Refrigerated rates rose the most—3.8%, to $3.60—while dry van rates increased 3.5% to $2.71, specialized rates rose 2.6% to $3.34, and flatbed rates grew 0.9% to $3.31. Notably, this was the first week in 3 months that flatbed rates have risen at all.
Spot Market Insights: Week 35 (8/29-9/4)
- For week 35 in the spot market, the overall Market Demand Index (MDI) fell 6.6 points to 133.8 as load availability decreased 6.9% and truck availability declined 2.2%. Market rates rose 1.7% to $3.22.
- Compared to last year, the MDI is up 49.3 points, or 58.3%, and rates are up 38.7%.
- National fuel prices edged up $0.08 to $5.68 from $5.60 per gallon in the previous week.
- Fuel price volatility could disrupt seasonal patterns that predict this week (the week ending 9/11) will see significant spot rate declines.
- The Van MDI decreased 14.1 points to 256.3 as load availability fell 4.2% and truck availability rose 1.0%.
- Compared to last year, the MDI is up 106.2 points, or 70.7%, and rates are up 36.5%.
- The Refrigerated MDI fell 65.5 points to 448.0 as load availability decreased 0.4% and truck availability increased 14.2%.
- Compared to 2025, the MDI is up 287.8 points, or 179.6%, and rates are up 37.3%.
- The Flatbed MDI decreased 15.0 points to 147.5 as load availability fell 9.7% and truck availability decreased 0.5%.
- YoY, the MDI is up 44.8 points, or 43.6%, and rates are up 41.3%.
- The Specialized MDI decreased 0.4 points to 35.3 as load availability fell by 7.7% and truck availability decreased by 6.7%.
- Compared to last year, the MDI is up 10.7 points, or 43.8%, and rates are up 32.8%.
