Fuel Updates

As of Tuesday, January 20th, 2026, the national average price for domestic truck fuel (diesel) is approximately $3.459 per gallon, reflecting a decline for the eighth consecutive week.

The domestic truck market in early January 2026 is showing expected post-holiday shifts. Dry van and reefer spot rates declined as capacity loosened, while flatbed rates posted modest gains—continuing typical seasonal trends as freight volumes picked up after the New Year. Overall, the market remains relatively balanced with low route guide depth. However, spot rates, especially for vans, trended down week over week, contrasting with the stronger seasonal demand and tighter capacity seen in late 2025.

Reefer Freight:

• Reefer spot rates are fluctuating but generally trending upward as of early 2026, with national averages recently around $2.00–$2.70 per mile. This is being driven by seasonal produce demand, particularly in the Midwest and Texas.
• The reefer truck market this week is showing tightening capacity and high load volumes, which are contributing to elevated spot rates.
• The Southeast (Georgia, Florida), Southwest (Arizona, Texas), and California are experiencing especially strong demand.
• Recent winter storms have diverted some reefer trucks to “protect-from-freeze” loads, further reducing available capacity for standard perishable freight.
• Shippers should expect higher rates and potentially longer lead times as demand continues to outpace supply in many lanes.
• Load-to-truck ratio: Reefer truck-to-load ratios have fluctuated recently. A mid-January 2026 report indicated stronger demand (higher ratios), influenced by increased flatbed volumes and a cooling of dry van and some reefer spot rates.

Van Freight:

• As of early January 2026, dry van spot rates dipped slightly or remained flat nationally, averaging around $1.89 per mile (DAT), with some lanes running higher. The Midwest continues to show tighter capacity and stronger pricing, with averages around $2.19 per mile, reflecting ongoing demand.
• Rates have fallen from late-December peaks, but remain above early 2025 levels.
• Following the holidays, spot rates have cooled, with declines in linehaul rates. However, freight volumes remain historically high and capacity is still relatively tight, resulting in a slowly softening market with lingering volatility and regional strength, especially in the Midwest.
• A continued shortage of available equipment is keeping the market tighter than typical conditions, helping to support rates.
• Load-to-truck ratio: Dry van load-to-truck ratios spiked after the New Year holiday, reaching near five-year highs (around 10:1) as many carriers were out of the market. Ratios have since begun to cool, with both load and truck postings increasing, suggesting easing capacity.

Flatbed Freight:

• Flatbed spot rates are showing modest stability with slight upward movement, hovering in the low $2s per mile nationally. Recent reports place rates between approximately $2.07 and $2.77 per mile, depending on region, with the Midwest trending higher.
• Underlying industrial demand remains generally soft, despite surges in specific sectors such as AI-driven data center construction.
• Stronger rates and volumes are expected in the Southeast and Northeast, with the Midwest also showing potential. The West and Mountain Central regions continue to lag.
• Carriers are prioritizing margins, deploying equipment selectively, and waiting for stronger manufacturing activity and infrastructure investment to drive a more meaningful recovery.
• Load-to-truck ratio: As of early January 2026, the flatbed load-to-truck ratio saw a significant post-holiday surge. Reports showed load postings up nearly 96.7%, along with an increase in the Market Demand Index, signaling rising demand for flatbed services.

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.