Spot Market Insights
April 20, 2026
Van spot rates appear to be stabilizing
Total broker-posted spot rates in the Truckstop.com system rose for the 13th straight week during the week ended April 17 (week 15), but the latest week’s gain is solely due to flatbed’s continued surge. Dry van spot rates technically increased week over week but barely so, and refrigerated van spot rates fell for a second straight week. However, spot rates for all three principal equipment types are quite robust year over year even excluding the portion of the rate needed to recover soaring fuel costs.
Trucking & Rail Updates from FTR
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Most Recent Orders & Indices
Class 8 Orders
New class 8 truck orders are normally a leading indicator of the state of the economy. Follow our preliminary order updates to understand the direction of the economy and commercial vehicle production.
Trailer Orders
Strong freight demand dictates the need for new trailers. Follow our preliminary trailer orders to monitor the underlying health of freight and track the demand for new equipment.
Trucking Conditions Index
This exclusive FTR metric combines millions of data points known to influence truck fleet behavior to provide one index measuring the industry's health.
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Shippers Conditions Index
This exclusive FTR metric combines millions of transportation data points into one index to help shippers understand rate pressure across the industry.
State of Freight TODAY Articles
Volatility Returns as Energy, Freight, and Demand Signals Diverge
Trailer Orders Rebound—But the Underlying Demand Story Hasn’t Changed
