DAT Freight & Analytics (NYSE: ROP) reported a significant shift in U.S. freight markets for July 2026, with contract truckload rates for dry van and refrigerated (“reefer”) freight experiencing their largest-ever June-to-July increases. Excluding fuel surcharges, dry van contract rates surged 13 cents to $2.39 per mile, reefer rates climbed 9 cents to $2.62 per mile, and flatbed rates saw a 4-cent increase to $3.09 per mile. These rate hikes occurred despite a general decline in freight volumes across all equipment types, as indicated by the DAT Truckload Volume Index (TVI). The reefer segment, in particular, experienced its steepest July drop in six years, with volumes down 13% year-over-year.
The convergence of rising contract rates and falling volumes points to a market where available capacity is increasingly dictating pricing. National average van spot and contract linehaul rates both settled at $2.39 per mile in July. While fuel surcharges saw a slight decrease of 1-2 cents per mile from June, they remain substantially higher than the previous year.
In July 2026, van spot and contract linehaul rates met at $2.39 per mile, even as volumes declined. DAT attributes this trend to capacity’s growing influence on pricing, with contract rates for dry van and reefer freight posting record June-to-July gains.
The July operational update from DAT Freight & Analytics provides a critical market-structure insight: freight pricing dynamics are shifting significantly, driven by capacity constraints rather than demand surges alone. This distinction is crucial for understanding the current economic environment within the transportation sector.
Contract rates, which represent negotiated agreements between shippers and carriers or brokers, and spot rates, paid on a per-transaction basis, both tell a story of upward pressure. In July, national average van spot and contract linehaul rates converged at $2.39 per mile. For refrigerated freight, spot rates commanded a 13-cent premium over contract rates, while flatbed contract rates were 19 cents higher than spot rates. The confluence of these pricing trends alongside declining volumes across dry van, reefer, and flatbed segments underscores a fundamental shift: the availability of trucks is now the primary determinant of shipping costs.
Van contract linehaul increase
13 cents per mile
June-to-July 2026
Reefer contract linehaul increase
9 cents per mile
June-to-July 2026
Dry van TVI
252; down 6% month over month and 3% year over year
July 2026
Reefer TVI
181; down 5% month over month and 13% year over year
July 2026
Flatbed TVI
291; down 8% month over month and 7% year over year
July 2026
Van contract rate including fuel
$3.01 per mile, up 12 cents
July 2026 versus June
Reefer contract rate including fuel
$3.29 per mile, up 7 cents
July 2026 versus June
Flatbed contract rate including fuel
$3.83 per mile, up 3 cents
July 2026 versus June
| Date | Event | Sentiment | 24h Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 06 | Dividend announcement | Positive | +1.3% | Board approved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.91 per share. |
| Aug 04 | Conference presentation | Neutral | +0.1% | Roper scheduled a presentation at the Oppenheimer Technology Conference. |
| Jul 30 | Leadership change | Neutral | -4.6% |
Illumia appointed Eric Schuster as Chief Product Officer. |
| Jul 23 | Platform integration | Positive | +5.5% | Convoy Platform integrated automated carrier matching with Tai TMS. |
| Jul 23 | 2Q26 earnings report | Positive | +5.5% | Roper raised its full-year 2026 adjusted DEPS outlook. |
Recent news reactions generally aligned with event direction; the Illumia leadership appointment was the lone divergence.
linehaul rate
financial
“The average contract linehaul rate, which excludes a fuel surcharge”
The linehaul rate represents the core cost of transporting freight between major points, excluding auxiliary services like pickup and delivery. For investors and industry analysts, it serves as a critical indicator of a carrier’s operational efficiency and pricing power. Fluctuations in linehaul rates directly impact profitability and can signal underlying market conditions, such as capacity tightness or oversupply. It is essentially the base fare for long-haul transportation.
fuel surcharge
financial
“which excludes a fuel surcharge”
A fuel surcharge is a variable fee added to transportation costs to compensate for fluctuating fuel prices. This mechanism allows carriers to pass on the volatility of energy markets to their customers, protecting their profit margins. For businesses, tracking fuel surcharges is essential for budgeting and understanding the impact of energy costs on their supply chain. It acts as a financial buffer against the unpredictable nature of fuel markets.
