Spot Rate

The market freight rate paid for a single one-time load, set by current supply and demand.

Spot rates fluctuate daily based on truck-to-load ratios, fuel costs, weather, and seasonality. Spot pricing dominates 30%–40% of U.S. freight volume; the remainder runs under contract. DAT and Truckstop publish the most-watched weekly spot indices.

Example

When a hurricane disrupts the Gulf, dry-van spot rates from Houston spike from $2.20/mi to $3.80/mi within 48 hours.