Freight Trucking Rates
Truck Freight Rates: May 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
May 2026 Update
May 26, 2026
As of May 2026, the freight and trucking rate environment continues to firm, driven primarily by supply-side tightening rather than a broad-based demand surge. Capacity remains constrained by driver availability, regulatory enforcement, and lower equipment replacement activity, while Roadcheck and related compliance pressures added another layer of near-term tightness.
Spot truckload rates remain elevated year-over-year across the major equipment types, with dry van, flatbed, and reefer markets all showing stronger pricing than earlier in the cycle. Contract rates are also beginning to catch up, signaling that the recovery is moving beyond short-term spot market volatility and into broader pricing resets.
Below are the latest insights on dry van, flatbed, and reefer rates based on ACT Research’s May 2026 Freight Forecast.
Dry Van
Dry van rates continue to reflect a tighter truckload market. Spot conditions remained firm heading into Roadcheck, with load-to-truck ratios and rates moving above normal seasonal patterns. Capacity constraints, rather than strong freight demand, remain the main support for pricing.
While some seasonal moderation is possible, the dry van market appears to have moved from bottoming conditions into an early-cycle recovery. Shippers should expect less pricing relief than in the prior downcycle, while carriers are beginning to regain leverage in both spot and contract discussions.
Flatbed
Flatbed has become one of the strongest areas of the truckload market. Rates moved higher in April and started May ahead of normal seasonal patterns, supported by construction season, energy-related freight, and tighter specialized capacity.
The segment’s improvement is more pronounced than earlier in the year. While industrial demand is not uniformly strong, capacity reductions and seasonal freight needs are creating firmer pricing conditions. Flatbed rate direction will remain closely tied to energy activity, construction demand, and the pace of broader industrial recovery.
Reefer
Reefer rates remain elevated, supported by tight specialized capacity and seasonal freight activity. ACT’s May Freight Forecast shows reefer spot rates still meaningfully higher year-over-year, with potential for renewed upward pressure as Roadcheck effects move through the market.
The reefer market remains more capacity-sensitive than dry van, and spot conditions may continue to put pressure on contract pricing if tightness persists. Shippers should monitor produce-season volatility, while carriers should watch whether near-term spot strength carries into bid activity.
Contract Rates
Contract rates are now moving more clearly in response to sustained spot-market strength. Aggregate truckload contract rates rose again in April and have been improving over the past several months, reflecting the shift from bottoming conditions to early-cycle recovery.
Dry van contract rates are firming as spot strength moves through bid cycles. Flatbed contract rates are gaining momentum as specialized capacity tightens. Reefer contract rates continue to face upward pressure from persistent spot strength and capacity risk.
For shippers, the contract market is becoming less favorable than it was during the 2024–2025 downturn. For carriers, improving contract rates should support revenue quality, though fuel, insurance, labor, and equipment costs continue to pressure margins.
Summary
Entering May 2026, freight rates are strengthening as the market shifts further into a supply-driven recovery. Demand remains uneven, but capacity contraction, tighter driver availability, Roadcheck effects, and regulatory pressure are supporting higher rate floors.
Dry van conditions are firmer, flatbed has gained momentum, and reefer remains capacity-sensitive with upside risk during seasonal peaks. Contract rates are also beginning to respond, confirming that pricing improvement is no longer limited to short-term spot disruption.
The freight market is more constructive than earlier in the cycle, but still uneven. Shippers, carriers, brokers, fleets, and investors should continue monitoring spot-contract spreads, driver availability, seasonal demand, fuel costs, and whether improving rates translate into healthier carrier profitability.
To see how freight trucking rates change in the future, and for detailed analysis and forecasts, see ACT's freight & transportation forecast.
While contract rates are accelerating and spot rates remain materially higher year-over-year, the recovery is still being driven more by constrained supply than by a demand-led surge. Class 8 order activity has improved from depressed levels, but it has not yet translated into broad-based expansion. Backlogs are improving and production visibility is better, while carrier profitability remains uneven as fuel, insurance, financing, and equipment costs offset some of the benefit from higher rates. With driver availability tightening, regulatory pressure increasing, and total cost of ownership still elevated, fleets remain disciplined. Most strategies continue to center on replacement timing, regulatory positioning, and cost control rather than aggressive fleet growth.
Tim Denoyer
VP & Sr. Analyst
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