We booked 1,217 loads for our dispatch clients in Q1 2026. Here is what those rates actually looked like — by equipment type, by lane, and where the unexpected money is hiding.
The Headline Numbers
Across the board, Q1 2026 spot rates are up 6–9% over Q4 2025 — the strongest year-over-year reading we've seen since the post-COVID rate run.
The Three Lanes Worth Chasing
1. Dallas → Atlanta (Reefer)
Demand is outpacing capacity by an estimated 18%. Rates have held above $3.10/mile for 11 straight weeks. Backhaul: Atlanta → Memphis → Dallas. Tight, but available with the right broker desks.
2. Salt Lake City → Pacific Northwest (Dry Van)
Quietest of the three, but the most consistent. Steady $2.45–$2.65 with very few service failures because shippers are flexible on appointment windows. Great training lane for newer dispatchers.
3. Houston → Florida (Flatbed)
The unicorn lane this quarter. Pipe and steel out of Houston is paying $3.40–$3.70 with regular tarp surcharges. Backhaul through Mobile is finally paying enough to justify the run.
Lanes To Avoid
- Chicago → Northeast (any equipment). Oversaturated. RPM has been stuck below $1.95 for six weeks.
- Los Angeles → Phoenix (Dry Van). Backhaul is brutal; loaded miles fall below 65%.
- Anywhere into a major drayage market without a return load pre-booked.
What This Means For Q2
Produce season starts in mid-April. Reefer rates out of California, Florida, and the Rio Grande Valley should jump another 8–12%. If you have reefer capacity, this is the quarter to deploy it.
Our dispatch desk is already pre-booking April–May reefer dedicated lanes for partner carriers. If you want in, the contact form takes 90 seconds.
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