Truckstop.com and FTR Transportation Intelligence have released their week 29 Spot Market Overall, indicating a decline in 3 of the 4 key market indicators. The overall Market Demand Index (MDI) fell 16.6 points to 134.4 as load availability decreased 6.7% and truck availability rose 4.8%. Compared to last year the MDI is up 55.7 points, or 70.8%. Last week, market rates fell 2.5% to $3.38. Compared to last year, rates are up 43.9%. National fuel prices edged up $0.27 cents to $5.13 from $4.86 per gallon in the previous week.

Broker-posted spot rates in the Truckstop.com system fell sharply during the week ended July 24 (week 29) despite the recent surge in fuel costs. July is a reliably soft month for spot rates, but total spot rates fell by the most in nominal terms during a week 29 since 2022 even though diesel prices recently jumped about 56 cents in two weeks. Historically, spot rates for dry van and, especially, refrigerated van equipment begin to stabilize week over week during the current week (week 30).

Total load activity decreased 6.7% after decreasing nearly 6% during the previous week. Volume was about 19% higher than during the same 2025 week for the softest prior-year comparison since the first week of this year. Truck postings increased 4.8%, and the Market Demand Index – the ratio of loads to trucks – was the lowest since the third week of the year except for a slightly lower level in week 26.