
Flatbed Rates
Flatbed Rates - May 2025
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.
Construction activity began to firm in April, but the fading impact of pre-tariff industrial shipments left flatbed demand on uneven footing. Overall volumes remain subdued relative to other segments, though ongoing infrastructure investment and select industrial projects continue to offer a stabilizing influence amid broader economic and trade uncertainty.

Tim Denoyer
Vice President & Senior Analyst

Resources
Whether you’re new to our company or already a subscriber, we encourage you to take advantage of all our resources.