Fuel Updates

The national average diesel price rose from $3.530 on January 19th, 2026, to $3.624 for the week of January 26th, 2026.

As of early February 2026, the domestic truckload market continues to face weak demand, with tender volumes running approximately 6–7% lower year over year following the holiday season. While spot rates have shown resilience—remaining higher than 2025 levels—the overall freight environment remains sluggish due to elevated capacity. Ongoing market volatility is expected to persist.

Reefer Freight:

• Reefer Spot Rates: The national average reefer spot rate increased 2.9% to $2.70 per mile (excluding fuel), driven by growing demand for cold chain protection.
• Midwest: Capacity remains the tightest in this region, with rates averaging approximately $3.21 per mile, based on prior-week regional data.
• Texas: The state is seeing early, high-volume demand, particularly on lanes such as Laredo to Dallas.
• Market Conditions: The market is shifting from a looser environment to tighter capacity and higher demand, especially as seasonal produce activity ramps up.
• Load-to-Truck Ratio: As of late January 2026, the national reefer load-to-truck ratio rose to 14.55, representing a 13% week-over-week increase, driven by a 4% rise in load volume tied to “Protect from Freeze” shipments.

Van Freight:

• Spot Rates: As of early 2026, domestic dry van spot rates are showing upward momentum, reaching multi-year highs. DAT One data shows a 7-day average of $2.26 per mile, an 8-cent week-over-week increase. Regional averages include $2.64 per mile in the Midwest and $2.17 per mile in the South.
• Rate Outlook: Rates are expected to hover near current levels or ease slightly as the market continues to rebalance, with the potential for sharp but short-lived spikes during severe weather events in the coming weeks.
• Capacity: Capacity remains relatively ample compared to the sharp, winter-storm-driven spikes seen in 2024, signaling a return to more typical seasonal patterns.
• Regional Trends: The Midwest continues to lead in spot rates, with strong activity in markets such as Minneapolis, despite recent extreme weather conditions.
• Market Drivers: The recent softening in rates reflects a “calm-before-the-storm” dynamic, as shippers front-loaded imports in early January, temporarily reducing demand.
• Load-to-Truck Ratio: The domestic dry van load-to-truck ratio declined 8.9% week over week, indicating a short-term softening in the spot market. Load posts fell 2.3% while truck posts rose 1.5%. Despite this weekly decline, January 2026 levels remain relatively strong, trending more than 14% higher year over year.

Flatbed Freight:

• Spot Rates: Domestic flatbed spot rates have remained elevated, with recent gains driven in part by industrial activity and ongoing data center construction. Regional averages include $2.77 per mile in the Midwest, $2.73 in the Southeast, $2.56 in the Southwest, $2.46 in the Northeast, and $2.28 in the West.
• Market Conditions: While spot rates posted modest increases, the market remains under pressure due to flat contract rates and overall volumes that are lower than the same period in 2025.
• Capacity Pressures: The market continues to face an oversupply of carriers; however, demand for flatbed capacity remains supported by AI-driven data center construction projects.
• Resilience & Outlook: The flatbed sector is demonstrating greater resilience compared to other modes, though the broader market remains in a “wait-and-see” posture regarding further rate improvement. Recovery continues to be constrained by weak industrial and energy-related freight.
• Load-to-Truck Ratio: The flatbed load-to-truck ratio declined 8.2% week over week but rose sharply by 47.3% month over month, indicating tightening capacity, according to DAT Trendlines.

We hope you have a fantastic week! If you need any assistance or have any questions, please reach out to your RIM Representative or to our Domestic Team at RIMDomestic@rimlogistics.com.