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In August 2026, dry van contract linehaul averaged $2.39 per mile, while spot linehaul averaged $2.17—a 22-cent-per-mile contract premium. That is a comparison of the linehaul component, not the full freight bill. It also reversed the June pattern, when spot was 8 cents per mile higher. The October U.S. Bank Freight Payment Index – Rates Edition, produced with DAT Freight & Analytics, covers June through August 2026.
How the spot–contract gap changed from June to August
The monthly figures show a steady divergence: contract linehaul rose while spot linehaul eased after June.
| Month 2026 | Dry van spot linehaul | Dry van contract linehaul | Contract minus spot |
|---|---|---|---|
| June | $2.38 per mile | $2.30 per mile | −$0.08 per mile (spot was higher) |
| July | $2.35 per mile | $2.38 per mile | +$0.03 per mile |
| August | $2.17 per mile | $2.39 per mile | +$0.22 per mile |
All monthly rates and the calculated differences are for dry van linehaul in the June–August 2026 period reported by U.S. Bank and DAT’s October 2026 release. The 22-cent figure is a per-mile difference between the two rate types; it is not a 22-cent change in every shipper’s bill, nor does it describe every lane or equipment type.
Why contract rates can exceed spot rates
Contract freight and spot freight price different kinds of capacity. Contract rates are tied to committed arrangements, while spot rates apply to transactional loads. A difference between them can reflect changing demand and capacity in those distinct markets; the index’s monthly averages do not establish one cause for the August spread.
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For context, U.S. Bank and DAT reported in April 2026 that the contract premium had narrowed from about $0.39 per mile a year earlier to about $0.11 by March. The August premium indicates a change in direction from that earlier compression, but the releases do not provide every intervening month’s rate figures. See the April 2026 index release.
FreightWaves reported that August spot loads fell 3.2% month over month to 1,264,897 and contract loads fell 1.3% to 740,249. Year over year, it reported contract loads down 27.7% and spot loads down 5.7%. These volume figures add context to the rate movements, but by themselves do not prove why rates changed. FreightWaves also quoted ATA chief economist Bob Costello, citing an August Fleet Owner column: “the industry is seeing a recovery, but that is nearly all due to excess capacity leaving the market.” That is an attributed interpretation, not a finding established by the rate table. FreightWaves’ October 2026 coverage also quotes DAT’s Patrick Pretorius recommending that shippers focus on consolidation and network planning as the market tightens.
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Linehaul is not the full freight cost
Fuel is a separate component, so the linehaul spread does not tell you how the full transportation charge moved. U.S. Bank and DAT reported average fuel surcharges of $0.62 per mile in June and $0.70 in August 2026. Those figures are fuel surcharge averages, not additions to the linehaul rates in the table for a specific shipment.
DAT general manager of shipper segment Patrick Pretorius said fuel made up about 21% of the per-mile broker-to-shipper spot rate on dry van loads in June and 24% in August. He also said diesel was trending higher into fall; that was his time-specific outlook in the October 2026 release, not a guarantee of subsequent prices. U.S. Bank head of transportation for Corporate Payment Systems Jeff Pape said: “Fuel costs are increasing while linehaul pricing is softening, making it important for transportation teams to closely analyze the components of their freight spend.”
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A useful comparison separates rate, commitment, timing and volume rather than treating one per-mile average as a universal price.
- Compare like with like: Check whether a quoted figure is linehaul only or includes fuel and other charges. The index’s 22-cent August gap is linehaul only.
- Match the period: Spot was above contract in June, but contract was above spot in July and August. A June quote and an August market average describe different conditions.
- Consider the service arrangement: Contract and spot rates reflect committed and transactional capacity respectively; the cheaper linehaul number alone does not capture the value or availability of capacity.
- Track volumes alongside rates: The August load-count declines reported by FreightWaves provide market context, not a route-level forecast.
- Use lane-specific evidence: The published figures are dry van averages and do not establish rates for a particular route, shipment, or other equipment type.
CommScope freight audit and analytics manager Jennifer Bullock told FreightWaves, “Stable rates do not necessarily mean stable transportation costs,” and recommended separating fuel from linehaul to see where pricing pressure changes. That distinction matters when comparing bills over time: a stable or falling linehaul component can coexist with a changing fuel charge.
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How rates compared with August 2025
Despite spot’s decline from June to August 2026, both August linehaul averages remained above their August 2025 levels. FreightWaves reported spot at $2.17 per mile, up 35.6% from $1.60 a year earlier, and contract at $2.39, up 20.1% from $1.99. These are year-over-year comparisons of dry van linehaul, not all-in freight costs.
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