Freight Rate & Trucking Update
Trucking News – US Freight Rates
August 19, 2025 – Courtesy of DAT Trendlines
| August 2025 Freight Rates | |||
| Aug 11 – Aug 17 vs. Aug 04 – Aug 10 | Jul 2025 vs. Jun 2025 | Jul 2025 vs. Jul 2024 | |
| Spot Market Loads | +5.1% | +1.7% | +19.9% |
| Spot Market Capacity | -1.5% | -5.7% | -30.0% |
| Van Load-To-Truck | +6.0% | +11.7% | +57.3% |
| Van Rates (Spot) | -1.5% | -0.5% | +0.0% |
| Flatbed Load-To-Truck | +1.0% | -4.9% | +101.4% |
| Flatbed Rates (Spot) | +0.0% | -0.8% | -0.4% |
| Reefer Load-To-Truck | +12.4% | +14.5% | +84.3% |
| Reefer Rates (Spot) | +1.3% | +1.3% | -0.4% |
| Fuel Prices | -1.1% | -0.5% | +1.6% |
Van Freight Rates – August 19, 2025
DAT.com’s August 19th Trendlines Report shows current national van rate averages are at $2.40 per mile, $0.03 less than the July average. According to DAT, the highest average van rates are in the Midwest at $2.15 per mile. The lowest average van rates are in the Northeast at $1.85 per mile.
DAT reports the current national load-to-truck ratio is 5.79 loads-to-truck, compared to the July average of 6.46. Ratios are highest in the South and East Coast states. The lowest ratios are in the Midwest.
Reefer Freight Rates – August 19, 2025
Reefer freight rates are averaging $2.75 per mile, $0.03 lower than in July. Reefer rates are highest in the Midwest, averaging $2.59 per mile. The lowest rates are in the Northeast, with an average of $2.11 per mile.
National reefer capacity is at 10.33 loads-to-truck compared to the July average of 11.8 loads-to-truck. Current load-to-truck capacity shows reefer demand is highest in the Southern and West Coast states. The Midwestern states have the lowest load-to-truck ratios.
Flatbed Freight Rates – August 19, 2025
National average flatbed rates are $3.05 per mile, $0.04 less than the July average. The Southeast has the highest average flatbed rates at $2.67 per mile. The lowest rates are in the West, with an average of $2.21 per mile.
Nationally, load-to-truck ratios are at 20.54, compared to 23.55 in July. Load ratios are highest in the West Coast and Southern states. The Northern and Midwest states have the lowest load-to-truck ratios. For more details, visit Dat.com.
*Diesel fuel price map as of August 19, 2025
Checking fuel prices, the national average diesel price is $3.71 a gallon compared to $3.76 one month ago and is down $0.03 compared to one year ago.
East Coast diesel prices are averaging $3.73 per gallon. The average price in the Midwest is $3.70 per gallon. California diesel prices are averaging $4.87 per gallon.
| Change from | |||||
| 08/04/25 | 08/11/25 | 08/18/25 | Week Ago | Year Ago | |
| US | 3.800 | 3.754 | 3.713 | -0.041 | +0.025 |
| East Coast (PADD 1) | 3.807 | 3.757 | 3.733 | -0.028 | -0.024 |
| New England (PADD 1A) | 3.992 | 3.985 | 3.969 | -0.002 | -0.050 |
| Central Atlantic (PADD 1B) | 3.958 | 3.942 | 3.908 | -0.017 | -0.027 |
| Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C) | 3.733 | 3.666 | 3.643 | -0.036 | -0.021 |
| Midwest (PADD 2) | 3.792 | 3.747 | 3.702 | -0.000 | +0.028 |
| Gulf Coast (PADD 3) | 3.442 | 3.397 | 3.340 | -0.020 | -0.015 |
| Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) | 3.793 | 3.776 | 3.757 | -0.047 | +0.107 |
| West Coast (PADD 5) | 4.540 | 4.492 | 4.455 | -0.036 | +0.161 |
| West Coast less California | 4.188 | 4.148 | 4.094 | -0.034 | +0.189 |
| California | 4.946 | 4.889 | 4.871 | -0.018 | +0.132 |
This article originally appeared on getscalefunding.com