spot rates
financial
“Spot rates, paid by freight brokers to carriers on a per-transaction basis”
Spot rates reflect the immediate, market-driven price for freight services, typically negotiated for individual loads. They are highly sensitive to real-time supply and demand dynamics. Unlike contract rates, which offer more predictability, spot rates can fluctuate significantly, providing a granular view of market conditions. For carriers, they can offer opportunities for higher earnings during peak demand, while shippers may leverage them for short-term capacity needs.
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
PORTLAND, Ore., Aug. 11, 2026 — Contract rates for dry van and refrigerated truckload freight have posted their largest June-to-July increases on record, according to DAT Freight & Analytics, a leading provider of freight analytics and load boards.
The average contract linehaul rate, excluding fuel surcharges, saw a significant jump: 13 cents per mile for van freight and 9 cents per mile for refrigerated (“reefer”) freight. These increases occurred even as freight volumes declined across all equipment types, signaling a pronounced influence of available capacity on pricing dynamics.
The DAT Truckload Volume Index (TVI), which tracks monthly freight movement, revealed declines from June across the board:
- Dry van TVI: 252, down 6% month-over-month and 3% year-over-year
- Reefer TVI: 181, down 5% month-over-month and 13% year-over-year
- Flatbed TVI: 291, down 8% month-over-month and 7% year-over-year
While July typically sees a seasonal dip in freight volumes following June’s activity, the reefer segment’s June-to-July decrease was the steepest in six years. The 13% year-over-year decline in reefer volumes was also the most substantial among the three equipment types, highlighting specific pressures within that market.
Contract Rates Show Broad Strength
Contract rates, which are negotiated prices between shippers and carriers or brokers, rose across all equipment types in July when including fuel surcharges:
- Dry van: $3.01 per mile, an increase of 12 cents from June
- Reefer: $3.29 per mile, up 7 cents
- Flatbed: $3.83 per mile, up 3 cents
Stripping out fuel costs, the average contract van linehaul rate climbed to $2.39 per mile, a 13-cent increase. Reefer rates rose to $2.62 per mile, up 9 cents, and flatbed rates reached $3.09 per mile, a 4-cent increase.
Spot Rates Remain Robust
Spot rates, which are transaction-based prices paid by brokers to carriers, showed a mixed picture in July. Van and reefer rates edged higher despite volume declines, while flatbed rates moderated from their June all-time highs:
- Spot van rate: $3.01 per mile, up 1 cent from June
- Spot reefer rate: $3.42 per mile, up 3 cents
- Spot flatbed rate: $3.64 per mile, down 5 cents
Year-over-year comparisons reveal significant rate appreciation. In July 2026, average spot linehaul rates were 76 to 86 cents per mile higher than in July 2025 for van, reefer, and flatbed freight, respectively. Contract linehaul rates saw a more moderate but still substantial increase of 30 to 49 cents per mile over the same period. This year-over-year growth is particularly noteworthy given the relatively stable market conditions observed in July 2025.
Van Spot and Contract Rates Achieve Parity
A striking development in July was the convergence of national average van spot and contract linehaul rates, both settling at $2.39 per mile. Including fuel, both averaged $3.01 per mile. This parity, especially amidst declining volumes, suggests a market where immediate transactional pricing has aligned with longer-term negotiated rates.
The gap between reefer spot and contract linehaul rates narrowed to 13 cents, down from 17 cents in June, as contract pricing accelerated. Conversely, the flatbed contract linehaul rate held a wider 19-cent premium over spot rates, compared to an 11-cent difference in June.
“Spot rates moving ahead of contract rates have historically signaled a tightening market, but we haven’t seen a capacity-driven market quite like this one,” commented Dean Croke, DAT industry analyst. “Van spot and contract rates reached parity in July even as volumes declined, while van and reefer contract rates posted record June-to-July gains. When rates rise this quickly as volumes fall, it indicates that available capacity is exerting greater influence on pricing.”
