Back to February 2026 Industry Update
February 2026 Industry Update: Flatbed
DAT National Average Flatbed Spot Rate excl. FSC
Key Points
- Average flatbed spot linehaul rates rose by approximately $0.08 MoM in January, bringing rates 8.8% above January 2025 levels and 6.4% higher than the long-term average.
DAT National Average Flatbed RPM Contract vs. Spot
Key Points
- Initially reported average flatbed contract rates, excluding fuel, edged higher by 0.3% MoM in January but remained 0.3% below levels recorded in the same month last year. While flatbed spot rates increased faster than contract pricing, contract rates continued to carry a substantial premium, averaging 21% above spot levels, down modestly from the 2025 average spread of 27% as spot market strength narrowed the gap.
DAT Flatbed Load-to-Truck Ratio
Key Points
- While not yet fully reflected in pricing trends, flatbed demand strengthened materially in January. The flatbed load-to-truck ratio surged to 40.53 from 27.52 in December, marking its highest level since March of last year.
DAT Flatbed Outbound Market Conditions Map, past 30 Days
