trucking

Flatbed Rates Hold Near Nine-Year Highs Despite Housing Slowdown Signal

Flatbed spot linehaul rates averaged $2.70 per mile this week, remaining well above the nine-year seasonal average of $2.10 per mile, though capacity tightening is moderating gains.

The 10 bellwether states posted moves-weighted outbound rates of $3.02 per mile, with the load-to-truck ratio firming to 36 as supply pulls back faster than freight demand. Ohio River origins led regional pricing at $3.59 per mile.

A forecasted decline to $2.65 per mile by late September suggests rates will still track $0.61 per mile above year-ago levels. However, single-family housing starts fell 9.9% to 808,000 annually in July—the third decline in the past four months—signaling potential softness ahead. Mortgage rates near 6.7% and affordability concerns are keeping buyers sidelined. Since residential construction drives substantial flatbed demand for building materials, the housing pullback may pressure freight volumes over the next one to two quarters.