Dry Van Market Analysis: Week Ending April 18th, 2026 (Week 16)

This report analyzes dry van market conditions for the week ending Saturday, April 18th, 2026. All rates cited exclude fuel surcharges, and load volume refers to loads moved unless otherwise specified. The rate charts exclude data from 2021 and 2022 due to pandemic-related market distortions.

Overall Market Dynamics: A Tale of Two Economies

The February for-hire trucking ton-mile index presents a seemingly contradictory picture, with a minimal 0.1% year-over-year increase in seasonally adjusted demand and a 0.3% decrease from January. The six-month average year-over-year change stands at a modest 0.2%. While this aggregate data suggests a lack of significant demand recovery, it masks a crucial divergence within the freight market that is defining current truckload conditions.

DAT iQ data reveals two distinct freight economies operating in parallel. Sectors fueling the AI infrastructure build-out, including construction steel, structural metal fabrication, electrical switchgear, batteries, and construction machinery, are demonstrating substantial year-over-year growth. Conversely, sectors linked to single-family housing and consumer spending, such as wood products, furniture, and appliances, are experiencing declines. This divergence is a primary driver behind the significantly tighter flatbed market compared to dry van in 2026, as growing sectors generate open-deck freight while contracting sectors contribute to dry van volumes.

The recent recovery in rates is attributable to a shrinking carrier base (capacity attrition) rather than an increase in freight demand. With overall freight volume largely stagnant, fewer carriers are contributing to market tightness. This dynamic is clearly reflected in DAT spot rates, which have risen 25-30% year-over-year, indicating that supply-side constraints are currently driving market tightness in the absence of robust demand growth.

Navigating a Segmented Market

The perception of “flat demand” can be misleading for shippers, as market conditions vary considerably based on their specific freight mix. The market exhibits a clear split: commercial construction and infrastructure-related freight, particularly for flatbed, is robust, while consumer-driven freight remains soft. This disparity necessitates a strategic shift in procurement from a generalized market approach to a more targeted strategy that accounts for specific lanes and commodities.

National Dry Van Linehaul Spot Rates

The national 7-day average dry van linehaul spot rate (excluding fuel) experienced a slight decrease of $0.02 per mile last week, settling just below $1.99 per mile. This follows a $0.05 per mile decline, which itself succeeded a $0.07 per mile increase in late March that had aligned spot rates with elevated diesel prices. The recent decrease can be attributed to easing tensions in the Middle East and a $0.25 per gallon drop in over-the-road diesel, which concluded the week at $5.56 per gallon.

Despite the weekly fluctuation, the current linehaul rate of $1.99 per mile remains significantly above historical averages. This represents a notable 25% ($0.40 per mile) increase compared to the rate from one year ago. Furthermore, when excluding the pandemic-impacted years, the current rate is 22% ($0.44 per mile) higher than the five-year average.

On DAT’s top 50 lanes by load volume, spot rates declined by $0.03 per mile last week, averaging $2.36 per mile. This figure remains $0.37 per mile higher than the national 7-day rolling average.

In the 13 key Midwest states, which serve as a national indicator and account for nearly half of the country’s load volume, the average rate dropped by $0.05 per mile, settling at $2.32 per mile. Nevertheless, the Midwest average continues to demonstrate strength, outperforming the national 7-day rolling average by $0.33 per mile, a consistent trend observed in the performance of top lanes.

Dry Van Market Conditions

Despite robust load post volumes, which were down 7% from the prior week but remained 60% higher than last year and double the long-term average for Week 16, the national dry van load-to-truck ratio fell by 3% last week to 7.43. This decrease, coupled with a 4% reduction in equipment posts, indicates a continued tightening of truckload capacity.

* Dry Van
* Reefer
* Flatbed

This report was originally published on the DAT Freight & Analytics Blog.

Dry van report: Freight demand stays flat, but the sector story tells you everything