Trucking

Flatbed Rates Remain Elevated as Capacity Tightens Heading Into October

Flatbed spot linehaul rates averaged $2.55 per mile last week, maintaining a significant premium above the nine-year seasonal average of $2.10 per mile and hovering near historical highs.

The South Central region led pricing at $2.67 per mile, up 18 cents year-over-year. Lower Atlantic posted the strongest week-over-week performance among bellwether states.

Capacity constraints continue to define the market. Flatbed stayed the tightest board by load-to-truck ratio, with the ratio lifted by nearly half over twelve months compared to the same period last year.

Looking ahead, forecasters expect rates to ease to $2.65 per mile within the narrowest confidence band among equipment categories. Rates remain substantially elevated compared to year-ago levels despite the anticipated pullback.