Freight Market Intelligence
The Spring Surge
That Changed the Conversation
“The flatbed industry serves as the primary means of transport for heavy machinery and drilling components. When drilling activity picks up quickly, Step Deck supply tightens before standard flatbed, and that’s exactly what we’re seeing.”
By Circle Logistics • Published April 2026 • ~5-minute read
Executive Summary
Every freight market cycle has a moment when the data stops being a trend and starts being a new reality. For 2026, that moment arrived in March.
Step Deck rates climbed 21.8% in a single month, reaching $3.41 per mile, their highest level since early 2023. Standard flatbed surged 7.0%. Conestoga added 10.7%. And beneath those headline numbers, the national average diesel price hit $5.40 per gallon on March 30, an increase of $1.81 over the same date one year prior. The cheap-capacity era that defined 2023 and 2024 is over.
The latest edition of The Circle Dispatch breaks down exactly what drove March’s rate acceleration, what it means for Q2 budgets, and what shippers need to do right now to protect their supply chains from the next leg higher.
Key Findings
The Flatbed Boom is Real
Step Deck rates surged 21.8% month-over-month to a 36-month high, overtaking standard flatbed for the first time in several quarters.
Fuel is the Wildcard
National diesel hit $5.40/gallon, up $1.81 year-over-year, as the Straits of Hormuz closure accelerates U.S. drilling and tightens carrier capacity.
Van & Reefer Are Quietly Shifting
Both held near multi-year highs, but shrinking length-of-haul signals shippers are moving longer lanes to rail intermodal.
The Rate Floor Has Reset
Higher transportation costs are a near certainty for Q2 and Q3 2026. The cheap-capacity era is over.
What Shippers Should Do Right Now
The window to act at favorable pricing is narrowing. Shippers who locked in contract rates in early 2025 have largely exhausted their leverage, the market has repriced around them. The question now is not whether rates will be higher in Q2, but by how much, and whether your supply chain is positioned to absorb the increase or pass it through.
The Circle Dispatch’s full March 2026 report includes a dedicated recommendations section covering contract strategy, carrier relationship building, modal diversification, fuel surcharge structuring, and how to prioritize flatbed capacity sourcing in a tight market.
Download the Full March 2026 Rate Recovery Report
Explore rate breakdowns by equipment type, quarterly comparisons, and outlook insights in our latest white paper:
The Circle Dispatch: March 2026 Freight Market Trends & Q2 Outlook
About Circle Logistics
Circle Logistics is a technology-forward freight brokerage specializing in truckload, reefer, flatbed, and specialized equipment freight.
Powered by real-time market data and a performance-driven culture, Circle helps shippers and carriers navigate volatility with confidence.