Quick answer
A per-load freight rate set by the day's market — the opposite of a contract rate.
Spot rates respond to truck-to-load ratios in real time and swing more than contract rates.
Learn more: The Complete Freight Rates Guide
Glossary
Spot Rate
Related terms
- Contract RateA negotiated freight rate between a shipper and a carrier or broker, typically locked for 6–12 months.
- AccessorialAn additional fee paid by a shipper or broker on top of the line haul rate for services like detention, layover, or extra stops.
- DetentionPay owed to a carrier when a shipper or receiver holds the truck beyond the free time agreed on the rate confirmation.
- LaneA specific origin-destination pair that a carrier hauls regularly, often described as 'city to city' (e.g., Atlanta to Memphis).
- LayoverCompensation paid to a carrier when a load is delayed by 24 hours or more, typically because the receiver can't unload.
Related articles
- Average Trucking Rates Per Mile in 2026 (By Equipment)2026 U.S. trucking rates per mile by equipment — dry van $2.10, reefer $2.45, flatbed $2.80, step deck $3.30, RGN $4.00+. Regional swings explained.
- Spot Rates vs. Contract Rates ExplainedWhen spot pays more, when contract pays more, and how U.S. working carriers split their week between the two — with the 60/40 rule.
- How to Negotiate Freight Rates Above PostedA repeatable script that adds $0.10–$0.25/mi to most brokered loads — lane-rate research, opening quote, and accessorial asks that brokers say yes to.
- Seasonal Freight Rate Trends Every Carrier Should KnowProduce season, back-to-school, peak season, and the post-holiday lull — the four U.S. freight seasons and how carriers plan around them.