Truckload rates keep rising as tight capacity fuels freight recovery

Truckload spot rates moved up for the fourth consecutive month in June 2026, with dry van linehaul averages crossing thresholds last seen during the post-pandemic surge. Contract rates, which typically lag spot by 60 to 90 days, are now firming in renewal cycles.

What is unusual about this recovery is the driver: demand growth remains modest, but capacity has been pulled out of the market at a steady clip. Authority revocations, voluntary exits, and stricter enforcement have all contributed. The net effect is a healthier rate environment for the carriers and dispatchers who stuck it out.

Shippers are already adjusting bid strategies — locking in capacity earlier and accepting moderate increases rather than risking exposure to spot during peak season.