Spot truckload rates eased again during the week of February 15-21, as pricing settled into a more typical seasonal pattern.
Truckload freight trends from DAT One and DAT iQ
Spot market data for Feb. 15-21, 2026 (Week 8)
Broker-to-carrier 7-day average spot rates:
▼ Dry van: $2.40 per mile, down 3 cents week over week
▼ Refrigerated: $2.83 per mile, down 7 cents
▲ Flatbed: $2.63 per mile, up 3 cents
The total number of loads posted to the DAT One marketplace declined for the second straight week, falling 8% to 3.12 million. Truck posts decreased almost 4% to 211,147. Weather-driven volatility returns this week as a severe snowstorm hits the Northeast.
Van: Fewer loads
▼ Van loads: 1.3 million, down 11% week over week
▼ Van equipment: 152,400, down 3%
▼ Linehaul rate: $2.04 per mile, down 2 cents
Reefer: Mid-February softness
▼ Reefer loads: 541,500, down 18% week over week
▼ Reefer equipment: 37,088, down 6%
▼ Linehaul rate: $2.46 per mile, down 7 cents
Flatbed: Holding steady
— Flatbed loads: 1.28 million, virtually unchanged week over week
▼ Flatbed equipment: 21,659, down 5%
▲ Linehaul rate: $2.26 per mile, up 2 cents
Market analysis from Dean Croke, Industry Analyst, DAT Freight & Analytics
Florida’s surge in outbound reefer rates over the previous three weeks retreated. Spot rates on every lane out of Central and South Florida plunged 20 to 32% across every major destination.
The national average spot reefer rate fell 11 cents per mile over the previous two weeks, eliminating half the pricing gains made during Winter Storms Fern and Gianna. Despite cooling, the national average reefer spot linehaul rate was 53 cents higher year over year. Reefer load posts dropped for the fourth consecutive week, but were still 40% higher than last year. At the same time, equipment availability declined 20% year over year.
Van load posts fell 11% while truck posts only dropped 3%, tilting pricing leverage back toward shippers and brokers. However, last week’s mild 2-cent rate decline indicates that carriers are holding relatively firm. Compared to Week 8 last year, the average rate is up 40 cents.
Flatbed load post volumes held steady last week following four consecutive weeks of increases. This volume remains robust, sitting almost 50% higher than the same period last year.
About DAT Freight & Analytics
DAT Freight & Analytics operates DAT One, North America’s largest truckload freight marketplace; DAT iQ, the industry’s leading freight data analytics service; the Convoy Platform automated freight-matching service; Trucker Tools, the leader in load visibility; and Outgo, the financial services platform for truckers. Check out the latest DAT iQ Market Update: https://www.youtube.com/DATLoadBoards.
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ALLEN LUND COMPANY, TRANSPORTATION BROKERS, LOOKING FOR REEFER CARRIERS: 1-800-404-5863.