For the first time since mid-October, all three principal equipment types saw increases in broker-posted spot rates in the Truckstop system during the week ended December 6 (week 49). Refrigerated spot rates rose sharply after the prior week’s big drop had had wiped out four weeks of gains. Flatbed spot rates saw their strongest increase since early October following Hurricane Helene. The increase in dry van spot rates did not match week 48’s gain but otherwise was the strongest since mid-October.

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Broker-posted refrigerated spot rates had risen in four straight weeks for the first time in three years, but a large drop during Thanksgiving week erased those gains. Refrigerated spot rates usually fall during the week that includes Thanksgiving – especially in recent years – but the 22-cent drop during the week ended November 29 (week 48) was the largest in a week since January 2023. Dry van and flatbed spot rates rose in line with expectations for a week that includes Thanksgiving.

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Broker-posted spot rates for refrigerated equipment in the Truckstop system rose sharply during the week before Thanksgiving to their highest level since mid-January. The increase in refrigerated rates during the week ended November 22 (week 47) was the strongest since International Roadcheck week in May. Dry van spot rates rose modestly while flatbed rates eased. Week 47 last year included the Thanksgiving holiday so y/y comparisons for spot rates and, especially, spot volume are skewed greatly.

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Broker-posted spot rates in the Truckstop system either declined or barely rose during the week ended November 15 (week 46), depending on equipment type. Dry van and flatbed rates decreased, though by less than they had in the previous week. Refrigerated rates increased slightly. Although all three lagged usual week 46 moves, the comparability of spot metrics to prior years is getting fuzzier as Thanksgiving approaches. Thanksgiving usually falls in week 47, but this year it will fall in week 48.

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