Fuel Surcharges Stabilize Modestly
Average fuel surcharges saw a slight decrease of 1 to 2 cents per mile from June to July. In July, these averaged 62 cents for van freight, 67 cents for reefer, and 74 cents for flatbed. Despite this marginal monthly decrease, fuel surcharges remained significantly higher year-over-year, up by 20 to 23 cents per mile compared to July 2025.
About the DAT Truckload Volume Index
The DAT Truckload Volume Index (TVI) is a crucial metric that tracks monthly changes in the volume of loads transported for hauls of 250 miles or more in the United States and Canada. Established with a baseline of 100 representing January 2015 volumes, the TVI is derived from data within the DAT RateView platform. Transaction records are directly sourced from carriers’ and brokers’ Transportation Management Systems (TMS), offering a robust view of market activity. Average spot rates reflect payments from brokers to carriers, while contract rates represent payments from shippers to asset-based carriers and brokers.
About DAT Freight & Analytics
DAT Freight & Analytics is a pivotal player in the trucking and logistics industry, operating the DAT One freight marketplace, the Convoy Platform for automated freight matching, the DAT iQ analytics service, and the Trucker Tools visibility platform. The company also offers factoring and financial services through DAT Outgo. Shippers, brokers, carriers, and industry analysts rely on DAT for real-time market intelligence and data insights, supported by a daily volume of nearly 700,000 load posts and a historical transaction database exceeding $1 trillion in freight market value. Founded in 1978 and a business unit of Roper Technologies (Nasdaq: ROP), DAT continues to innovate from its headquarters in Portland, Oregon.
FAQ
How did truckload contract rates change in July 2026 according to DAT (NYSE: ROP)?
Contract truckload rates increased across all equipment types in July 2026. According to DAT Freight & Analytics, van contract linehaul rates rose 13 cents to $2.39 per mile, reefer rose 9 cents to $2.62, and flatbed increased 4 cents to $3.09, all excluding fuel surcharges.
What were the July 2026 spot truckload rates reported by DAT for ROP-owned DAT Freight & Analytics?
DAT reported mixed July 2026 spot rates. Van spot rates averaged $3.01 per mile, reefer $3.42, and flatbed $3.64. According to DAT, van and reefer spot rates increased slightly from June, while flatbed spot rates declined 5 cents from a June all-time high.
Did freight volumes rise or fall in July 2026 in the DAT Truckload Volume Index (ROP)?
Freight volumes declined across all equipment types in July 2026. According to DAT, the Dry Van TVI fell 6% month over month, Reefer TVI dropped 5%, and Flatbed TVI decreased 8%, with reefer posting the steepest June-to-July decline in six years.
How do July 2026 spot and contract linehaul rates compare year over year in DAT data (ROP)?
Both spot and contract linehaul rates were significantly higher year over year in July 2026. According to DAT, spot linehaul rates were 76–86 cents per mile higher, while contract linehaul rates were 30–49 cents higher, compared with a relatively weak July 2025 market.
Did van spot and contract rates reach parity in July 2026 in the DAT (ROP) report?
Yes, national average van spot and contract linehaul rates were equal in July 2026. According to DAT, both averaged $2.39 per mile linehaul, or $3.01 per mile including fuel, signaling unusual parity despite declining freight volumes.
What happened to fuel surcharges in July 2026 according to DAT Freight & Analytics (ROP)?
Fuel surcharges edged slightly lower from June to July 2026. According to DAT, average surcharges fell 1–2 cents per mile, averaging 62 cents for van freight, 67 cents for reefer, and 74 cents for flatbed, yet remained 20–23 cents higher year over year.
What does the July 2026 DAT (NYSE: ROP) report say about capacity and pricing dynamics?
The report links rising rates to the influence of available capacity on pricing. According to DAT, van and reefer contract rates made record June-to-July gains even as volumes fell, and parity between van spot and contract rates suggests capacity conditions are significantly affecting price formation.
