That sticker price on a transport quote can feel like a punch to the gut. You’ve just scored a skid steer or a mini-excavator at a great price, and then the cost of moving it across Oklahoma suddenly threatens to wreck your entire budget.
This isn’t just a case of bad luck; it is a direct result of a perfect storm in the economy where fuel prices, driver wages, and equipment shortages are all colliding. The key to getting a handle on these expenses is knowing exactly what you’re paying for.
Key Takeaways
- In October 2025, dry van rates were averaging $2.09 per mile, while the more specialized flatbeds were commanding $2.53 per mile.
- The Cost of Running the Truck costs $2.260 per mile to operate a truck, and even without fuel, the baseline operational costs have hit a record high of $1.779.
- The specialized freight market is a massive $66.1 billion industry, and it is growing by 3.1% every year.
- Expect truck volumes to climb by 1.6% through 2025, on their way to carrying 14 billion tons by 2035.
- Trucks are running empty 16.7% of the time, and overall truck capacity has dipped by 2.2%, which is keeping rates high even with less demand.
Decoding Small Equipment Freight Rates
To figure out what you’ll actually pay to move your equipment, you have to dig into the numbers that shape the market. As of October 2025, the average spot rate for a dry van, the kind often used for smaller, enclosed items like compact generators or parts, hovered around $2.09 per mile.
But for most of the heavy or odd-shaped machinery used in construction and farming, you’ll need open transport. For these kinds of loads, flatbed spot rates averaged $2.53 per mile. And if you’re working with contract rates instead of the spot market, be prepared to pay even more: $2.41 for dry vans and a hefty $3.11 for flatbeds.
Spot versus Contract Market Dynamics
So why the 23% jump in price for flatbeds over dry vans? It all comes down to the specialized work involved. Properly securing a tractor on a flatbed takes more skill, time, and liability risk than simply rolling a pallet jack into the back of a box truck. The rollercoaster of rates is also a hangover from the recent freight recession. While the Producer Price Index (PPI) for truck freight actually dipped by -0.6% between July 2024 and 2025, and total freight spending dropped 4.2% in early 2025, carriers aren’t just giving away their services.
Think about this, nearly 17% of the time, trucks on the road are running empty, without a paying load. To stay in business, carriers have had to get tough, turning down jobs that don’t cover their costs. This financial discipline is why forecasters predict a 2% year-over-year increase in dry van costs for 2025.
If you were to look at a line graph of these rates from 2023 to 2025, you’d see a slow but consistent climb. When you’re negotiating a price, remember that even though shipping volume might be low, the rock-bottom cost for a carrier to even operate is still very high.
The Hidden Numbers Driving Your Hauling Bill
You might be scratching your head, wondering why hauling a backhoe from Tulsa to OKC costs so much when diesel prices seem to have settled down. The real answer is found in the basic cost of just turning the key. In 2024, the average cost to operate a truck was $2.260 per mile.
Even though that’s a tiny dip from the 2023 average of $2.270, thanks to slightly lower fuel costs, the real story is in the other expenses. The marginal costs for everything except fuel actually shot up by 3.6% to an all-time high of $1.779 per mile.
The biggest culprits are people and parts. Driver wages climbed 2.4% year-over-year as companies scrambled to keep skilled operators who know how to handle heavy machinery. Even more striking, truck and trailer payments skyrocketed by 8.3%, which adds up to 39 cents for every single mile a truck travels. The equipment itself simply got more expensive to buy and finance. On top of that, driver benefits rose by 4.8%, adding to the cost of keeping good people on board.
When you picture these costs on a chart, you can see the pressure that ends up on your final bill. A bar chart would show fuel costs dropping by 3.1% and tires by 1.8%, but those small savings are completely wiped out by the huge jumps in fixed costs. Maintenance and service costs went up 3.1% in 2023, and insurance premiums leaped 6.8% in 2024. According to data from ATRI, a truck racks up almost $1.80 in expenses for every mile it moves before a single drop of fuel is even added. This incredibly high cost floor leaves carriers with almost no wiggle room to lower their prices without losing money.
