  PORTLAND, Ore., July  09, 2026  (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Truckload rates climbed faster than freight volumes last month, a disparity that points to tighter truck capacity rather than stronger freight demand, according

DAT: Dry van spot rates top contract for first time since February 2022; flatbed rates hit record high

DAT Truckload Data Indicates Capacity Tightening, Potential ROP Upside

<section class="insight" data-version="1">
 <section data-block="information">
 <h3>Information</h3>
 PORTLAND, Ore., July 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Truckload rates climbed faster than freight volumes last month, a disparity that points to tighter truck capacity rather than stronger freight demand, according
 </section>

 <section data-block="ai-summary-paragraph">
 <h3>AI Summary</h3>
 DAT&#039;s Truckload Volume Index for June 2026 rose across van (262, +11% MoM), reefer (184, +5%), and flatbed (308, +12%), while spot rates outpaced contract rates, signaling tighter capacity. DAT is a unit of Roper Technologies (ROP), so stronger truckload pricing dynamics could lift DAT&#039;s profitability and, by extension, ROP&#039;s valuation in the near term.
 </section>

 <section data-block="ai-summary-bullets">
 <h3>Key Points</h3>
 <ul><li>DAT Truckload Volume Index rose across van, reefer, and flatbed in June.</li><li>Van spot rate exceeded contract rate for first time since Feb 2022.</li><li>Spot rates grew faster than volumes, signaling capacity tightening.</li><li>DAT Freight &amp; Analytics is a unit of Roper Technologies (ROP).</li><li>Flatbed spot rates hit an all-time high amid solid pricing power.</li></ul>
 </section>

 <section data-block="companies-mentioned">
 <h3>Companies Mentioned</h3>
 <ul><li>Roper Technologies, Inc. (ROP): Owner of DAT; stronger analytics demand may buoy DAT&#039;s profitability and ROP&#039;s earnings multiple.</li><li>DAT Freight &amp; Analytics (N/A): DAT provides market data and analytics; rising pricing power in trucking could boost unit revenue within ROP.</li></ul>
 </section>

 <section data-block="category">
 <h3>Industry News</h3>
 Industry News. Highlights industry-wide trucking data and capacity signals that could influence DAT and, by extension, ROP valuations.
 </section>

 <section data-block="market-moving">
 <h3>Market-Moving</h3>
 <ul><li>Van spot rate tops contract for first time since Feb 2022.</li><li>Flatbed spot rates rise to all-time highs.</li><li>Spot vs contract gap widens, signaling pricing power.</li><li>DAT&#039;s data unit could lift ROP near-term valuations.</li></ul>
 </section>

 <section data-block="key-facts">
 <h3>Key Facts</h3>
 <ul><li>Van TVI 262, up 11% MoM; Reefer TVI 184, up 5%; Flatbed TVI 308, up 12%.</li><li>Spot van rate $3.00/mi; Reefer $3.39/mi; Flatbed $3.69/mi.</li><li>Van linehaul $2.37/mi; Reefer $2.70/mi; Flatbed $2.94/mi; all-time high flatbed linehaul.</li><li>Contract rates: van $2.89/mi; Reefer $3.22/mi; Flatbed $3.80/mi.</li><li>YoY: van linehaul +74c; reefer +76c; flatbed +84c.</li></ul>
 </section>

 <section data-block="trading-thesis">
 <h3>Trading Thesis</h3>
 Bullish for ROP over the next 3–6 months as DAT data supports pricing power and near-term earnings upside.
 </section>
</section>


