--- title: Spot Rates Keep Climbing as Capacity Tightens description: Trucking market shows strength as spot rates rise ahead of Memorial Day. Explore insights on capacity, revenues, and emerging trends in the latest FTR update. image: https://today.ftrintel.com/hubfs/Marketing%20Collateral/Blogs/Blog%20images/2026/May/TMU%20May%2029%202026%20blog.png --- ![](https://today.ftrintel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Marketing%20Collateral/Blogs/Blog%20images/2026/May/TMU%20May%2029%202026%20blog.png?width=1600&height=500&name=TMU%20May%2029%202026%20blog.png) trucking Capacity Utilization carriers # Spot Rates Keep Climbing as Capacity Tightens ![The FTR Experts](https://7528315.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/7528315/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_d-cms-elevate-theme_hubspot/elevate/images/avatar-placeholder.jpg?width=48&height=48&name=avatar-placeholder.jpg) The FTR Experts May 29, 2026 Spot Rates Keep Climbing as Capacity Tightens 4:35  The trucking market continues to show signs of strength as spot rates pushed higher heading into the Memorial Day holiday, despite ongoing uncertainty surrounding fuel costs and the broader economy. In Episode 366 of FTR's Trucking Market Update, Avery Vise breaks down the latest developments impacting carriers, shippers, and transportation decision-makers.  ###  Highway Reauthorization Bill Advances ![FTR_trucking icon](https://today.ftrintel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Marketing%20Collateral/Icon%20Library/FTR_trucking%20icon.png?width=208&height=208&name=FTR_trucking%20icon.png)The House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee approved the BUILD America 250 Act (H.R. 8870), a bipartisan bill that would reauthorize federal surface transportation programs beyond September. The legislation includes provisions related to trucking safety, broker oversight, ELD certification, autonomous vehicle integration, and a pilot program for heavier six-axle trucks on interstate highways.  ![www.ftrintel.comhubfsTrucking Market Updates Podcast](https://today.ftrintel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/State%20of%20Freight/Podcast%20Downloads/Podcast%20Graphics/www.ftrintel.comhubfsTrucking%20Market%20Updates%20Podcast.png?width=1755&height=1755&name=www.ftrintel.comhubfsTrucking%20Market%20Updates%20Podcast.png) ### Don't miss an episode! This article summarizes this week's FTR Trucking Market Update Podcast! Tune in to hear the entire episode and download the accompanying slides. [ Tune in here! ](https://www.ftrintel.com/trucking-podcast) ### Trucking Revenues Show Strongest Growth Since 2022 For-hire trucking revenues increased 4.3% year over year in the first quarter of 2026, marking the industry's strongest annual revenue gain since the fourth quarter of 2022. The data suggests that freight market fundamentals continue to improve following the downturn experienced in 2023 and early 2024. ![Truck Trans Revenue May 2026](https://today.ftrintel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Marketing%20Collateral/Blogs/Blog%20images/2026/May/Truck%20Trans%20Revenue%20May%202026.png?width=750&height=418&name=Truck%20Trans%20Revenue%20May%202026.png) ### Fuel Prices Ease, But Remain Elevated Diesel prices declined 7.3 cents per gallon during the latest week, falling to a national average of $5.523. While the recent trend is encouraging, diesel remains more than $2 per gallon higher than the same period last year. Crude oil prices have also retreated sharply amid reports of progress toward a U.S.-Iran agreement that could reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The broader transportation and warehousing sector also posted strong gains during April, led by a major jump in parcel and local delivery hiring. ![Diesel May 2026](https://today.ftrintel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Marketing%20Collateral/Blogs/Blog%20images/2026/May/Diesel%20May%202026.png?width=750&height=418&name=Diesel%20May%202026.png) ![Crude May 2026](https://today.ftrintel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Marketing%20Collateral/Blogs/Blog%20images/2026/May/Crude%20May%202026.png?width=750&height=423&name=Crude%20May%202026.png) ### Spot Market Remains Exceptionally Strong The biggest story continues to be spot market performance. - Total spot rates increased again following International Roadcheck week. - Dry van rates rose 13 cents per mile. - Refrigerated rates gained roughly 6 cents per mile. - Flatbed rates climbed another 7.7 cents and have now increased in 26 of the past 27 weeks. - Fuel-adjusted spot rates reached all-time highs. - Total spot market rates were more than 45% above year-ago levels. While some seasonal moderation would normally be expected after Memorial Day, tight capacity conditions and elevated operating costs continue to support stronger pricing across