Fuel Updates

Fuel is at $3.71 for the week, which is up from $3.62 the previous week.

The domestic trucking market this week continues to show a paradox of weak freight volumes paired with rising rates and tightening capacity. Although demand remains soft, the shrinking supply of available trucks is preventing the market from declining further and is setting the stage for a potentially more volatile—and more favorable—environment for carriers toward the end of 2025.

Reefer Freight:

• Spot rates are sitting at $2.47.
• Load postings saw a slight uptick, while available reefer equipment fell by 5%.
• Reduced capacity is driving regional tightness, especially near border markets, and pushing rates higher.
• Overall, this indicates a tightening of the reefer market, a typical trend during the fall produce season.
• Shippers may find it more difficult and time-consuming to find an available reefer truck to move their goods, especially on short notice.

Van Freight:

• Spot rates are sitting at $1.69 per mile.
• Load volumes dropped 3.0% week over week and 14.1% year over year, as the 48.6% rise in the load-to-truck ratio points to tightening capacity.
• Despite tightening capacity, load volumes have decreased, and the market is showing signs of slowing, reflecting a shift in the supply-demand balance.
• Load-to-truck ratio stood at 7.43, up 4.5% from the previous week, driven by a 3.0% increase in load posts and a 0.6% decline in truck posts.

Flatbed Freight:

• Spot rates are sitting at $2.53 per mile.
• While van and reefer spot rates were declining in the March-October period, flatbed rates showed a stronger performance, with a seasonal recovery beginning earlier in the year.
• As of mid-October 2025, brokers reported significant capacity constraints and higher demand in the Southeast, particularly in markets like Birmingham, Montgomery, and Jackson, pushing spot rates higher.
• For the week ending October 26th, 2025, the load-to-truck ratio was 27.16, down from the previous week as load posts fell 6% while equipment posts remained unchanged. However, the Southeast region—particularly Birmingham, Montgomery, and Jackson—saw a significant 23% increase in load posts, driving higher regional spot rates.

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.