Freight rate index: what trucks cost right now
Median all-in truckload prices across 600 of the busiest US lanes, by equipment, distance and city, priced by the GetShippingRates truckload engine on November 3, 2026. LTL benchmarks come from 97,360 real shipments.
Short answer: On November 3, 2026, the median all-in US truckload price was $3.52 per mile for a dry van, $4.00 for a reefer and $3.77 for a flatbed, fuel included, across 600 lanes between 57 cities. Short hauls cost far more per mile than long hauls. The median single LTL pallet cost $330 in September 2025 – August 2026.
Updated November 3, 2026 · By the GetShippingRates team at Armstrong Transport Group
Truckload price per mile by equipment
53' dry van
$3.52Median all-in per mile, fuel included.
53' reefer
$4.00Median all-in per mile, fuel included.
48' flatbed
$3.77Median all-in per mile, fuel included.
By length of haul
| Distance | Lanes | Dry van | Reefer | Flatbed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 500 miles | 140 | $4.94 | $5.92 | $5.70 |
| 500–1,000 miles | 206 | $3.60 | $4.15 | $3.96 |
| 1,000–1,800 miles | 162 | $3.11 | $3.47 | $3.41 |
| Over 1,800 miles | 92 | $2.88 | $3.16 | $3.19 |
Median all-in price per mile on November 3, 2026. 600 lanes between 57 US metros, both directions, one pickup and one delivery, fuel included. Methodology.
Where trucks cost the most to leave
Median outbound dry van price per mile on lanes over 400 miles. Cities at the top ship out more freight than they receive, so shippers there pay more for a truck; cities at the bottom are where carriers want to go.
Most expensive outbound
Least expensive outbound
Biggest headhaul vs backhaul gaps
The same two cities, priced in each direction. The expensive direction is the headhaul; the return trip is the backhaul.
| Lane | Headhaul | Backhaul | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles → Denver | $5,485 | $2,048 | +168% |
| Los Angeles → Albuquerque | $4,424 | $1,768 | +150% |
| Los Angeles → Miami | $10,543 | $4,528 | +133% |
| Los Angeles → Salt Lake City | $3,517 | $1,528 | +130% |
| Los Angeles → Dallas | $6,110 | $2,664 | +129% |
| Phoenix → Denver | $4,354 | $1,954 | +123% |
| Chicago → Denver | $4,601 | $2,068 | +122% |
| Atlanta → Miami | $3,056 | $1,376 | +122% |
| Los Angeles → Tampa | $10,075 | $4,618 | +118% |
| Los Angeles → Orlando | $10,006 | $4,588 | +118% |
LTL benchmarks
LTL is priced by weight, class and distance rather than per mile. In September 2025 – August 2026, across 97,360 LTL shipments, the median single pallet cost $330 all-in. See pallet shipping cost for 1 to 12 pallets and freight shipping rates by mode.
Browse every lane in the truckload lane directory.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average truckload rate per mile right now?
$3.52 per mile all-in for a 53' dry van (median of 600 lanes priced November 3, 2026, fuel included). Reefer was $4.00 and flatbed $3.77. Lanes under 500 miles ran $4.94 per mile and lanes over 1,800 miles $2.88.
Why are short truckload hauls more expensive per mile?
A truck spends hours loading, unloading and waiting no matter how far it goes, and the carrier needs a minimum to cover the day. Spread over 250 miles that fixed cost is a much bigger share of each mile than over 2,000 miles.
How often is the index updated?
Lane prices are refreshed at least monthly. Each lane page shows the date it was priced. Live quotes on the site are always priced for your pickup date.
Can I cite this data?
Yes. Please credit "GetShippingRates freight rate index" with a link to https://getshippingrates.com/freight-rate-index. For press questions email info@getshippingrates.com.
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