October 19, 2026 – Courtesy of DAT Trendlines (opens in new tab)
| OCT 12 – OCT 18 VS OCT 05 – OCT 11 | SEP 2026 VS AUG 2026 | SEP 2026 VS SEP 2025 | |
| Van Load-To-Truck | -4.1% | +9.6% | +73.4% |
| Van Rates (Spot) | +1.3% | +4.2% | +46.8% |
| Flatbed Load-To-Truck | +3.0% | +8.3% | +50.4% |
| Flatbed Rates (Spot) | +0.0% | +2.3% | +44.2% |
| Reefer Load-To-Truck | -2.2% | -4.0% | +75.4% |
| Reefer Rates (Spot) | +1.4% | +6.8% | +48.4% |
| Fuel Prices | +1.6% | +15.2% | +67.7% |
DAT.com’s October 19th Trendlines Report shows current national van rate averages are at $3.06 per mile, 5¢ above the September average. DAT reports the highest average van rates are in the Midwest at $3.33 per mile. The lowest average van rates are in the South at $2.84 per mile.
DAT reports the current national load-to-truck ratio is 9.72 loads-to-truck, compared to the September average of 11.33. Ratios are even across the country.
Reefer freight rates are averaging $3.61 per mile, 1¢ lower than in September. Rates are highest in the Midwest, averaging $4.20 per mile. The lowest rates are in the South, with an average of $3.14 per mile.
National reefer capacity is 15.61 loads-to-truck compared to the September average of 19.21 loads-to-truck. Current load-to-truck capacity shows reefer demand is even across the country.
National average flatbed rates are $3.62 per mile, the same as the September average. The Southeast has the highest average flatbed rates at $3.94 per mile. The lowest rates are in the West, with an average of $3.17 per mile.
Nationally, load-to-truck ratios are at 36.54, compared to 39.98 in September. Load to truck ratios for flatbed freight is also even across the country, with low spots across the central United States.
For more details, visit DAT.com.
Checking fuel prices, the national average diesel price is $6.28 per gallon, the same as one month ago and is up $2.66 compared to one year ago.
East Coast diesel prices are averaging $ 5.98 per gallon. The average price in the Midwest is $ 6.35 per gallon. California diesel prices are averaging $ 8.24 per gallon.
| Change from | |||||
| 10/05/26 | 10/12/26 | 10/19/26 | Year Ago | Week Ago | |
| US | $6.199 | $6.179 | $6.276 | +2.656 | +0.097 |
| East Coast (PADD 1) | $5.951 | $5.908 | $5.984 | +2.309 | +0.076 |
| New England (PADD 1A) | $6.476 | $6.441 | $6.470 | +2.527 | +0.029 |
| Central Atlantic (PADD 1B) | $6.485 | $6.471 | $6.508 | +2.630 | +0.037 |
| Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C) | $5.699 | $5.645 | $5.740 | +2.162 | +0.095 |
| Midwest (PADD 2) | $6.286 | $6.259 | $6.352 | +2.788 | +0.093 |
| Gulf Coast (PADD 3) | $5.819 | $5.809 | $5.903 | +2.647 | +0.094 |
| Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) | $6.267 | $6.302 | $6.422 | +2.837 | +0.120 |
| West Coast (PADD 5) | $7.229 | $7.240 | $7.394 | +2.973 | +0.154 |
| West Coast less California | $6.490 | $6.503 | $6.659 | +2.651 | +0.156 |
| California | $8.082 | $8.091 | $8.242 | +3.344 | +0.151 |