U.S. Bank and DAT: Truck freight rates accelerate in April and May

The latest quarterly U.S. Bank Freight Payment Index - Rates Edition showed truck freight rates rising considerably in April and May.

Produced in collaboration with DAT Freight & Analytics, the data revealed that spot rates were up 31.29% in May compared with a year earlier, reflecting a significant acceleration over the past several months. Contract rates increased 9% year over year.

Spot rates increased from $1.89 per mile in March to $1.95 per mile in April and climbed further to $2.14 per mile in May. Contract rates, meanwhile, moved from $2.09 per mile in March to $2.14 per mile in April and $2.18 per mile in May.

At the same time, shipment activity declined throughout the quarter. Spot volumes fell from approximately 1.36 million in March to 1.11 million in May, while contract volumes dropped from roughly 852,000 to 739,000 (13.3%), indicating that rate increases occurred alongside softer demand conditions.

“For shippers, the key takeaway is how quickly spot rates have ramped up over the past few months. Even with lower volumes, costs are rising as capacity tightens,” said Jeff Pape, Head of Transportation for U.S. Bank Corporate Payment Systems.

“The figures holding steady point to a lasting shift, rather than a temporary anomaly. Shippers who track the data can adjust their budgets around these higher baselines, while those who don't may risk planning on outdated cost assumptions," said Patrick Pretorius, GM, Shipper, at DAT.

The Rates Edition, launched in January 2026, complements the U.S. Bank Freight Payment Index, which the bank has published quarterly since 2017. The Index measures quantitative changes in freight shipments and spend activity based on data from transactions processed through U.S. Bank Freight Payment, which processes more than $46 billion in freight payments annually.