FTL Freight Rates in 2026: What Shippers Pay Per Mile
FTL freight rates in 2026 sit in a slow recovery. Dry van spot pricing has firmed up from the 2023 to 2024 floor, and flatbed is holding higher on steady infrastructure and construction demand. This guide breaks down where the market is, the five factors that decide what you actually pay on a lane, and how MigWay prices full truckload freight with one flat all-in number.
The 2026 FTL Rate Market
Full truckload rates climbed off their multi-year low in early 2026. Capacity left the market during the long freight recession, and that thinning of trucks put a floor under pricing. The result is a soft recovery, not a spike.
Here is where the national market sits through the first half of the year:
| Equipment | Spot Range (per mile) | Demand Driver |
|---|---|---|
| Dry Van | $2.05 - $2.80 | Retail restock, general consumer goods |
| Flatbed | $2.80 - $3.60 | Construction, steel, infrastructure spending |
These are national averages. They tell you the weather, not your forecast. A specific lane can run well above or below the benchmark depending on the factors below.
What Decides Your Rate
Five things move a full truckload price up or down on any given lane. Understanding them helps you read a quote and know whether it is fair.
- Backhaul balance. A lane with return freight lets a carrier reload instead of running empty. Balanced lanes price lower. A route into a dead zone with no outbound freight costs more.
- Distance. Longer hauls spread fixed costs over more miles, so the per-mile figure often drops. Short hauls carry a higher per-mile rate because loading and unloading eat the same time regardless of length.
- Equipment type. Flatbed and specialized trailers price above dry van. Tarping, securement, and permit work add labor a dry van load never sees.
- Season. Produce season pulls trucks south in spring and summer. Retail peak tightens capacity in the fall. Rates follow the equipment.
- Dwell time. How long trucks sit at your dock matters. A shipper who loads in under 90 minutes earns better pricing over time than one who routinely holds drivers for hours.
Who Ships Full Truckload
FTL makes sense when a shipment fills a trailer or when the freight is too fragile, valuable, or time-sensitive to share a truck. MigWay moves full truckload freight for:
- Manufacturers moving raw materials and finished goods between plants
- Distributors and wholesalers restocking regional warehouses
- Building product suppliers shipping steel, lumber, and machinery on flatbed
- 3PLs that need reliable asset capacity instead of a broker's carrier roulette
- E-commerce and retail brands moving pallet-heavy replenishment loads
MigWay Flat All-In Rates by Lane
MigWay prices full truckload freight as one flat, all-in number. Fuel and standard charges are already inside the rate. There is no separate fuel surcharge line and no accessorial guessing game at invoice time.
Representative dry van rates by origin, effective 2026:
| Origin | Destination | Rate (per mile) | Flat All-In |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan | Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi | $4.00 | $2,000 |
| Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan | New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware | $4.00 | $2,000 |
| Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan | Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina | $4.00 | $2,000 |
| Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas | Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan | $3.50 | $1,900 |
| Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas | Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana | $4.00 | $1,900 |
| North Carolina | New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware | $3.75 | $1,850 |
| North Carolina | Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, South Carolina, DC | $4.50 | $1,500 |
| Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware | Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Vermont | $4.60 | $1,800 |
| Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma | Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi | $4.00 | Quote |
Any load delivering into Florida prices at $5.00 per mile. Same-zone moves within a single region start at $1,500 flat. For a lane not listed here, use the rate calculator or call dispatch for an exact number.
Spot Rates vs Contract Rates
Spot pricing changes day to day with available capacity. It works when your volume is unpredictable or one-off. The tradeoff is exposure: when capacity tightens, spot rates climb fast and you pay the swing.
Contract pricing locks a rate for a set period on a defined lane. If you move predictable weekly volume, a contract holds your cost steady while the spot market moves around you. In a soft recovery like 2026, contract rates stay flat while spot begins to rise, which makes locking a rate now a defensive move before peak season.
How MigWay Pricing Works
The quote you get is the price you pay. MigWay builds fuel and standard charges into a single figure, so there is no reconciliation step at invoice time.
- Intake. Send origin, destination, freight type, and weight. You get a flat all-in number back, often the same day.
- Assignment. A MigWay driver on MigWay equipment takes the load. No broker re-tendering, no unvetted carrier holding your freight.
- In transit. Live ELD and GPS tracking runs on every load. 24/7 in-house dispatch answers with real people, not a ticket queue.
- Delivery. Proof of delivery closes the load against the number you agreed to up front.
Why Ship With an Asset-Based Carrier
MigWay owns its trucks and employs its drivers. That is the difference between asset-based capacity and a broker reselling someone else's truck.
- 300 trucks and 500 trailers under one roof, so capacity does not evaporate when the market tightens
- Flat all-in rates with fuel included, priced up front with no surcharge line
- 24/7 in-house dispatch and zero outsourcing, one accountable plan from pickup to POD
- Live ELD and GPS tracking on every load, not a status guess from a middleman
- Dry van and flatbed under the same carrier, so mixed freight programs stay simple
Full truckload rates in 2026 reward shippers who plan volume and lock pricing early. To get an exact all-in figure for your lane, use the rate calculator or call MigWay dispatch at +1-980-255-3200.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average FTL freight rate in 2026?
National dry van spot rates run about $2.05 to $2.80 per mile through the first half of 2026, and flatbed runs about $2.80 to $3.60. These are averages, and your actual lane can price above or below depending on distance, backhaul, and season.
Are FTL rates going up or down in 2026?
Rates are in a slow recovery after the 2023 to 2024 downturn. Capacity that left the market during the freight recession put a floor under pricing. Spot rates are rising gradually while contract rates hold steadier.
What is included in a MigWay flat all-in rate?
Fuel and standard charges are built into the single quoted number. There is no separate fuel surcharge line and no surprise accessorials added at invoice time. The number you agree to up front is the number you pay.
How is a full truckload rate calculated?
Five factors set the price: backhaul balance on the lane, total distance, equipment type, season, and dwell time at your dock. Balanced lanes with fast loading price lower than one-way lanes into empty markets.
Why is flatbed more expensive than dry van?
Flatbed loads require tarping, securement, and sometimes permits, which add labor a dry van load never involves. Flatbed also ties to construction and infrastructure demand, which has stayed firm in 2026.
What does MigWay charge for lanes into Florida?
Any full truckload delivering into Florida prices at $5.00 per mile. Florida is a common backhaul-short market, which keeps inbound pricing higher than average lanes.
Should I use spot or contract pricing?
Use contract pricing if you move predictable weekly volume on a defined lane, since it holds your cost steady. Use spot pricing for one-off or unpredictable shipments where you are not committing regular freight.
How fast can I get a rate quote from MigWay?
Send origin, destination, freight type, and weight, and you usually get a flat all-in number the same day. For a lane not listed on the site, dispatch can quote it directly by phone.
Does MigWay broker loads to other carriers?
No. MigWay is asset-based with 300 trucks and 500 trailers, and every load moves on MigWay equipment with a MigWay driver. There is no double-brokering and no outsourced carrier holding your freight.
Can MigWay handle both dry van and flatbed freight?
Yes. MigWay runs dry van and flatbed under the same carrier, which keeps mixed freight programs on one accountable plan. Both move with live ELD and GPS tracking and 24/7 in-house dispatch.
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