A dip in September freight volumes did little to move truckload rates one way or the other, according to DAT Freight & Analytics, which operates the DAT One freight marketplace and DAT iQ data analytics service.
The average spot rates for all three major equipment types softened last week, compared to the previous week. Volumes declined across the board.
Load posts on DAT One fell 13% to 2.3 million last week, erasing the previous week’s gains.
Outbound spot truckload capacity is tightening in several inland US markets, partly because of falling US imports, adding momentum to a seasonal increase in transactional truck rates as trucking's fall peak shipping period gets underway.
Carriers and technology providers are modernizing their platforms and automating freight transactions. Freight matching, data integration, and defenses against freight fraud are shaping up to be the future of trucking.
Spot rates inched higher as load posts on DAT One continued to build
Last week, spot rates increased across all three major equipment types. Volumes increased for both the dry van and refrigerated segments.
Load posts on DAT One rose 13% to 2.6 million during the week of Sept. 28-Oct. 4, which includes the last three shipping days of Q3.
The way that carriers, brokers, and shippers interact is becoming more automated. Freight tracking and bot-driven rate negotiations are more prevalent today.
From the driver’s seat to the data lab, Dean Croke, Principal Analyst at DAT Freight & Analytics, brings a rare blend of firsthand experience and analytical precision. In this conversation, Dean unpacks the biggest freight trends shaping 2026 and shares how data, discipline, and storytelling drive smarter decisions across the industry.