Flatbed Rates

Flatbed Truckload (TL) Sector – May 2025

Flatbed rates in April 2025 reflect a market entering a more cautious phase, as early-season gains fade and industrial activity shows signs of further softening. Below is the latest analysis of spot and contract flatbed rates.

Spot Market Rates

Flatbed spot rates edged lower in April following a modest March lift. Seasonal construction demand remains present but less pronounced, while industrial freight continues to face pressure from elevated input costs and delayed capital investment. Tariff-related uncertainty is dampening order flows in key sectors such as metals and machinery, limiting upside for spot pricing. With capacity still broadly available, flatbed rates are likely to remain range-bound absent a stronger industrial recovery.

Contract Market Rates

Flatbed contract rates were flat in April, extending a period of relative stagnation. Infrastructure-related demand is providing some underlying support, but offsetting pressures from slower manufacturing output and rising materials costs are constraining broader rate gains. Barring a shift in industrial sentiment or regulatory clarity, flatbed contract pricing is expected to hold steady, with downside risk if sector demand weakens further.

To see how flatbed rates change in the future, and for detailed analysis and forecasts or truckload, less-than-truckload, and intermodal, see ACT's freight & transportation forecast.