Top Challenges Impacting Haulers and Your Shipment
The trucking industry is currently caught in a “profitability squeeze,” and that squeeze is felt directly by you when you’re trying to book a truck. Truckload carriers have been reporting negative operating margins of -2.3%.
When trucking companies are losing money, they start avoiding difficult routes or putting off necessary equipment upgrades. This financial pressure is made worse by the fact that the cost of new freight transportation equipment rose by 1.9% between July 2024 and July 2025.
The market is also grappling with a very real capacity shortage. We saw a 2.2% drop in the number of available trucks this year, and the driver-per-truck ratio fell to 0.93. That means there are more trucks parked against fences than there are drivers to move them. For-hire carriers are facing recession-level margins, forcing them to cut back on office staff by 6.8%, all while the cost of keeping their drivers happy and insured went up by 4.8%.
Private fleets are trying to adapt by using technology like just-in-time logistics to make their routes more efficient. Still, the nationwide shortage of drivers and the high cost of new hardware create a very tight market.
If you need a truck at the last minute, you’re essentially competing with everyone else for a smaller and smaller number of available trucks and drivers. That 16.7% empty mile rate is a huge inefficiency that carriers are desperate to fix, often by consolidating loads, which could end up changing your delivery schedule.
The Specialized Freight Market Powering Your Transport
Transporting small equipment is part of the U.S. Local Specialized Freight Trucking industry, a massive $66.1 billion sector in 2025. This isn’t some small side gig; it is a vital part of our country’s infrastructure. The industry has been growing at a steady 3.1% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the past five years. It is made up of 81,527 businesses, a number that has been increasing by 3.7% each year since 2020.
Why is it growing so fast? Because moving a tractor or an industrial generator takes a level of expertise that your average box-truck company just doesn’t have. The industry is also expanding thanks to better integration with railroads for long hauls and the growing demand for last-mile delivery of small machinery. Overall, the volume of goods moved by trucks is expected to grow by another 1.6% in 2025.
While revenue can differ from one region to another, specialized trucking has proven to be more resilient to rising costs compared to the general trucking industry. This stability tells us that while the service might be expensive, the demand for skilled, safe, and competent equipment hauling is as strong as ever. Businesses here in Oklahoma and across the country depend on this sector to keep their job sites running.
Outlook for Small Equipment Transport
Looking down the road, the future of equipment transport seems to be heading toward a slow and steady stabilization. As of September 2025, the industry is stuck in a long correction cycle. What this means is that while there’s less stuff to move, there are also fewer trucks available to move it. Truck volumes are still projected to grow by 1.6% in 2025 and are on a path to haul nearly 14 billion tons of freight by 2035.
Key trends that will shape the next decade include:
- We’ll see greater use of rail for the long-haul portions of a trip to cut down on highway miles and fuel costs.
- New software will help improve how quickly cargo is loaded and unloaded, reducing those costly empty miles.
- You can expect costs for everything except fuel to continue their upward climb.
Profitability will continue to be a major hurdle, with margins likely to stay below 2% for most carriers, except for those in the Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) space. The market for medium-duty trucks and trailers is also looking soft, with a lot of inventory sitting on lots. This suggests that trucking fleets will be cautious about expanding as we head into 2026. Looking even further ahead, things like potential trade tariffs and stricter EPA regulations in 2027 will almost certainly raise the base price of new trucks, an expense that will eventually be passed down to you, the shipper.
So, what’s the bottom line? The cost of moving your equipment in 2025 is a bit of a paradox: fuel might be a little cheaper, but almost everything else from the truck’s tires to the driver behind the wheel is more expensive. While this market certainly has its challenges, having a solid understanding of the numbers puts you in the driver’s seat when it is time to negotiate.
