Back to January 2026 Industry Update
January 2026 Industry Update: Reefer
DAT National Average Reefer Spot Rate excl. FSC
Key Points
- Refrigerated spot rates excluding fuel rose $0.20 MoM in December, bringing YoY levels to 10.1% higher compared to December 2024 and 5.6% above the long-term average.
DAT National Average Reefer RPM Contract vs. Spot
Key Points
- A 1.2% MoM increase in average reefer contract linehaul rates in December bumped annual comparisons to 1.6% above YoY from 2024 levels, while the spread between contract and spot rates narrowed to just $0.10.
DAT Reefer Load-to-Truck Ratio
Key Points
- The uptick in protect-from-freeze requirements due to winter weather led to the reefer load-to-truck ratio surging to its highest level since January 2022 at 16.72, roughly 91% higher compared to the load-to-truck ratio in December 2024.
DAT Reefer Outbound Market Conditions Map, past 30 Days
