Back to February 2026 Industry Update
February 2026 Industry Update: Reefer
DAT National Average Reefer Spot Rate excl. FSC
Key Points
- Following a nearly $0.14 MoM increase in January, average refrigerated spot linehaul rates excluding fuel have climbed approximately $0.33 over the past two months, pushing rates 13.3% above January 2025 levels and 11.2% above the long-term average.
DAT National Average Reefer RPM Contract vs. Spot
Key Points
- Initially reported average reefer contract linehaul rates increased for the fifth consecutive month in January, rising 1.6% MoM and pushing annual comparisons to 3.1% higher YoY versus January 2024. Despite the steady upward trend in contract pricing, outsized gains in spot rates over the past two months have compressed the spot–contract spread, bringing the two back into alignment for the first time since February 2022.
DAT Reefer Load-to-Truck Ratio
Key Points
- Ongoing winter weather and protect-from-freeze requirements continued to elevate refrigerated freight demand in January, driving the reefer load-to-truck ratio to 18.08 — its highest level since January 2022.
DAT Reefer Outbound Market Conditions Map, past 30 Days
