Trucking

Yakima Tree Fruit Commands Premium Rates as Reefer Market Strengthens

Reefer spot linehaul rates averaged $2.58 per mile this week, surpassing the nine-year seasonal average of $2.15 per mile and reaching near the top of the historical range. Washington's Yakima Valley emerged as the week's standout performer. The Yakima-to-Miami lane jumped 26% to $12,500-$13,500 per load, with new-crop apples, pears and peaches commanding the richest per-load rates on the market. Outbound Yakima spot rates hit a four-year high, up 49% since the season low in early May and 34% above year-ago levels. The load-to-truck ratio stood at 21.84, down from 10.84 a week earlier. The 35-day rate forecast projects reefer linehaul at $2.68 per mile by mid-October. California citrus and coastal-vegetable lanes maintained double-digit year-over-year premiums, though week-to-week momentum elsewhere remained flat to softening.