trucking

California Reefer Rates Surge as Florida Correction Deepens Post-Holiday

Florida's reefer market is retreating sharply following the Mother's Day demand peak. Atlanta rates fell 24% in a single week after climbing 25% two weeks prior, a correction widely anticipated as floral demand subsides and watermelon season transitions southward.

Meanwhile, California is capitalizing on the seasonal shift. Salinas-Watsonville, South/Central California, and Santa Maria all posted double-digit rate increases to key East Coast destinations. The Santa Maria to New York lane surged 66%, marking the largest single-lane jump in the current reporting period.

Shortage conditions are uniform across California origins as spring produce volume builds. South Texas remains in Shortage but is softening across nearly every lane. The seasonal handoff between regions is underway, requiring carriers to reposition capacity toward West Coast origins immediately.