

DAT Freight & Analytics (ROP) reported that in May 2026 U.S. truckload spot rates rose even as freight demand fell. The DAT Truckload Volume Index declined 9%-14% month over month, while van, reefer, and flatbed spot and contract rates increased both monthly and year over year.

Positive

• Van spot rate $2.89/mi, up $0.22 vs April and $0.90 YoY
• Reefer spot rate $3.35/mi, up $0.24 MoM and $0.99 YoY
• Flatbed spot rate $3.65/mi, up $0.19 MoM and $1.07 YoY
• Contract rates up MoM across all modes, +$0.06–$0.07 per mile
• Spot-contract gap narrows as reefer spot rate exceeds contract at $3.35 vs $3.28

Negative

• DAT Truckload Volume Index down 9%–14% MoM across van, reefer, flatbed
• Freight volumes lower in May despite higher spot pricing
• Ongoing immigration enforcement shrinking available driver pool
• Capacity pulled from spot market due to Roadcheck and holiday-related delays

Argus Jun 16 session

+1.47% close to close Open Argus

Details

News Market Reaction – ROP

On Jun 16, the day this news came out, ROP closed 1.47% above the previous close.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus for the Jun 16 session.

Key Figures

Van TVI: 233 Reefer TVI: 172 Flatbed TVI: 267 +5 more

Van TVI

233

May DAT Truckload Volume Index, down 9% vs April

Reefer TVI

172

May DAT TVI for refrigerated loads, down 10% vs April

Flatbed TVI

267

May DAT TVI for flatbed, down 14% vs April

Spot van rate

$2.89 per mile

Up $0.22 vs April; May spot van rate

Spot reefer rate

$3.35 per mile

Up $0.24 vs April; crossed above contract rate

Spot flatbed rate

$3.65 per mile

Up $0.19 vs April; May spot rate

Van fuel surcharge

73 cents per mile

Elevated May fuel surcharge for van freight

Contract van rate

$2.92 per mile

Up $0.07 month over month in May

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Jun 11

5 events

1. Jun 11

   Product feature update

   24h Move

   -0.4%

   DAT expanded reload visibility in Convoy Platform for better carrier planning.

2. May 19

   Executive appointment

   24h Move

   +1.4%

   Illumia named a new COO to drive operational unification and AI adoption.

3. May 19

   Dividend declaration

   24h Move

   +1.4%

   Board approved a cash dividend of $0.91 per share for July payment.

4. May 18

   DAT freight update

   24h Move

   +3.1%

   DAT reported higher April spot and contract truckload rates despite softer volumes.

5. May 04

   Conference participation

   24h Move

   -0.8%

   DAT showcased DAT iQ and freight intelligence at a major supply chain event.

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

Key Terms

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

5 terms

spot rates financial

"Truckload spot rates moved higher in May even as freight volumes fell"

Spot rates are the current prices or interest rates for buying or selling an asset or currency for immediate settlement, like the cash price you pay at a store today rather than a future promise to pay. Investors care because spot rates set the baseline for valuing investments, comparing returns across time, and pricing forward contracts or swaps; they reveal what the market demands now for taking on risk or providing liquidity.

fuel surcharges financial

"Fuel surcharges remained elevated — van at 73 cents per mile, reefer at 79 cents"

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.

linehaul rates financial

"linehaul rates drove last month’s pricing increases"

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.

truckload spot rates financial

"Truckload spot rates moved higher in May even as freight volumes fell"

Truckload spot rates are the prices paid to hire an entire truck for a one-off, immediate shipment rather than under a long-term contract. Like hailing a taxi for a single trip instead of using a monthly pass, these rates reflect current supply and demand for hauling goods and can swing quickly; investors watch them because rising spot rates signal stronger shipping demand or capacity shortages, which affect company costs, carrier profits, and inflation pressures.

contract freight financial

"Carriers have also been shifting capacity toward contract freight"

Contract freight is the transportation of goods under a formal agreement that locks in rates, routes, capacity and service terms for a set period rather than paying market prices one shipment at a time. For investors it signals more predictable revenue and capacity commitments—like a subscription versus walk-in business—so changes in contract mix, duration or pricing can meaningfully affect a carrier’s cash flow, margins and exposure to fuel or demand swings.

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

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PORTLAND, Ore., June 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Truckload spot rates moved higher in May even as freight volumes fell, according to DAT Freight & Analytics, provider of the industry’s leading load boards and freight analytics. Several factors disrupted the supply of available trucks, including the CVSA International Roadcheck inspection blitz, Memorial Day weekend, and ongoing immigration enforcement that continues to shrink the available driver pool.

