If you’re trying to figure out where to run your trucks this week, stop guessing. The Spotter Index — which measures profitability per hour in real time — tells a clear story for the week of July 20: California owns dry van and reefer, flatbed is coming off a big number but stabilizing, and almost every market is ticking up on the day. That last part matters.

Here’s a breakdown of what’s moving, what’s paying, and where to point your capacity.

Dry Van Hot Markets: California Just Took the Keys

For weeks, the Southeast ran the show. This week, California walked in and flipped the table.

San Diego, Ontario, Los Angeles, and Fresno are sitting in the top four spots for dry van — a clean sweep of the California corridor that we haven’t seen in a while. Cape Girardeau, MO and Laredo, TX are still in the top six, so the South isn’t dead, but the balance of power shifted west in a hurry.

The overall dry van market pulled back from recent highs. But here’s what’s encouraging: nearly every market posted a positive daily change. That’s the market finding a floor after a rough stretch, not continuing to fall apart. Texarkana, Las Vegas, and Flagstaff all posted gains over 5% on the day — those are worth watching heading into the week.

Avoid: The Pacific Northwest continues to underperform. Seattle, Spokane, and Portland are all sitting near the bottom of the board.

Reefer Hot Markets: The California Corridor Is as Hot as It’s Been All Summer

Fresno. San Francisco. Stockton. Ontario. San Diego. Los Angeles.

Six of the top six reefer markets are in California. The corridor is locked in, and if you’ve got refrigerated capacity in the West, there’s no better place to be right now.

The one number that jumps off the page: Hutchinson, KS popped over 11% in a single day — the biggest one-day move in the entire dataset this week. That’s not a typo. Whether it holds or snaps back, it’s the kind of move that gets attention.

The overall reefer market is softer than a few weeks ago, but it’s been grinding sideways rather than falling off a cliff. McAllen, which has bounced in and out of the top 10 all summer, dropped slightly on the week — something to keep an eye on if you’re running border freight.

Avoid: Florida markets (Lakeland, Miami, Jacksonville) are at the bottom of the reefer board. The Northeast is soft too.

Flatbed Hot Markets: Taking a Breather, But Not Broken

Flatbed had a big run. This week it pulled back.

The overall flatbed market came down notably from recent weeks, but — same story as dry van — daily changes are green across the board. Memphis and Bowling Green are still near the top. Nashville, Houston, and Jackson, MS are all in the mix. The Southeast and Mid-South remain the core of flatbed demand, driven by steady construction and manufacturing activity that doesn’t move around the way produce or retail freight does.

If flatbed’s been your bread and butter, don’t panic. This looks like a reset after a strong stretch, not a trend reversal.

What Is the Spotter Index?

The numbers in this breakdown come from the Spotter Index, a real-time market indicator that measures profitability per hour by market. Unlike rate-per-mile figures, which can be misleading depending on load length and dwell time, profitability per hour gives you a cleaner read on where a truck actually makes money — not just where rates look high on paper.

The snapshot used for this post was pulled on the morning of July 20. Because the index updates in real time, conditions can shift throughout the day. The broad trends — which markets are hot, which are soft, which are moving — tend to hold. The specific numbers are a point-in-time read.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the hottest freight markets right now?

For the week of July 20, the hottest dry van and reefer markets are in California — San Diego, Ontario, Los Angeles, Fresno, and Stockton are all near the top of the board. For flatbed, Memphis, TN and Bowling Green, KY continue to lead.

Why did dry van shift from the Southeast to California this week?

Market conditions shift week to week based on load volume, available capacity, and seasonal demand. California’s produce season, import activity, and population density keep the corridor consistently active. The Southeast dominated for several weeks and remains strong, but California stepped back to the front this week.

What does the Spotter Index measure?

The Spotter Index measures profitability per hour by freight market, updated in real time. It accounts for rate, load length, and time factors to give a more accurate picture of where trucks are actually making money compared to simple rate-per-mile figures.

Is flatbed freight slowing down?

Flatbed pulled back this week after several strong weeks, but daily changes are positive across most markets. The Southeast and Mid-South remain the strongest flatbed regions, supported by ongoing construction and manufacturing demand.

How often does this market report get published?

This hot markets breakdown is published weekly, based on a morning snapshot of the Spotter Index. Subscribe to the newsletter to get it delivered straight to your inbox every week.

Where to Run Your Trucks This Week

California for reefer, no question. Dry van shippers have options in both the West and the Southeast, with the daily momentum favoring markets that have been soft for a few weeks. Flatbed is catching its breath but the Southeast is still where the money is.

The market is showing green on the day across almost all three modes. After a few weeks of pullbacks, that’s the sign you want to see.

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