Trucking

Reefer Rates Surge Above Historical Norms as Yakima Apples Command Premium Pricing

Reefer spot linehaul rates averaged $2.60 per mile this week, well above the nine-year seasonal average of $2.14, positioning the market near historical highs. Reefer load posts increased 8.5% year-over-year, though volumes remain 7.2% below pre-Labor Day levels. The 35-day rate forecast projects reefer spot averaging $2.69 per mile, reflecting steady produce-season demand into fall. California citrus markets experienced sharp repricing with double-digit weekly gains to all ten destinations, now trading 35% to 72% above year-ago levels. Pacific Northwest apple-pear lanes from Yakima reset this week at 48% to 84% above prior year. Major markets including Boston, Miami, and New York all cleared $13,000 or more at the top of the range. Yakima outbound spot rates reached $2.90 per mile, a four-year peak and 16% above typical late-November pricing.