Spot Rate Estimator — FTL Market Rate by Lane & Equipment
Get a market rate estimate for full truckload spot freight. Based on 2026 market benchmarks for dry van, reefer and flatbed by lane distance and region.
📊 Spot Rate Estimator
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter lane miles — origin to destination. Use PC Miler for carrier-standard routing.
- Select equipment type — dry van, reefer, flatbed or step deck. Each has different base rates.
- Select lane type — regional lanes carry a premium; cross-country rates are lower per mile due to longer runs.
- Select market conditions — tight markets (peak season, low capacity) push rates up 15–20%; soft markets pull them down.
Worked Example
A broker needs to price a 750-mile dry van lane in a normal market.
- Base RPM: $2.35 × 1.00 (long haul) × 1.00 (normal) = $2.35/mi
- Range: $2.07–$2.63/mi
- Linehaul: $1,553–$1,973 for 750 miles
- Total with FSC: approximately $1,980–$2,515 all-in
Use this as a sanity check before going to market. If carrier quotes come in well above the high end, the lane may be tight or the freight has difficult characteristics (limited access, awkward freight, etc.).
Frequently Asked Questions
DAT Freight & Analytics (dat.com) and Truckstop.com are the two primary load board and rate intelligence platforms. Both offer rate analytics tools that show actual transacted rates by lane. FreightWaves SONAR provides macroeconomic freight market data.
Reefer trailers cost $80,000–$120,000 vs $35,000–$50,000 for a dry van. They burn extra fuel running the refrigeration unit (0.5–1.0 gal/hr). Drivers often need food safety training. Cargo liability is higher. All these factors push rates up $0.40–$0.60/mile above van.
Contract rates are negotiated for a fixed term (typically 12 months) with a committed volume. Spot rates are one-time market rates for loads tendered immediately. Contract rates are typically 10–20% below peak spot rates but 10–20% above trough spot rates — they provide predictability for both shipper and carrier.