Diesel fuel’s national average price is above $6 per gallon for the eighth consecutive week, while spot market rates are generally following seasonal expectations, softening during the most recent week.
Compared to the same week in 2025, diesel's nearly 68% higher, while all-in spot rates sit roughly 41.5% higher, according to FTR and Truckstop.com’s weekly report.
During the week ending Nov. 2, the Energy Information Administration reported diesel’s national average at $6.29/gal., down 6 cents from the week prior -- but still $2.54/gal. higher than a year ago.
The good news: All regions across the nation saw fuel-price decline over the week, led by a 7.9-cent decline in California, the state that had the most to give. The Golden State remains home to the most expensive diesel by a large margin at $8.08/gal. The cheapest diesel, meanwhile, is in the Lower Atlantic region at $5.81/gal.
That includes North Carolina, where according to the Let's Truck Driveline Fuel Calc web tool's accounting of net fuel price minus tax, truckers will find the nation's cheapest price at $5.09 net. California also has the highest net price (minus tax) at $7.36/gal.
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Prices in other regions, according to EIA:
- New England -- $6.42
- Central Atlantic -- $6.49
- Midwest -- $6.40
- Gulf Coast -- $5.91
- Rocky Mountain -- $6.45
- West Coast less California -- $6.58
ProMiles’ diesel averages during the same week increased 1.5 cents to $6.21/gal. nationwide. According to the ProMiles Fuel Surcharge Index, the most expensive diesel can be found in California at $8.37/gal., and the cheapest along the Gulf Coast at $5.81/gal.
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Rates fall, in line with seasonal expectations
For the first time since mid-August, spot market rates across the three primary equipment types all declined during the same week. That's the verdict for the week ending Oct. 30, according to FTR and Truckstop.com.
It wasn’t unexpected, however, based on historical trends. The firms said softer rates during the week “are the norm,” even though flatbed rates generally increase in comparable weeks, albeit by small amounts.
Broken down by segment:
- Dry van rates decreased 2.5 cents to $2.85/mile after rising 2 cents in the prior week, despite a sharp week-over-week increase for loads originating on the West Coast and a modest increase in the South Central region.
- Reefer spot rates declined 3.5 cents to $3.45/mile after falling 7 cents total over the prior two weeks. Increases were seen for loads originating on the West Coast and in South Central and Mountain Central regions, but rates fell elsewhere -- most markedly in the Midwest.
- Flatbed rates fell 1.6 cents to $3.31/mile, despite increases for loads originating on the West Coast and in the Southeast.
DAT Freight & Analytics, meanwhile, reported dry van spot linehaul rates paid to carriers averaged $2.23 per mile last week, minus fuel, up 1.3% or 3 cents/mile, from the week before. The DAT Rate Forecast projects dry van spot linehaul to edge up to $2.26/mile 35 days out, with a forecast low of $2.19/mile and a forecast high of $2.33/mile.
Reefer spot linehaul rates averaged $2.71/mile in the DAT system last week, minus fuel, up 1.2% or 3 cents/mile, over the prior week. DAT forecasts a slight increase up to $2.73/mile over the next 35 days with a possible 18-cent spread between $2.64 and $2.82/mile.
Finally, flatbed rates in the DAT system averaged $2.61/mile last week, minus fuel, up 0.5% or a penny per mile from the prior week. The firm forecasts flatbed rates to hold mostly flat over the next 35 days, declining by a cent to $2.60/mile with a possible spread of 13 cents between $2.53 and $2.66/mile, all minus fuel
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