Back to September 2026 Industry Update
September 2026 Industry Update: Flatbed
DAT National Average Flatbed Spot Rate excl. FSC
Key Points
- Average flatbed linehaul spot rates continued to soften in August for the second straight month, contracting sharply by 6.9% MoM ($0.20) to $2.70.
- Compared to August 2025, flatbed spot rates excluding fuel remain at a premium, up 35.5% ($0.71) YoY and 31.7% ($0.65) above the long-term average.
DAT National Average Flatbed RPM Contract vs. Spot
Key Points
- After six consecutive months of increases, average flatbed linehaul contract rates declined in August, down 0.7% MoM ($0.02) but still 19.2% ($0.50) above August 2025 levels.
- Similar to the trend observed in the dry van and reefer sector, the sharper contractions in spot market rates significantly outpaced those in the contract market, resulting in the spread between the two widening considerably in August with contract rates trending at a 14.5% premium relative to spot, up from the 7.2% premium recorded in July.
DAT Flatbed Load-to-Truck Ratio
Key Points
- The flatbed load-to-truck ratio continued to decline for the third consecutive month in August, dropping 15.3% MoM to 35.99, down from 42.49 in July.
- On an annual basis, the flatbed load-to-truck ratio remains elevated by 76% YoY and is 86.1% above the five-year average.
DAT Flatbed Outbound Market Conditions Map, Past 30 Days
