DAT says April truckload rate gains were mostly fuel-driven

DAT said its April truckload market update showed rates rising mainly because of higher fuel costs, not because freight demand strengthened.

The company said April spot and contract rates climbed while volumes eased across van, refrigerated and flatbed equipment types. In other words, the pricing move appears to have been driven more by fuel surcharge effects than by a broad rebound in shipping activity.

What DAT said

DAT published the update on May 18, 2026. Its release said April truckload rates were lifted by higher fuel costs, while freight volumes declined across the main equipment categories it tracks.

That combination matters for shippers and carriers because it suggests the increase in rate benchmarks may not signal a sustained improvement in underlying demand.

For now, the report adds another data point to a freight market that is still looking for a stronger volume recovery. The next monthly DAT update will show whether the April pattern was a one-month effect or part of a longer trend.