Dry Van Rates
Dry Van Rates: benchmarks, signals, and how to protect your RPM.
Dry van is the market’s “heartbeat” — and it changes fast. This page helps you read the signals that actually move rates (capacity behavior, seasonality, and reload consistency), then translate them into practical dispatch decisions.
- Set a minimum “true RPM” target before you negotiate (rate minus real costs).
- Pick lanes that pay twice: outbound + reload consistency (not just the top-line rate).
- Spot capacity shifts early (volumes, rejections, and broker behavior signals).
- Use internal tools + explainers to move from “reading” to “booking” faster.
Dry Van Rates: Live Benchmarks & What They Mean
Use these benchmarks to set a realistic RPM floor, spot when the market is firming or fading, and price lanes based on reload probability and appointment risk—not vibes.
How to Read This Page (Fast)
The charts are weekly and include fuel. The teal series is the current year. Orange is last year. The dotted line is the five-year average.
Updated: Jan 12, 2026 (week ended Jan 9 / Week 1).
Dry van spot (Week 1)
Weekly, broker-posted RPM including fuel.
Total spot rates (Week 1)
All equipment, broker-posted RPM including fuel.
Total spot loads (index)
Weekly index (100 = 2014 avg). Load volume spike.
Practical lane rule
Price outbound + return outcome (reload certainty).
These are market benchmarks—not a quote. Lane RPM varies by imbalance, appointments, deadhead, and reload probability.
Dry Van Spot Rate Trend (Weekly)
This is the cleanest “market tape” for van pricing: weekly broker-posted RPM including fuel. When the current year sits above last year for multiple weeks, leverage usually improves—especially on strong outbound regions.
Market Pressure, In One Screen
Rates don’t move alone. Load volume and overall spot pricing help you tell whether van softness is isolated—or part of a broader reset.
Total Spot Rates (All Equipment)
Total Spot Loads (Index)
What Moves Van Rates Week-to-Week
Framework bars are for decision-making; the charts above are the live market benchmarks.
Regional Benchmarks & Lane Pricing (No Fluff)
National averages help with direction. Profit comes from lane math: outbound strength, reload probability, appointment friction, and deadhead.
Regional Spread Snapshot
Treat these as baseline anchors (regional averages are not lane quotes). Adjust for distance, dwell, weekend pickup, and how quickly the truck can reload.
| Region | Benchmark RPM (example) | Typical meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Midwest | $2.41/mi | Often stronger balance of outbound volume + reload options. |
| National | $2.24/mi | Good sanity check versus what you’re seeing this week. |
| Northeast | $1.98/mi | Common outbound imbalance; rates soften without a disruption premium. |
Practical rule: Track outbound RPM, backhaul RPM, and deadhead as separate lines in your lane sheet.
Lane Pricing Framework
Quote lanes with two numbers: FLOOR and ASK. The floor protects the week; the ask prices the hassle.
1) Build the FLOOR
Base it on cost + realistic operating assumptions: empty miles, appointment dwell, and whether the destination reloads fast.
2) Set the ASK
Add premium for tight windows, weekend pickup, poor receiver history, weather corridor risk, or a weak reload market.
Reality Check (Round Trip)
A great outbound number can still produce a bad week if the return leg is weak. If you can’t reload reliably, your outbound must carry more of the weekly cost.
Seasonality: When Van Rates Usually Firm Up
Seasonality isn’t perfect—but it’s predictable enough to help you manage quoting posture and cash flow planning.
Typical Seasonal Rhythm (Planning View)
Seasonality bars are a planning tool; use the charts above for the real weekly tape.
Use It Like This
In softer periods, defend your floor with better terms (fuel policy, detention terms, tighter drop rules). In firmer periods, defend your outcome with better reload strategy and fewer bad-receiver commitments.