Great Plains Blog

Freight Rate & Trucking Update

Written by Great Plains Staff | Jul 23, 2026, 3:56:08 PM

Trucking News - US Freight Rates

July 22, 2026 - Courtesy of DAT Trendlines

July 2026 Freight Rates JUL 13 - JUL 19 VS JUL 06 - JUL 12 JUN 2026 VS MAY 2026 JUN 2026 VS JUN 2025
Van Load-To-Truck -9.8% -4.6% +64.0%
Van Rates (Spot) +4.8% +9.7% +29.4%
Flatbed Load-To-Truck -14.9% -17.0% +152.1%
Flatbed Rates (Spot) +1.9% +11.0% +35.8%
Reefer Load-To-Truck -13.4% -2.0% +69.2%
Reefer Rates (Spot) -8.4% +28.8% +21.0%
Fuel Prices +6.9% -3.6% +28.0%

Van Freight Rates - July 22, 2026

DAT.com’s July 20th Trendlines Report shows current national van spot rate averages are at $3.03 per mile, 3¢ above the June average. The highest average van rates are in the Southeast at $3.17 per mile. The lowest average van rates are in the Northeast at $2.47 per mile.

The current national van load-to-truck ratio is 10.61 loads-to-truck, compared to the June average of 9.38 Ratios are even across the country.

Average Van Ratess in the US as of July 22, 2026

Reefer Freight Rates - July 22, 2026

Reefer freight rates are averaging $3.39 per mile, 4¢ higher than the May average. Rates are highest in the Midwest and West, both averaging $3.51 per mile. The lowest rates are in the Northeast, with an average of $2.61 per mile.

National reefer capacity is 18.39 loads-to-truck compared to the May average of 20.39 loads-to-truck. Current load-to-truck capacity shows reefer demand is even across of the country.

Average Reefer Freight Rates in the US as of July 22, 2026

Flatbed Freight Rates -July 22, 2026

National average flatbed rates are $3.72 per mile, 6¢ more than the May average. The Southeast has the highest average flatbed rates at $4.05 per mile. The lowest rates are in the West, with an average of $3.23 per mile.

Nationally, flatbed load-to-truck ratios are at 54.37, compared to 71.57 in May. Load to truck ratios for flatbed freight is even across the country, with North Dakota being slightly lower than the rest. For more details, visit Dat.com.

Average Flatbed Freight Rates in the US as of July 22, 2026

Diesel Fuel Pricing - July 22, 2026

Checking fuel prices, the national average diesel price is $ 4.83 per gallon, down 81¢ from one month ago and is up $1.06 compared to one year ago.

East Coast diesel prices are averaging $4.89 per gallon. The average price in the Midwest is $4.75 per gallon. California diesel prices are averaging $6.49 per gallon.

Diesel Fuel Price Map of the US as of July 22, 2026
Change from
  07/06/26 07/13/26 07/20/26 Week Ago Year Ago
US $4.578 $4.796 $5.134 +0.338 +1.322
East Coast (PADD 1) $4.694 $4.894 $5.194 +0.300 +1.373
New England (PADD 1A) $5.220 $5.189 $5.399 +0.210 +1.415
Central Atlantic (PADD 1B) $5.146 $5.204 $5.370 +0.166 +1.395
Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C) $4.477 $4.748 $5.107 +0.359 +1.360
Midwest (PADD 2) $4.458 $4.659 $4.988 +0.329 +1.193
Gulf Coast (PADD 3) $4.225 $4.546 $4.942 +0.396 +1.466
Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) $4.484 $4.600 $4.935 +0.335 +1.165
West Coast (PADD 5) $5.425 $5.550 $5.877 +0.327 +1.335
West Coast less California $4.864 $5.052 $5.362 +0.310 +1.186
California $6.073 $6.126 $6.471 +0.345 +1.508