Trucking News - US Freight Rates
May 27, 2026 - Courtesy of DAT Trendlines
|
Category |
May 18 - May 24 vs May 11 - May 17 | April 2026 vs March 2026 | April 2026 vs April 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Van Load-To-Truck | -11.2% | -18.0% | +29.6% |
| Van Rates (Spot) | -4.0% | +0.0% | +4.5% |
| Flatbed Load-To-Truck | -21.1% | -5.5% | +124.1% |
| Flatbed Rates (Spot) | +22.8% | -3.3% | -0.8% |
| Reefer Load-To-Truck | -20.3% | -23.0% | +26.3% |
| Reefer Rates (Spot) | -17.3% | -7.4% | -3.0% |
| Fuel Prices | -1.4% | +1.8% | +60.0% |
DAT.com’s May 19th Trendlines Report shows current national van spot rate averages are at $2.79 per mile, 12¢ above the April average. DAT reports the highest average van rates are in the Midwest at $2.86 per mile. The lowest average van rates are in the Northeast at $2.36 per mile.
DAT reports the current national van load-to-truck ratio is 12.92 loads-to-truck, compared to the April average of 7.2. Ratios are even across the country, with the exception of lower ratios in California and the Midwest, North Dakota being especially low.
Reefer freight rates are averaging $3.26 per mile, 14¢ higher than the April average. Rates are highest in the South, averaging $3.39 per mile. The lowest rates are in the Northeast, with an average of $2.56 per mile.
National reefer capacity is 26.97 loads-to-truck compared to the April average of 13.47 loads-to-truck. Current load-to-truck capacity shows reefer demand is even across the country.
National average flatbed rates are $3.60 per mile, 16¢ more than the April average. The South East has the highest average flatbed rates at $3.81 per mile. The lowest rates are in the West, averaging $3.03 per mile.
Nationally, flatbed load-to-truck ratios are at 87.22, compared to 72.26 in April. Load-to-truck ratios for flatbed freight are even across the country, with North Dakota being slightly lower than the rest. For more details, visit Dat.com.
Checking fuel prices, the national average diesel price is $5.64 per gallon, up 30¢ from one month ago and $2.16 from one year ago.
East Coast diesel prices are averaging $5.47 per gallon. The average price in the Midwest is $5.81 per gallon. California diesel prices are averaging $7.32 per gallon.
| Change from | |||||
| 05/11/26 | 05/18/26 | 05/25/26 | Week Ago | Year Ago | |
| US | 5.643 | 5.596 | 5.523 | – 0.073 | + 2.036 |
| East Coast (PADD 1) | 5.465 | 5.420 | 5.394 | – 0.026 | + 1.839 |
| New England (PADD 1A) | 5.849 | 5.808 | 5.799 | – 0.009 | + 1.917 |
| Central Atlantic (PADD 1B) | 5.863 | 5.819 | 5.810 | – 0.009 | + 2.009 |
| Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C) | 5.278 | 5.231 | 5.201 | -0.030 | + 1.773 |
| Midwest (PADD 2) | 5.815 | 5.749 | 5.623 | -0.077 | + 2.195 |
| Gulf Coast (PADD 3) | 5.152 | 5.122 | 5.045 | – 0.241 | +1.909 |
| Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) | 5.491 | 5.549 | 5.493 | – 0.056 | + 2.048 |
| West Coast (PADD 5) | 6.562 | 6.524 | 6.500 | – 0.024 | + 2.252 |
| West Coast less California | 5.905 | 5.920 | 5.909 | – 0.011 | + 2.146 |
| California | 7.321 | 7.222 | 7.182 | – 0.040 | + 2.374 |