The DAT Truckload Volume Index (TVI), which measures demand for truckload services, fell across all three equipment types compared to April:

• Van TVI: 233, down 9% compared to April
• Refrigerated (“reefer”) TVI: 172, down 10%
• Flatbed TVI: 267, down 14%
  
  

Spot pricing: Volumes down, rates up

Spot rates increased across all three equipment types in May despite lower freight volumes, reflecting tighter capacity rather than rising demand. Enforcement-driven attrition continues to remove drivers from circulation, and truck-post data from the DAT One marketplace during the week of May 10 reflected carriers pulling equipment to avoid Roadcheck-related delays.

• Spot van rate: $2.89 per mile, up 22 cents from April
• Spot reefer rate: $3.35 per mile, up 24 cents
• Spot flatbed rate: $3.65 per mile, up 19 cents
  
  

Fuel surcharges remained elevated — van at 73 cents per mile, reefer at 79 cents, flatbed at 87 cents — but linehaul rates drove last month’s pricing increases. The average van linehaul rate was up 20 cents to $2.16 per mile, reefer jumped 22 cents to $2.56, and flatbed was up 17 cents to $2.78.

Spot-contract rate gap narrows

Carriers have also been shifting capacity toward contract freight to take advantage of fuel surcharge programs, which offer more predictable cost recovery than spot transactions. That shift is reducing truck supply on the open market, making the spot market more sensitive to disruptions like Roadcheck and holiday slowdowns.

Reefer spot rates crossed above contract rates in May — $3.35 versus $3.28 per mile — reflecting both the move of capacity toward contract and seasonal pressure on temperature-controlled equipment.

Spot rates were higher across all modes compared to May 2025. The average spot van rate was 90 cents per mile higher, the reefer rate was up 99 cents, and the flatbed rate increased by $1.07 year over year.

Contract rates: Modest gains

Contract rates moved modestly higher in May across all three equipment types.

• Contract van rate: $2.92 per mile, up 7 cents month over month
• Contract reefer rate: $3.28 per mile, up 6 cents
• Contract flatbed rate: $3.77 per mile, up 6 cents
  
  

Year over year, contract rates were up 54 cents for van freight, 57 cents for reefer, and 70 cents for flatbed.

“Last month’s lower volumes do not mean May was a weak freight market,” said Dean Croke, principal industry analyst at DAT. “The capacity supply has come down to meet demand, and carriers in the spot market are being compensated for it. Add in the migration of capacity toward contract freight for fuel surcharge certainty, and you have a spot market that’s tighter than load volumes alone would suggest.”

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 500. 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 contact:

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

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/57d409dc-32d3-46a9-88bb-5de44d8f17a0

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

How did DAT Freight & Analytics spot truckload rates move in May 2026 (ROP)?

Spot truckload rates increased across van, reefer, and flatbed in May 2026. According to DAT, van reached $2.89 per mile, reefer $3.35, and flatbed $3.65, with linehaul gains driving most of the month-over-month price increases.

What happened to the DAT Truckload Volume Index in May 2026 for ROP-related data?

The DAT Truckload Volume Index declined for all equipment types in May 2026. According to DAT, van fell 9% to 233, reefer dropped 10% to 172, and flatbed decreased 14% to 267 versus April levels.

Why did spot truckload rates rise while freight volumes fell in May 2026, according to DAT?

Spot rates rose because truck capacity tightened, not because demand increased. According to DAT, Roadcheck inspections, Memorial Day effects, and immigration enforcement reduced available drivers and trucks, making the spot market more sensitive to disruptions despite lower freight volumes.

How did DAT May 2026 spot rates compare year over year for ROP investors?

May 2026 spot rates were higher than May 2025 across all modes. According to DAT, average van spot rates were up $0.90 per mile, reefer increased $0.99, and flatbed rose $1.07 year over year.

What changes occurred in May 2026 contract truckload rates tracked by DAT Freight & Analytics?

Contract rates posted modest month-over-month gains in May 2026. According to DAT, contract van reached $2.92 per mile, reefer $3.28, and flatbed $3.77, each rising $0.06–$0.07 versus April and significantly higher year over year.

Did reefer spot rates exceed contract rates in May 2026 in DAT data?

Yes, reefer spot rates moved above contract levels in May 2026. According to DAT, reefer spot averaged $3.35 per mile versus $3.28 for contract, reflecting tighter temperature-controlled capacity and a shift of equipment toward contract freight.