Back to July 2026 Industry Update
July 2026 Industry Update: Dry Van
DAT National Average Dry Van Spot Rate excl. FSC
Key Points
- Average dry van spot linehaul rates increased for a third straight month in June and narrowly outpaced the gains registered in May, rising 9.5% MoM ($0.21) to $2.37.
- Compared to June 2025, dry van spot rates excluding fuel are up 45.6% YoY ($0.74) and 36.2% ($0.63) above the long-term average.
DAT National Average Dry Van RPM Contract vs. Spot
Key Points
- Initially reported contract linehaul rates for dry vans also continued to post strong gains in June, rising 3.0% MoM ($0.07) and are 13.1% ($0.26) higher YoY.
- Spot rate growth continued to outpace contract gains in June, leading to spot rates moving above contract rates for the first time since February 2022, with spot linehauls now trending at a 4.4% premium relative to linehauls in the contract space.
DAT Dry Van Load-to-Truck Ratio
Key Points
- Despite the continued strength in rates, the dry van load-to-truck ratio declined in June after reaching its highest level on record in May, dropping 4.6% MoM to 10.61.
- On an annual basis, the dry van load-to-truck ratio continues to trend higher than year-ago levels, up 83.2% YoY, and is 126.2% above the 5-year average.
- According to DAT load board data, load post demand for dry vans declined by 1.7% MoM in June, while equipment posts were up 3.1% MoM.
DAT Dry Van Outbound Market Conditions Map, past 30 Days
