The freight market is sending mixed signals this month.
On one hand, contract rates posted their strongest June-to-July gains on record, which is a real sign that the market is firming up for carriers hauling committed freight. On the other hand, spot rates softened for five straight weeks heading into early August, reflecting the typical seasonal slowdown after the summer produce season winds down.
Underneath both trends, diesel moved higher and the wave of small-carrier and broker failures continued.
For carriers, the takeaway is simple: the back half of 2026 is shaping up better than the front half, but it still matters who you haul for.
Contract Rates Are Showing Real Strength
One of the biggest developments this month came from the contract market.
According to DAT Freight & Analytics, van and reefer contract rates posted their largest June-to-July increases on record. Van contract rates rose 12 cents to $3.01 per mile, reefer contract rates climbed 7 cents to $3.29 per mile, and flatbed contract rates added 3 cents to $3.83 per mile.
That kind of month-over-month movement is not something carriers usually see in the middle of summer. It is also one of the clearest signs yet that shippers are paying more to lock in capacity.
For carriers with committed freight, this is encouraging. It points to a market that is gradually moving in a better direction, especially for those who have consistent relationships and reliable lanes.
Spot Rates Are Cooling Seasonally
While contract rates moved higher, the spot market told a different story.
Across July, average spot rates were relatively steady, with van rates at $3.01 per mile, reefer rates at $3.42 per mile, and flatbed rates at $3.64 per mile. But the weekly trend showed softening heading into early August.
For the week of August 2–8, dry van spot rates averaged $2.95 per mile, reefer rates averaged $3.38 per mile, and flatbed rates averaged $3.60 per mile. DAT also noted that linehaul rates had fallen for five straight weeks since July 5, with dry van down 22 cents, reefer down 19 cents, and flatbed down 21 cents over that stretch.
Load posts were also down 23% cumulatively.
That may sound concerning at first, but it is important to keep the context in mind. This looks more like a seasonal cooldown than a market collapse. After the summer produce season winds down, spot demand often eases. For carriers relying heavily on the spot market, the key is to plan cash flow carefully through late summer.
Related source: DAT Freight & Analytics market updates
Volumes Eased Across Major Equipment Types
Volume also moved lower in July.
The DAT Truckload Volume Index fell month over month across dry van, reefer, and flatbed. Dry van volume was down 6%, reefer was down 5%, and flatbed was down 8%.
Load-to-truck ratios for the first week of August were still notable, especially in flatbed, with van at 10.4, reefer at 19.5, and flatbed at 37.0.
The broader picture is this: freight is not surging across the board, but capacity is tightening in important parts of the market. That tension is helping support contract rates, even as spot rates experience a seasonal dip.
Diesel Is Worth Watching Again
Diesel edged higher this month.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the national average on-highway diesel price rose to $5.348 per gallon for the week ending August 3, up 3.5 cents from the prior week’s $5.313.
That is not a dramatic move by itself, but fuel remains one of the biggest operating costs for carriers. Even small changes matter, especially when margins are tight and payment timelines stretch out over several weeks.
When diesel moves higher, carriers need to pay close attention to how fuel surcharges are calculated, how often they reset, and whether they reflect current market pricing. If the surcharge lags the market, the difference can come straight out of the carrier’s pocket.
Source: U.S. EIA Weekly Retail On-Highway Diesel Prices
Credit Risk Still Matters
The biggest risk for carriers right now may not be the rate on the load.
It may be the broker on the other end of the invoice.
The freight market is still working through a distress cycle, and July brought another round of small-carrier and logistics bankruptcies. FreightWaves has continued tracking carrier, logistics, and supply chain closures through its Freight Distress reporting.
For carriers, that means payment risk still deserves serious attention.
A load with a strong rate is only valuable if the broker pays when the invoice comes due. If a broker is already showing signs of financial trouble, the rate may not be worth the risk.
That is one of the places where factoring can help. A factoring partner that watches debtor quality and reviews broker payment behavior can help carriers avoid taking on unnecessary credit risk.
If a rate looks too good from a broker you do not know, it is worth checking before you haul.
Source: FreightWaves Freight Distress Report
Regulatory Changes Are Tightening the Driver Pool
Regulatory and policy changes are also affecting capacity.
FMCSA’s non-domiciled CDL final rule, effective March 16, 2026, continues to reshape the driver pool. States that cannot meet the new verification standards have to pause issuing non-domiciled credentials, and eligibility is now limited to a narrow set of visa categories.
Combined with continued English-language-proficiency enforcement, the practical effect is a tighter driver supply.
In the short run, this creates compliance challenges. But for carriers already running clean, tighter capacity can also help put a floor under contract rates.
Source: FMCSA Non-Domiciled CDL 2026 Final Rule FAQs
What Trucking Partners Is Seeing
Across our own portfolio, the numbers remain strong. The credit for these strong results goes in large part to the exceptional and ongoing work of our collections team.
Our book is running clean in a market where broker failures are still making headlines. Across roughly $3.0 million in active receivables, about 99% is current, meaning under 60 days. Close to 87% is being paid within 30 days.
Our average days-to-pay held at about 31 days this month, which is right in line with standard net-30 freight terms. We also carried no disputed balances on the book.
The portfolio remains diversified. That helps keep any one broker’s trouble from becoming a major issue for our carriers.
On the fuel side, we put A LOT of dollars to work this month. That keeps more cash in owner-operators’ pockets between loads.
While the headlines are focused on who is going under, our carriers are getting paid on time. For those using our digital wallet, access to funds is faster than ever.
That is what factoring with a partner who watches the debtors is supposed to look like.
What This Means for Carriers
The market is quietly turning in carriers’ favor.
Contract rates are firming. Capacity is tightening. The freight recession’s grip appears to be loosening. Spot-market softness is seasonal and expected to ease as the market moves closer to fall.
But the credit risk has not disappeared.
Broker and carrier failures are still happening, which means vetting who you haul for matters just as much as the rate you are offered. A strong rate does not help if the invoice becomes difficult to collect.
For carriers, the best move right now is to stay disciplined. Watch fuel costs, pay attention to payment behavior, and be careful with unfamiliar brokers offering rates that seem unusually high.
The Bottom Line
The August freight market is not all good news, but it is better news than carriers were seeing earlier this year.
Contract rates are strengthening, capacity is tightening, and clean carriers may be in a better position heading into the back half of 2026. At the same time, spot-market softness, diesel movement, and credit risk are still worth watching closely.
At Trucking Partners, we help carriers protect their cash flow, manage payment risk, and keep moving with more confidence.
If you have questions about broker payment timing, factoring, fuel advances, or anything in this month’s report, reach out to our team.
Need Help Protecting Your Cash Flow?
Getting a good rate is important. Getting paid is what keeps your business moving.
Trucking Partners helps carriers turn unpaid invoices into steady cash flow, review broker payment risk, and access support between loads. Whether you are managing rising fuel costs, waiting on slow broker payments, or trying to decide if a new broker is worth hauling for, our team is here to help.
Call Trucking Partners at (256) 737-8788 to talk with our team.
Or visit our website to learn more about freight factoring built for carriers.