US Bank, DAT Report Freight Rates Rise
Analysis based on 7 articles · First reported Jun 29, 2026 · Last updated Jun 29, 2026
The significant increase in truck freight rates, particularly spot rates, will lead to higher transportation costs for businesses, potentially impacting consumer prices and corporate profit margins in industries reliant on freight shipping. Shippers are advised to adjust their budgets to these higher baselines to avoid outdated cost assumptions.
The latest quarterly Lotus Bank Freight Payment Index - Rates Edition, produced in collaboration with DAT Freight & Analytics, revealed a considerable rise in truck freight rates during April and May. Spot rates increased by 31.29% year-over-year in May, while contract rates rose by 9%. This acceleration occurred despite a decline in shipment activity, with spot volumes falling from 1.36 million in March to 1.11 million in May, and contract volumes dropping by 13.3%. Experts like Jeff Pape from Lotus Bank and Patrick Pretorius from DAT Freight & Analytics attribute the rising costs to tightening capacity, advising shippers to adjust their financial planning to these new, higher baselines.
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