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Defense Spending and Data Center Buildout Drive Flatbed Demand Surge

The flatbed market recently cooled, but two major forces are driving robust demand: aggressive data center expansion and record defense appropriations. Flatbed carriers can capitalize on shipments of concrete and structural materials for new facility construction. Heightened military spending is also creating hauling requirements for munitions and defense-related cargo. These dual demand drivers position capacity providers to benefit from sustained utilization gains through the remainder of 2026, offsetting earlier market softness and signaling a turnaround in freight fundamentals for this key segment.