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Load Board Rate Benchmarker for Owner Operators

Compare offered rates against DAT national averages, adjusted for today's diesel price, season, and pickup day.

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Data: DAT national average spot/contract rates for September 2026. Fuel is adjusted to today's U.S. diesel price. National averages. Your lane, season and broker can move the real rate a lot in either direction.

DAT source release

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What are current national trucking rates per mile?

DAT's September 2026 national averages put spot dry van linehaul at $2.17 per mile, reefer at $2.70 and flatbed at $2.60, before fuel surcharge. Brokers usually quote an all-in rate, which is linehaul plus fuel surcharge. The benchmarker adjusts the fuel part to today's diesel price and compares an offered rate with these averages.

DAT national average rates per mile, September 2026
EquipmentSpot linehaulFuel surchargeSpot all-inContract linehaul
Dry Van$2.17$0.84$3.01$2.40
Reefer$2.70$0.92$3.62$2.66
Flatbed$2.60$1.01$3.61$3.03

DAT publishes national averages only for van, reefer and flatbed. Rates for other equipment in the benchmarker are estimates scaled from those, and they are labeled as such. Lane, season and load details move real rates well away from a national average.

Last reviewed September 2026. Sources: DAT monthly report, September 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions - Load Board Rate Benchmarker

How do I know if a freight rate is fair?
Compare it against current lane-specific data from a service like DAT RateView, Truckstop or SONAR rather than a national average alone, since national averages are only a rough starting point and real transactional rate data for your specific lane is typically behind a paid subscription. Factor in your deadhead for the return trip, and treat a rate as fair only once it clears your own cost per mile plus the profit margin you actually need.
What causes freight rates to change?
The balance of available trucks to available freight in a lane, fuel prices, seasonal demand (produce season, holiday peak), whether you're running the headhaul or backhaul direction, freight type, and overall market conditions. Rates can move meaningfully week to week, so a rate that was strong last month isn't guaranteed to hold.
When should I negotiate a freight rate instead of accepting it?
Negotiate whenever the offered rate doesn't clearly clear your cost per mile plus your target profit. Having current lane-rate data to point to gives you a stronger negotiating position than asking for more without backup, and your leverage is strongest when capacity is tight, you have a reliable track record with that broker, and you understand roughly what margin they're working with.
What's the difference between spot and contract freight rates?
Spot rates apply to one-time loads and move directly with current market conditions, running higher during capacity crunches and lower when trucks are plentiful. Contract rates lock in a rate for committed volume over a set period, typically trading a somewhat lower rate for more predictable, guaranteed freight. Many carriers run a mix of both to balance steady income against the upside of a strong spot market.
Why are some equipment types marked as estimates?
DAT publishes free national averages only for dry van, reefer and flatbed. The other types are scaled from the nearest published one, for example step deck as about 4% above flatbed. They are labeled as estimates on the page. Use them as a rough guide and check them against your load board.
How often are the benchmark rates updated?
The averages come from DAT's monthly press release, and the page is updated by hand each month. It states which month the figures are from. The fuel part moves with the current diesel price between updates. A rate on a specific lane on a specific day can differ a lot from a national average.

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Go Further With Load Board Rate Benchmarker

Guides, services and reference pages that go with this tool.

Terms explained in the Load Board Rate Benchmarker