Broad freight pressure stayed elevated, but the rate side cooled.

FPI was 55 on every valid Tuesday-Friday reading. That keeps Freight Weather in the Elevated band, with direction still Falling versus the prior approved close.

Then fuel tightened the math.

Diesel moved from $5.257 on Monday's source record to $5.454, a $0.197 jump.

At the same time, weekly Linehaul moved lower in all three modes. Flatbed stayed strongest relative, Reefer worked by region, and Dry Van remained the hardest place to defend extra money.

A $500 better headhaul isn't much of a victory if the truck buys it back with empty miles and half a Saturday.

$3.36 All-In / $2.63 Linehaul
Latest verified LTR: 18.62
EPPI: 53 — Moderate

Reefer was workable, but picky.

Great Lakes and Upper Atlantic/Northeast markets offered the better relative support, while South Texas and much of the West softened.

The real question wasn't simply whether freight existed. It was what the truck had waiting after delivery.

A nice rate confirmation doesn't help much if the next market greets the driver with cheap freight and 200 miles of sightseeing.

$2.92 All-In / $2.25 Linehaul
Latest verified LTR: 9.98
EPPI: 37 — Low

Dry Van stayed the weakest pricing setup.

Great Lakes and Upper Atlantic were relative exceptions, but Southeast, Gulf and western pricing remained soft.

The board could stay busy without offering many loads that actually improved the week.

There is a difference between keeping the truck moving and keeping the truck profitable. Last week Van dispatchers got another refresher course.

$3.52 All-In / $2.72 Linehaul
Latest verified LTR: 34.45
EPPI: 62 — Elevated

Flatbed kept the best relative rate conversation even after weekly Linehaul fell $0.07 versus the prior RPM History point.

Where real project, steel, machinery or industrial freight showed up, carriers still had the best chance to defend the truck.

It cooled, but Flatbed still had the best chair at the table.

Overall EPPI stayed at 47 on every valid Tuesday-Friday reading.

The valid weekly read is therefore Moderate / Stable.

Reefer: 53 — Moderate

Reefer had selective room to push when the lane and destination supported it. This wasn't one big national Reefer premium. It was a market-by-market rate conversation.

Dry Van: 37 — Low

Van had less room to test the ceiling. Protecting the exit and keeping the quote realistic worked better than assuming a busy board meant a strong rate.

Flatbed: 62 — Elevated

Flatbed had the strongest forward pricing pressure. When real industrial or project freight confirmed the lane, carriers had the best chance to hold their number.

Diesel moved to $5.454, up $0.197 from Monday's source value.

That change went straight into the truck's cost.

Deadhead, short paid miles and weak backhauls all became harder to shrug off because fuel got more expensive before rates offered any help.

Reefer moved to $2.63, Dry Van to $2.25 and Flatbed to $2.72 Linehaul.

Flatbed still held the strongest relative position, but none of the three modes got a free pass.

This wasn't a park-the-fleet week.

It was a sharpen-the-pencil week.

Late in the week, carriers were prebooking sooner as weekend choices thinned out.

Better reloads were getting spoken for earlier, making timing part of the Friday rate decision.

Waiting could still find a better number.

It could also leave the truck shopping from the clearance rack.

A decent headhaul wasn't enough if the delivery market came with weak reloads, long deadhead or a weekend wait.

Dry Van showed the biggest gap between freight activity and carrier pricing. Reefer had better pockets, especially around the Great Lakes and Northeast, but the country was nowhere close to one big Reefer premium.

Flatbed matched visible pressure best, although even Flatbed's weekly Linehaul pulled back.

Higher diesel made those differences matter more. A lane that was marginal before became even less attractive once fuel moved higher.

The load board can tell you what is posted.

Last week's cleaner truck cycles usually belonged to fleets that knew what came after the delivery appointment.

FPI 55, EPPI 47 and Data Confidence 82% are continuity values for the opening read. They are not a claim that Monday has already been measured.

Flatbed enters the week with the strongest relative pricing setup.

Reefer still has regional opportunity.

Dry Van needs better live offers before the tone improves.

The first Monday check is whether Great Lakes/Northeast support survived the weekend and whether South Texas, Southeast and western exits remain soft.

Fuel remains an active cost problem at $5.454.

Weather may add execution friction across the Southern Plains/Lower Mississippi Valley, parts of the central U.S., the western monsoon region and the interior Northeast, so route-specific conditions need a Monday refresh.

CVSA Brake Safety Week is active beginning Aug. 23. Treat that as equipment readiness, not something to discover at roadside.

Did the weekend change the market, or just the calendar?

Let the first real loads answer that one.