When you’re ready to skip the guesswork and get your equipment moved reliably here in Oklahoma City, Five Star Towing is the team you can count on. We deal with these complex market forces every day so we can provide you with fair, clear pricing for all your equipment hauling needs. Whether it is a skid steer for a construction site or specialized machinery for your farm, trust Five Star Towing to get it there safely and on budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
Rates change depending on what you’re moving and how far it is going.
Right now, you're looking at about $2.53 per mile for a flatbed, which is the go-to for most small equipment. If your gear can fit in an enclosed dry van, you could pay less, around $2.09 per mile, but you’re limited by the trailer's dimensions.
Keep in mind, these are 'spot market' prices for on-demand jobs. If you have a contract, the rate is often higher, currently around $3.11 for flatbeds, because it guarantees service. The price you pay is built on top of the carrier's baseline operating cost of $2.260 per mile.
For shorter trips, like across OKC, you'll likely face a minimum charge instead of a pure per-mile rate. Always ask if fuel surcharges are included in your quote.
Carriers look at a mix of weight, size, distance, and route.
The calculation starts with the popularity of the route (the "lane") and then adds extra charges for the weight and size of your equipment. A standard pallet of tools is cheaper to move than a 5,000-lb mini-excavator because the excavator takes up more space and weight capacity, impacting the truck's fuel economy.
Another big factor is "deadhead" miles. If a driver has to travel 50 miles empty just to get to your location, the cost of that empty travel is built into your quote. With non-fuel costs at a record $1.779 per mile, carriers simply can't afford to drive for free.
Be exact with your dimensions. An extra inch of width could push your load into a different classification, causing your price to jump unexpectedly.
Being flexible is the key to saving the most money.
The most budget-friendly options are usually LTL (Less-Than-Truckload) or "hotshot" trucking. In both cases, your equipment shares space on a trailer with other people's cargo. If you book a dedicated truck, you're paying for the whole trailer, whether you use it all or not.
If you can offer a flexible pickup window, you give carriers the chance to fit your shipment into an existing route, which helps them reduce their empty miles. Since trucks are running empty 16.7% of the time, carriers are highly motivated to fill that space, often at a discount.
If your delivery date isn't set in stone, ask your carrier about "standby" or "backhaul" rates.
Flatbeds will almost always cost you more.
On the spot market, flatbed rates are currently about 23% higher than dry van rates ($2.53 vs. $2.09 per mile). This premium exists because it is more complicated and time-consuming to properly secure a load on an open trailer, and the cargo is exposed to the weather.
Dry vans are simple to load and unload at a dock and offer protection from rain and sun, but they have rigid size limitations. Flatbeds require the driver to use heavy straps, chains, and sometimes tarps, which means more manual labor.
If your equipment is small enough to fit inside a standard enclosed trailer and can be loaded from a dock, always opt for a dry van to save some cash.
Fuel prices get the attention, but it is labor and insurance that really drive up the cost.
While you'll see fuel surcharges go up and down, the core rate is determined by things like driver wages (which have increased by 2.4%) and the cost of new trucks and trailers (up 8.3%).
The time of year also plays a huge role. Trying to ship during harvest season in an agricultural state like Oklahoma means you're competing for a limited number of flatbeds, which drives prices up. Insurance premiums, which jumped 6.8% in 2024, are a fixed cost that gets passed directly on to you.
If you can, try to avoid shipping during peak seasons. Also, make sure your pickup location is easy for a large truck to access to avoid extra "detention" fees for making the driver wait.
It is a very good idea. The carrier's standard policy might not be enough.
Most carriers have a standard cargo liability policy (usually around $100,000), but this might not cover the full replacement cost of your valuable machinery. It also typically has exclusions for things like "Acts of God" (e.g., tornado damage).
