August rates at a glance
- Dry van: National spot linehaul moved from about $2.32 per mile near the start of August to $2.19 for the week ending August 28.
- Reefer: The latest August report used for this review put linehaul near the mid-$2.60 range for the week ending August 21.
- Flatbed: National spot linehaul moved from about $2.79 early in August to $2.67 for the week ending August 28.
- Fuel: These DAT linehaul figures exclude fuel costs and surcharges.
How the month finished
Dry van linehaul slipped 2 cents in the final reported week to $2.19 per mile, but it remained 32.4% above the same week in 2025. Flatbed slipped 3 cents to $2.67 and remained 32.2% above the prior year. The month-end pattern was not a broad demand boom. Fewer available trucks continued to support pricing even as rates eased from summer highs.
What the national figures do not show
- The miles to pickup and the likely empty miles after delivery
- Detention, tolls, lumper charges, tarping, washouts, and other trip costs
- Whether the quoted rate includes a fuel surcharge
- Broker credit, payment history, and paperwork requirements
- The strength of the destination reload market
How Capital Depot can help
Use the August averages to understand the market direction, then price the actual trip across every loaded and empty mile. This article is an August 2026 record. Readers viewing it later should confirm current lane rates before making a decision. Original source
If slow customer payments make it harder to cover fuel, repairs, or the next load, Capital Depot can help approved carriers turn eligible invoices into more predictable working cash.