Spot truckload rates jumped in the days after a snowstorm disrupted large portions of the US, according to DAT Freight & Analytics. The data showed a ~40% week-over-week increase inspot market load posts, indicating a sudden tightening of available capacity as networks slowed.
DAT reported dry-van spot rates increased 11 cents following wide spread snow and ice across the eastern US—its largest seven-day gain in more than three years. Temperature-controlled (reefer) spot rates rose 15 cents week over week, as shippers leaned on refrigerated equipment to protect freight from freezing conditions.
DAT’s Dean Croke compared the storm’s impact to February 2021, when key routes effectively shut down, but emphasized a key difference: there is less “latent” capacity and less buffer in today’s spot market to absorb disruption.
The article also notes that the market reaction was more severe than what is typically seen after hurricanes, with historical comparisons showing smaller rate moves after storms like Hurricane Helene (Sept 2024) and HurricaneIan (Sept 2022).
The piece is cautious: whether this disruption becomes a broader shift remains unclear. Still, several signals are worth tracking:
January ISM manufacturing data moved back into expansion territory after more than a year below the 50 baseline, potentially supporting freight demand if sustained.
Knight-Swift pointed to federal enforcement tied to non-domiciled CDLs and English-language proficiency requirements, suggesting some shippers may lean more on asset-based carriers with company drivers—potentially supporting volume growth and contract rate increases independent of broader economic conditions.
Old Dominion said it is more optimistic than three months ago, citing ISM data and shipper conversations. Meanwhile, Michigan State’s Jason Miller argued 2021 was uniquely boosted by consumer stimulus; he pointed to housing indicators showing weakness in single-family permitting and only modest improvement in existing home sales.
A DAT chart (page 3) shows a clear rate uptick beginning in early December across recent years, with 2026 exhibiting an early spike versus prior-yearpatterns—highlighting how quickly spot pricing can re-rate when networks are disrupted.
Even for global supply chains, US inland volatility matters—especially for importers managing drayage-to-inland handoffs and time-sensitive replenishment. The lesson is operational: build resilience where disruption converts fastest intocost—domestic capacity and execution.