The specialized freight market is a $66.1 billion industry, meaning there's a lot of high-value equipment on the road. Relying only on the carrier's insurance is risky, as their policy might have fine print that excludes your specific type of machine.
For true peace of mind, purchase a separate, third-party "all-risk" cargo insurance policy that covers your equipment for its full value for the entire
Booking ahead of time is your best bet for a stable, fair price.
Giving a carrier or broker 7 to 10 days of lead time allows them to plan their route efficiently and find the most cost-effective way to move your load, which often results in a better rate for you.
The "spot market" is designed for urgent, immediate shipping needs, and it is where prices are most volatile due to daily shifts in truck availability. Booking at the last minute throws you directly into this higher-priced market.
Unless it is a true emergency, try to avoid same-day or next-day shipping requests, as they always come with the highest price tag.
One is for a single job right now; the other is a long-term deal.
A spot rate is the real-time market price for one specific shipment (like the $2.53/mile for flatbeds). A contract rate is a price that has been pre-negotiated with a carrier for a consistent, high volume of shipments (currently averaging $3.11/mile).
It might seem strange, but contract rates are often higher than spot rates right now. That's because they price in long-term service guarantees and protect the shipper from sudden price spikes in the future.
Unless you are shipping equipment every single day, you will almost certainly be working with spot market rates.
Because inflation has shifted from the gas pump to the repair shop.
Fuel is actually a smaller piece of the total cost pie than it was years ago. The real inflation is hitting what the industry calls "marginal costs excluding fuel," which have reached a record $1.779 per mile.
Everything from replacement parts and tires to repairs and brand-new trucks is dramatically more expensive. The Producer Price Index for new equipment rose 1.9%. At the same time, companies have had to increase driver pay and benefits to attract and retain talent in a competitive market.
It is helpful to remember that a carrier has a hard cost floor. They can't lower their rates below this number without risking going out of business.
Hotshotting can be the perfect solution for smaller machinery.
Hotshot trucking typically involves a heavy-duty pickup truck (like a Ford F-350 or Ram 3500) pulling a smaller flatbed trailer. It is the ideal choice for loads that are too big for a simple delivery service but not quite big enough to justify a full-sized semi-truck.
This is a fast-growing part of the local specialized freight industry. It often offers quicker delivery times and lower costs for equipment like skid steers, mini-excavators, and compact tractors.
If your load is under 15,000 lbs, make sure to specifically ask for a quote from a hotshot carrier.
The calendar has a huge impact on truck availability and pricing.
The first quarter of the year (January-March) is usually the slowest and cheapest time to ship. The fourth quarter (October-December) is the most expensive because of the holiday retail rush and increased consumer demand.
Here in Oklahoma, agricultural seasons also affect the market. When it is time to move hay or harvest equipment, flatbed capacity gets tight, which pushes spot rates up for everyone.
If your equipment move isn't urgent, try to schedule it for the middle of the month during the first or second quarter for the best rates.
Yes, real-time visibility is now the industry standard.
Almost all modern carriers use Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) and GPS systems that allow them to share the truck's location with you in real-time.
Investing in technology is a major trend for 2025, as it helps improve efficiency and customer service. Getting tracking data not only reduces your anxiety but also helps you plan for the truck's arrival at the destination.
Before you finalize the booking, ask the dispatcher if they can provide a tracking link or send you regular updates on the driver's location.
Being precise upfront will save you from surprise charges later.
To get a quote you can rely on, you'll need to provide the exact make and model of the equipment, its precise weight, its dimensions (Length x Width x Height), the pickup and delivery zip codes, and information about the sites (for example, is there a loading dock or forklift available?).
If a truck shows up and can't load your equipment because it is heavier or bigger than you stated, you'll be hit with a "dry run" fee to compensate the driver for their time and fuel. With profit margins so thin, carriers enforce these fees without exception.
A picture is worth a thousand words. Send photos of the equipment to the dispatcher to clear up any confusion and ensure they send the right type of truck.