equipment segments. Flatbed freight remains particularly impressive, showing sustained momentum that has largely ignored normal seasonal patterns. ![FTR_Truckstop SMI header_1-1](https://today.ftrintel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SMI%20-%20Spot%20market/2025/FTR_Truckstop%20SMI%20header_1-1.jpg?width=1080&height=1080&name=FTR_Truckstop%20SMI%20header_1-1.jpg) ## Spot Market Insights Miss a Spot Market update? We have you covered with our rolling-4-week archive. [ Stay in the know! ](https://spot.ftrintel.com/archive) ## Housing Remains a Mixed Signal ![Multifamily Apartment Under Construction](https://today.ftrintel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/Multifamily%20Apartment%20Under%20Construction.png?width=299&height=199&name=Multifamily%20Apartment%20Under%20Construction.png)Residential construction data offered a mixed outlook for freight demand: - Housing starts declined 2.8% month over month in April. - Single-family starts fell 9%. - Multifamily starts increased 14.3%. - Housing permits rose 5.8%, supported by stronger multifamily activity. - Homes under construction increased slightly for a second consecutive month. Although single-family construction remains under pressure from higher mortgage rates, multifamily development continues to provide support for construction-related freight demand. ## Bottom Line The freight market remains on a positive trajectory. Trucking revenues are improving, spot rates continue to surge, and capacity remains tight despite easing fuel prices. While housing activity presents a mixed picture and diesel costs remain elevated, the overall tone of the market continues to favor carriers as the industry moves into the heart of the summer freight season. For the full discussion and supporting charts, listen to Episode 366 of FTR's Trucking Market Update podcast and download the accompanying slide deck. ### ![ChatGPT Image May 29, 2026, 11_34_50 AM](https://today.ftrintel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Marketing%20Collateral/Blogs/Blog%20images/2026/May/ChatGPT%20Image%20May%2029%2c%202026%2c%2011_34_50%20AM.png?width=1536&height=1024&name=ChatGPT%20Image%20May%2029%2c%202026%2c%2011_34_50%20AM.png) --- #### [![2026 FTR Conference_Email Headers_Dont miss these key insights](https://today.ftrintel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/2026%20Conference/Email%20Headers/2026%20FTR%20Conference_Email%20Headers_Dont%20miss%20these%20key%20insights.jpg?width=768&height=384&name=2026%20FTR%20Conference_Email%20Headers_Dont%20miss%20these%20key%20insights.jpg)](https://www.ftrconference.com) Planning for tighter capacity, cost pressure, and market uncertainty? So are your peers. #### Join the Truck Track at the 2026 FTR Transportation Conference! 📅 August 31 – September 1, 2026 Two days focused on the issues shaping trucking strategy today—from freight demand and rates to equipment, regulation, fuel volatility, and capital planning. **Early Bird pricing is now open**—register now at the lowest available rate and gain practical forecasting insight designed to help carriers, suppliers, investors, and technology providers make better decisions before the market shifts again. [REGISTER NOW - Early Bird Pricing ends June 19](https://www.ftrconference.com/register-now) ## Share this post [mailto:https%3A%2F%2Ftoday.ftrintel.com%2Ftmu-may-29-2026](mailto:https%3A%2F%2Ftoday.ftrintel.com%2Ftmu-may-29-2026) ## Keep reading [![](https://today.ftrintel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Marketing%20Collateral/Blogs/Blog%20images/2026/July/_Class%208%20July%202026%20blog.png?width=1600&height=500&name=_Class%208%20July%202026%20blog.png) class 8 trucks forecasting ### Class 8 Orders Surge Again as Industry Nears 2026 Production Capacity ](https://today.ftrintel.com/class-8-july-2026) [![](https://today.ftrintel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Marketing%20Collateral/Blogs/Blog%20images/2026/June/_RMU%20June%2026%202026%20blog.png?width=1600&height=500&name=_RMU%20June%2026%202026%20blog.png) intermodal carload Rail ### Rail Traffic Holds Steady While Intermodal Extends Its Winning Streak ](https://today.ftrintel.com/rmu-june-26-2026) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "The FTR Experts", "url" : "https://today.ftrintel.com/author/experts" }, "dateModified" : "2026-05-29T17:00:00.786Z", "datePublished" : "2026-05-29T17:00:00.000Z", "headline" : "Spot Rates Keep Climbing as Capacity Tightens", "image" : [ "https://today.ftrintel.com/hubfs/Marketing%20Collateral/Blogs/Blog%20images/2026/May/TMU%20May%2029%202026%20blog.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://today.ftrintel.com/tmu-may-29-2026", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://today.ftrintel.com/hubfs/FTR%20Logos%20and%20Icons/FTR_Logo_Primary_FullColor.png" }, "name" : "FTR | Transportation Intelligence" } } ```