Logistics
January 30, 2025
Reibus: Flatbed rates up slightly but uncertainty ahead
Written by Robert Martin
After closing Q4 -1.50% year over year (y/y), flatbed spot rates have ticked up slightly in January bringing our y/y read effectively flat at -0.54%.
With construction seasonally soft, the flatbed market remains softer than the other main trailer types. Hurricane recovery will support demand in 2025, but already high and potentially rising interest rates suggest an unfavorable housing market outlook. The US industrial sector remains soft but resilient with interest rate headwinds and rolling downturns in some sectors like agriculture. Industrial activity will likely increase near term on pre-tariff shipping, pulling forward future activity.
