What happened
U.S. Bank and DAT reported on Oct. 1 that national dry-van spot rates moved from $2.38 per mile in June to $2.35 in July and $2.17 in August. Contract rates moved the other direction, from $2.30 in June to $2.38 in July and $2.39 in August. That left contract freight about 22 cents per mile above spot in August. The average fuel surcharge also rose from $0.62 per mile in June to $0.70 in August.
What drivers should do
The figures are national dry-van averages, not a promise that every carrier or lane will receive the same rate. A contract premium may reflect capacity commitments, service requirements and negotiated shipper relationships, while a spot quote can change quickly by lane, day and equipment availability. U.S. Bank advises evaluating linehaul and fuel separately; DAT says fuel represented 21% of the broker-to-shipper spot rate per mile in June and 24% in August. Company drivers should not treat a market rate as personal pay and should compare paid miles, detention and other compensation instead.
Why this matters to our community
Before accepting a load, ask whether the quoted price includes a fuel surcharge and calculate all-in revenue across loaded and deadhead miles. Confirm detention, layover, truck-ordered-not-used, stop pay, tolls and other accessorials in the rate confirmation. Compare the same lane over several weeks, preserve rate confirmations and fuel receipts, and know the truck's actual cost per mile before accepting freight below cost. Useful English terms include spot rate, contract rate, linehaul, fuel surcharge, all-in rate, deadhead, accessorial, rate confirmation and cost per mile.