<link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.globenewswire.com/styles/gnw_nitf.css"></link><img alt="Spot Market Volume &amp; Rates: Van" height="314" src="https://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/ce8e6700-4c43-431c-8a56-8c7cf355ee75/mkt-0109-tvi-monthly-chart-van-june-2026-1-.png" width="600" data-dpi="96" data-caption="Dry van spot rates top contract for first time since February 2022; flatbed rates hit record high" data-filename="MKT-0109_TVI Monthly Chart_VAN_JUNE 2026 (1).png"></img> PORTLAND, Ore., July 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Truckload rates climbed faster than freight volumes last month, a disparity that points to tighter truck capacity rather than stronger freight demand, according to <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=XJSzUn3-FsAh7qSydDmkoRw6MzL7CkZ8yBjjQZtlLZUCmd3CTTqSWxrNJvxhVoCpFkwR4vWRn86VSO5oiy0wmaD5jicUfbC-VPdjVsyqOhE=" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">DAT Freight &amp; Analytics</a>, provider of the industry&#39;s leading load boards and freight analytics. The DAT Truckload Volume Index (TVI), which measures loads moved during the month, rose across all three equipment types compared to May: <ul type="disc"><li>Van TVI: 262, up 11% from May but roughly flat compared to June 2025</li><li>Refrigerated TVI: 184, up 5% from May but down 8% from June 2025</li><li>Flatbed TVI: 308, up 12% from May but down 4% from June 2025 </li></ul> The national average van truckload spot rate exceeded the contract rate in June for the first time since February 2022, and overall rate growth far exceeded volume growth last month. Spot linehaul rates increased at least 39% year over year across all three equipment types, while volumes were flat to lower. Capacity has continued to tighten amid regulatory changes and immigration enforcement, reducing the supply of qualified truck drivers. Spot rates climb faster than volumes Dry van, refrigerated, and flatbed spot rates all increased in June, with flatbed spot rates hitting a new all-time high. The gains came even as freight volumes rose more modestly, reinforcing signs of capacity tightening. <ul type="disc"><li>Spot van rate: $3.00 per mile, up 11 cents from May</li><li>Spot reefer rate: $3.39 per mile, up 4 cents from May</li><li>Spot flatbed rate: $3.69 per mile, up 4 cents from May to an all-time high </li></ul> Linehaul rates, which remove an amount equal to an average fuel surcharge, increased substantially: <ul type="disc"><li>Van linehaul rate: $2.37 per mile, up 21 cents from May</li><li>Reefer linehaul rate: $2.70 per mile, up 14 cents from May</li><li>Flatbed linehaul rate: $2.94 per mile, up 16 cents from May to an all-time high </li></ul> Year over year, the national average van linehaul rate was up 74 cents in June, reefer was up 76 cents, and flatbed was up 84 cents. Rates increased 45% for van freight, 39% for refrigerated, and 40% for flatbed, the largest year-over-year percentage increases in linehaul rates since June 2021 for vans and since July 2021 for reefers and flatbeds. Contract rates lag spot National average contract rates were mixed in June. All-in pricing slipped for van and refrigerated freight as lower fuel surcharges offset gains in linehaul rates, while flatbed edged higher: <ul type="disc"><li>Contract van rate: $2.89 per mile, down 3 cents from May</li><li>Contract reefer rate: $3.22 per mile, down 6 cents from May</li><li>Contract flatbed rate: $3.80 per mile, up 3 cents from May </li></ul> The national average contract linehaul rate increased across all three equipment types: van rose 7 cents to $2.26 per mile, reefer increased 4 cents to $2.53, and flatbed climbed 15 cents to $3.05. Year over year, the national average contract rate was up 49 cents for van freight, 48 cents for reefer, and 71 cents for flatbed. Spot-contract gap widens The national average van spot rate moved above contract for the first time since February 2022, and the reefer spot-contract gap widened to 17 cents from 7 cents in May. Flatbed remains the exception, with contract linehaul rates still above spot. That spread has closed to 11 cents in June from 52 cents a year ago. "The difference