California ran reefer for weeks. This week, the Plains walked in and took the keys.

Sioux Falls, SD is sitting at #1 in reefer. Omaha is #2. Rapid City popped 11% in a single day to grab #3. That’s not a blip — that’s a real shift, and if you’ve got refrigerated capacity, it changes where you need to be pointed right now.

Dry van is still a California story, but the overall market is sliding. Flatbed is holding its ground. Here’s the full breakdown for August 3, powered by a morning snapshot of the Spotter Index.

Dry Van Hot Markets: California Holds, But the Market Is Slipping

San Diego is still the #1 dry van market, with Las Vegas close behind at #2. Ontario and Los Angeles round out the top four, keeping California firmly in control at the top of the board.

But the overall dry van market pulled back hard this week. And the bottom of the board tells the real story — Portland dropped 14% in a single day, Hartford fell 10%, and markets across the Northeast and Pacific Northwest are getting hammered. If you’re running capacity in those regions, it’s not a great week.

McAllen, TX cracked the top five, which is worth watching. Texas border freight moving up the rankings usually means something is building in that corridor.

Avoid: Portland, Brooklyn, Bristol NH, and anything in the Northeast right now. The bottom ten are ugly.

Reefer Hot Markets: The Plains Just Took Over

This is the story of the week.

For weeks, the California corridor — Fresno, San Diego, Ontario, LA — owned the top of the reefer board. That changed this week. Sioux Falls, SD jumped to #1. Omaha hit #2. Rapid City, SD popped 11.21% on the day to grab #3. Billings, MT had an even wilder move — up 15.33% in a single day, one of the biggest jumps in the entire dataset.

California is still in the mix — Fresno, Ontario, and San Diego are all in the top ten — but they’re no longer running the show. The Plains and Midwest are hot right now, and if your reefer lanes are set up for California, it might be worth taking a look at what’s available further east.

The bottom of the reefer board is rough. Miami dropped over 7%, Lakeland fell nearly 7%, and Jacksonville is sitting near dead last. Florida reefer is struggling.

Watch: Evansville, IN and Des Moines, IA both jumped into the top five — more evidence the Midwest is heating up fast.

Flatbed Hot Markets: Memphis Holds, but Taylorville Snuck Into the Top Three

Memphis, TN is still the #1 flatbed market. Bowling Green, KY is right behind it at #2. Nothing new there — those two have been locked in for weeks.

The interesting move is Taylorville, IL jumping to #3. That’s not a market that usually makes headlines, and it’s worth paying attention to if you’re running flatbed capacity in Illinois.

The overall flatbed market dipped slightly week over week, but it’s holding up considerably better than dry van. The Southeast and Mid-South continue to anchor the top of the board — Nashville, N. Charleston, Decatur, Mobile, and Montgomery are all in the top ten. Flatbed demand in this region is driven by construction and manufacturing, and that kind of demand doesn’t disappear overnight.

One note: St. Louis dropped 4% on the day for flatbed. Not catastrophic, but worth knowing if you’re routing through the Gateway.

What Is the Spotter Index?

The data in this breakdown comes from the Spotter Index, which measures profitability per hour by freight market in real time. It’s a more reliable read on where trucks are actually making money than rate-per-mile alone — a high rate on a long thin lane doesn’t always beat a solid rate on a short efficient one.

The snapshot used here was pulled on the morning of August 3. Markets move throughout the day, but the broad picture — which regions are hot, which are soft, where momentum is building — tends to hold.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the hottest freight markets this week?

For the week of August 3, the hottest reefer markets are Sioux Falls, SD, Omaha, NE, and Rapid City, SD — a big shift from California dominating recent weeks. Top dry van markets are San Diego, Las Vegas, Ontario, and Los Angeles. Flatbed is led by Memphis, TN and Bowling Green, KY.

Why did reefer shift from California to the Plains?

Freight market conditions shift week to week based on available loads, seasonal demand, and capacity levels. The Plains and Midwest saw a surge in reefer demand this week, likely driven by agricultural and perishables freight moving out of those regions. California remains active but dropped from its dominant position.

What does the Spotter Index measure?

The Spotter Index measures profitability per hour by freight market, updated in real time. It factors in rate, load characteristics, and time to give carriers a cleaner picture of where trucks are actually earning — not just where posted rates look high on paper.

Is dry van freight slowing down?

The overall dry van market pulled back this week, and the Northeast and Pacific Northwest are particularly soft. California is still the strongest region for dry van, but carriers should watch the overall trend heading into the coming weeks.

How often is this market report published?

This hot markets breakdown is published weekly, based on a morning snapshot of the Spotter Index. Subscribe to the newsletter to get it in your inbox every Monday before you dispatch.

Where to Point Your Trucks This Week

Reefer carriers: look north and east. Sioux Falls, Omaha, and the Midwest are where the heat is this week — California will likely bounce back, but right now the Plains are paying.

Dry van: California is still your best bet, but watch the overall market trend. The pullback this week is worth keeping an eye on.

Flatbed: Southeast and Mid-South, same as it’s been. Memphis and Bowling Green aren’t going anywhere.

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Market data powered by the Spotter Index. Real-time profitability data, snapped fresh this morning.