US contract dry van rates open 22-cent gap over spot

· Logistics · United States

US Bank's Freight Payment Index shows contract dry van rates rose every month since April to $2.39 a mile, while spot rates slid to $2.17. The reversal of June's inversion signals contract pricing is firming even as the spot market softens.

Why it matters：The spread between contract and spot rates shapes carrier margins and shipper budgeting, and a widening gap often precedes a looser capacity cycle that affects the whole truckload market.

Key points

  • Contract dry van rates climbed to $2.39 a mile, the highest since April.
  • Spot rates fell to $2.17 a mile, reversing June's inversion.
  • The 22-cent gap is the widest cited in the index's rates edition.

Sources (original reporting)

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