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This article covers market information reported from August 1 through August 21, 2026. It is an August 2026 market record, not a statement of current conditions.

What happened during August

  • Dry van softened: National linehaul moved from about $2.32 per mile early in August to $2.21 for the week ending August 21.
  • Reefer held relatively firm: Reefer linehaul averaged about $2.63 per mile for the week ending August 21.
  • Flatbed remained strongest: Flatbed linehaul averaged $2.70 per mile for the week ending August 21, about 35% higher than the same period in 2025.
  • Truck availability stayed tight: Flatbed load posts rose 2.6% during the final reported week while truck posts fell 5.4%.
  • Strong freight was regional: Ohio River, Southeast, Carolinas, Great Lakes, and Upper Atlantic markets produced some of the stronger late-August flatbed rates.

These are linehaul figures and do not include fuel or fuel surcharges.

What this meant for an owner-operator

  • Check the exact origin and destination instead of relying on a national average.
  • Confirm whether fuel is included in the quoted rate.
  • Count loaded miles, empty miles, tolls, detention, and the likely reload.
  • Confirm broker credit and payment history before accepting the load.
August offered more pricing support than one year earlier, but a higher rate did not automatically make every load profitable.

A five-minute load check

  1. Write down every mile. Include the trip to pickup, loaded miles, and likely repositioning after delivery.
  2. Separate linehaul and fuel. Make sure every rate being compared uses the same basis.
  3. Check the delivery market. A good outbound rate can lose its value when the truck lands where reloads are scarce.
  4. Set the lowest workable number. Use your current cost per mile and the profit needed to keep the business healthy.
  5. Verify the broker. Confirm authority, credit, payment history, and paperwork requirements before moving.

What a national average cannot tell you

A national number cannot show detention at one receiver, tolls on a particular route, mountain fuel use, local construction, or how long your equipment may sit after delivery. Use market data to start the decision, then finish it with your own records.

Archive notice

This article reflects information available through August 31, 2026. Readers viewing it later should confirm current rates, freight volume, and truck availability before making business decisions.

How Capital Depot can help

If slow customer payments make it harder to cover fuel, maintenance, or the next load, Capital Depot can help approved carriers determine whether freight factoring fits their business.

Have questions about what this means for your trucking business? Call Capital Depot and let us help.



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