National all-in reefer spot rates averaged $3.61 per mile in September, up 25 cents from August — the highest monthly all-in spot average of 2026, according to DAT Trendlines data in Summar Financial's October freight market update. Dry van recovered 10 cents to $3.00 per mile and flatbed gained 5 cents to $3.60, after an …
National all-in reefer spot rates averaged $3.61 per mile in September, up 25 cents from August — the highest monthly all-in spot average of 2026, according to DAT Trendlines data in Summar Financial’s October freight market update.
Dry van recovered 10 cents to $3.00 per mile and flatbed gained 5 cents to $3.60, after an August correction across all three equipment types.
The strength is still mostly a capacity story: tender rejections held around 14% in late September even as freight volumes stayed uneven. But demand finally flashed a real positive — the update calls it the first meaningful positive demand signal in more than three years.
Why it matters: reefer capacity stays tight heading into Q4, and the market is rewarding carriers who kept their fleets disciplined through the downturn. For shippers moving temperature-controlled freight, locking in reliable reefer capacity now beats chasing the spot market later.
Source: Summar Financial, October 2026 Freight Market Update (DAT Trendlines data).