between spot and contract rates has narrowed steadily for more than a year, and carriers are gaining pricing power across the board," said Dean Croke, DAT industry analyst. "Van spot beating contract for the first time in four years, and flatbed hitting an all-time high in the same month, shows real capacity pressure. If demand were driving this, volumes would be climbing too, and they’re not." About the DAT Truckload Volume Index The DAT Truckload Volume Index measures monthly changes in loads with a pickup date during that month for hauls of 250 miles or more in the United States and Canada. A baseline of 100 equals the number of loads moved in January 2015, based on data from DAT RateView, part of the DAT iQ freight analytics platform. Rates are derived from invoice data submitted by shippers, brokers, and carriers, who provide transaction records directly from their TMS systems. Monthly average spot rates reflect amounts paid by the broker to the carrier. Contract rates are paid by shippers primarily to asset-based carriers and brokers. About DAT Freight &amp; Analytics DAT Freight &amp; Analytics operates the DAT One truckload freight marketplace; Convoy Platform, an automated freight-matching technology; DAT iQ analytics service; Trucker Tools load-visibility platform; and Outgo factoring and financial services for truckers. Shippers, transportation brokers, carriers, news organizations, and industry analysts rely on DAT for market trends and data insights, informed by nearly 700,000 daily load posts and a database exceeding $1 trillion in freight market transactions. Founded in 1978, DAT is a business unit of Roper Technologies (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ROP">ROP</a>), a constituent of the Nasdaq 100, S&amp;P 500, and Fortune 500. Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, DAT continues to set the standard for innovation in the trucking and logistics industry. Visit <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=4hTOkzNP1AO3zILb3YI5vNeFuiOeIfFPlYtpsAmcbnLEWi3b-72TZtd9F8L67ZYP5zemC86gi1fbwGxR97hSxg==" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">dat.com</a> for more information. Contact: Georgia Jablon DAT Freight &amp; Analytics <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=fyIG8UpzsddDvHvZ2B-zvOIA5S8r_yTZ-jyToi9RguWgumBKm13UZt5veSDnK8nKMLy_Q-rIQg1ML_6T8hbcKEJCSxbu0QcnbiHXN6vFvZM=" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">georgia.jablon@dat.com</a>  904-305-6454 Stephen Petit SiefkesPetit Communications 425-443-8976 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=HTVf69rrbmAn1qLKW6T2vUbd19ViNQw6xJueNm8PBRZHzmDtKQ6aX_H2AT1_dAXqMqrccPS-Hi_vGGEa051L-_rzMDsi4aQ_rS6OqGopz4Z66dcWGbPT896e2RoQUbhnmSKYSgIGxdWieWyW5YBpLv5cF79qSjVbe0F3_MkrUlc1kh5OdeoRy0yI8iEPiI_Grdy9P5WKEXJ-q27shepP-yXy4UOPFXLMR5QqhakvNJZgBbLENyuR00QevUQkyPdfDzar74W7KxMLVOrCnYkk8A==" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ce8e6700-4c43-431c-8a56-8c7cf355ee75</a> <img alt="" class="__GNW8366DE3E__IMG" src="https://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/ti?nf=OTc1OTc1MSM3Njk4OTUzIzIwODM5NjA="></img> <img alt="" src="https://ml.globenewswire.com/media/NDhkYmE2ZTEtNzM3MC00MWQ2LWFlZGMtY2FkZmFkN2UyYTJlLTEwOTU1MzEtMjAyNi0wNy0wOS1lbg==/tiny/DAT-Solutions.png" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></img><a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c4507957-51ac-4554-b253-218c4bb1a21c"><img src="https://ml.globenewswire.com/media/c4507957-51ac-4554-b253-218c4bb1a21c/small/dat-logo-dat-f-a-vertical-digital-blue-png.png" border="0" width="150" height="65" alt="Primary Logo"></img></a>

DAT's Truckload Volume Index for June 2026 rose across van (262, +11% MoM), reefer (184, +5%), and flatbed (308, +12%), while spot rates outpaced contract rates, signaling tighter capacity. DAT is a unit of Roper Technologies (ROP), so stronger truckload pricing dynamics could lift DAT's profitability and, by extension, ROP's valuation in the near term.

DAT: Dry van spot rates top contract for first time since February 2022; flatbed rates hit record high

AI Summary

Sentiment Rationale

Trading Thesis

Market-Moving

Key Facts

Companies Mentioned

Industry News

Related News