Freight Trucking Rates
Truck Freight Rates: September 2026 Van, Reefer & Flatbed Update
ACT Research provides consolidated, forward-looking freight rate analysis — helping carriers, brokers, and shippers plan contract strategy with confidence.
Freight & Trucking Rate
September 2026 Update
September 28, 2026
U.S. dry van, reefer, and flatbed spot rates declined from July in August while remaining above year-earlier levels. ACT’s aggregate of DAT contract rates was unchanged from July, although individual equipment types moved differently.
Fuel is part of the explanation. ACT’s September Freight Forecast finds that carriers had not fully recovered the latest diesel increase in spot prices. Lower rates after fuel is removed therefore do not establish equivalent relief in all-in transportation costs.
The report also identifies broader improvement in freight demand, alongside continued capacity constraints. For budgets, bids, and revenue planning, the useful comparison is between shipment trends, available capacity, and rates measured on the same fuel and equipment basis.
To see how freight trucking rates change in the future, and for detailed analysis and forecasts, see ACT's freight & transportation forecast.
“Truckload pricing remained firm in August, with aggregate contract rates rising 18% year over year and holding steady from July. Aggregate spot rates moved below contract rates when measured excluding fuel, reflecting seasonal moderation and carriers’ incomplete recovery of higher diesel costs. That shift does not establish that capacity has normalized. ACT’s September Freight Forecast identifies a broader contribution from demand, while tight driver availability and a limited capacity response continue to support pricing. Fuel, financing, equipment, insurance, and labor costs remain important counterforces to carrier margin improvement.
North American Class 8 orders increased 32% year over year in August. The softer monthly result reflected seasonality, full 2026 backlogs, and the timing of 2027 orderboards. Retail sales improved, led by tractors, while vocational sales and inventories presented a less favorable picture. Improving freight economics, replacement needs, and regulatory planning continue to support equipment demand. The tractor fleet is beginning to grow again, but replacement requirements, exports, and driver availability limit how quickly new purchases translate into additional freight-hauling capacity. The market is becoming more constructive, with meaningful differences across equipment segments and customer applications.”
Tim Denoyer
VP & Sr. Analyst
Freight's supply-driven upturn: How long will rates rise?
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