Archive For The “Trucking Reports” Category
By Mark Campbell, ProduceIQ
A record-setting heat wave across the West has toppled long-standing March temperature highs from Yuma to Palm Springs, and now that heat is advancing east, according to the article published by the Blue Book.
Forecasts show much of the Southeast running 15–30 degrees above average the week ending March 23.
That surge in temperatures is fast-tracking the close of the Yuma season, raising the stakes for a smooth handoff to California production. If West Coast growers aren’t ready to take the baton, markets could face a brief but impactful supply gap just as production begins a seasonal decline.
Tomato markets are “channeling” the spirit of March Madness. After all varieties posted notable declines last week, prices for round, plum, and grape tomatoes are climbing once again.
Extremely light supply from Florida and Mexico, paired with the +17 percent duty on Mexican tomatoes, is fueling renewed volatility. With supply constrained and demand steady, instability is expected to persist through April.
The same heat driving production shifts in the West is also tightening supply in other categories. Asparagus prices jumped +22 percent week-over-week as heat-stressed supply struggles to keep pace with Easter demand. Week #12 prices are now well above average, ranking as the second-highest in the past decade. Relief remains limited: ongoing heat in the West and delayed shipments from Peru are expected to keep upward pressure on the market through the next two weeks.
Meanwhile, warmer temperatures are beginning to reshape demand patterns. Warmer weather is stirring demand for watermelon, pushing prices up +9 percent from the previous week. Week #12 pricing is now at the second-highest level in the past 10 years. With Florida production still weeks away, the market is leaning heavily on dwindling Mexican supply. Prices are likely to climb further over the next 3–5 weeks until domestic harvests arrive to meet seasonal demand.
Even tropical items are feeling the squeeze as supply struggles to keep pace with warm-weather demand. Pineapple prices continue to hold firm at elevated levels in week #12. Tight import supply, driven by adverse weather, is trailing just behind strong Easter demand. With supply expected to remain limited, prices are forecast to edge higher in the coming weeks.
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ALLEN LUND COMPANY, TRANSPORTATION BROKERS, LOOKING FOR REEFER CARRIERS: 1-800-404-5863.
Extreme heat continues to cause concern for the remaining acreage of row crop vegetables in the Arizona/California desert growing region, according to a press release from Markon Cooperative of Salinas, CA.
Markon inspectors have observed the effects of the heat in fresh samples and shelf-life retains during recent product cuttings, particularly in value-added romaine items.
With the sustained heat and a limited supply remaining, the quality and shelf-life of commodity and value-added items from the desert region will be challenged until production moves back to the Salinas Valley.
Despite mitigation steps by growers, harvesters, and processing crews, it will not be possible to completely avoid the issues brought on by the extreme conditions. Ordering for quick turns is recommended, and, as always, cold chain management throughout the supply chain will be critical to maximizing quality and shelf-life.
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ALLEN LUND COMPANY, TRANSPORTATION BROKERS, LOOKING FOR REEFER CARRIERS: 1-800-404-5863.
Elevated temperatures are forcing an end to the seasons in Texas and Florida. California volume is rising in Santa Maria and Oxnard; quality is excellent, according to a press release from Markon Cooperative of Salinas, CA.
Santa Maria/Oxnard, California
- Current weather is ideal for strawberries
- Volume continues to increase weekly
- Quality is excellent; good shape, color, and flavor are being reported
- Size ranges from medium plus to large (10-14 berries per 8/1-pound clamshell)
- Expect pricing to remain low
Salinas/Watsonville
- Warmer weather in these growing regions has increased yields
- Quality is excellent; defects are minimal
- Size ranges from 14 to 15 berries per 1-pound clamshell
- Expect minimal numbers for another two weeks
- Markets are stable
Florida
- Temperatures in the mid-80s to mid-90s have ended the Florida season for most suppliers
- Fruit has been softened and bruised by heat
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ALLEN LUND COMPANY, TRANSPORTATION BROKERS, LOOKING FOR REEFER CARRIERS: 1-800-404-5863.
Unseasonably hot weather is forecast for California’s San Joaquin Valley over the next week. March temperatures typically range from a high of 68 degrees to a low of 45 degrees, but this week, highs are forecast in the 90s. This has the potential to create quality defects in current and upcoming crops grown in that region.
Citrus
- Quality will remain strong
- Expect to see more pliability in Navel oranges, but supplies will not break down or decay any quicker than normal
- New crop Valencia oranges expected to start shipping in late April; expect to see an increase in regreening if the weather continues its warm trend
- Lemons are less susceptible to hot weather due to their thicker rinds
Grapes/Stone Fruit
- Growers have no long-term concerns for the upcoming summer crops
- Grapes and stone fruit are more susceptible to hail and rain damage
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ALLEN LUND COMPANY, TRANSPORTATION BROKERS, LOOKING FOR REEFER CARRIERS: 1-800-404-5863.
The onion market is now entering its seasonal transition as Northwest storage supplies
begin winding down and fresh-run onions start moving out of Mexico and South Texas, according to Pro*Act, of Monterey, CA.
The distributor/broker notes markets are currently soft on yellow and red onions as new crop volume competes with remaining Northwest inventories. White onions remain the exception, where supplies
are tighter and pricing is beginning to firm.
In the Pacific Northwest, Washington, Idaho, and Eastern Oregon continue shipping
storage onions, though the season is clearly entering its later stages. Jumbo and
medium sizes remain available while super colossal sizes are more limited. As we move
deeper into the storage window, buyers may begin to see more translucency or watery
scales in some lots. This is a normal late-season condition and often improves with
proper airflow as the outer rings dry.
One of the biggest shifts this time of year is the transition from cured storage onions to
fresh-run onions.
Northwest storage onions have been cured for months, developing the familiar golden,
papery husk and lower pulp temperatures that allow them to store and ship
exceptionally well.
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ALLEN LUND COMPANY, TRANSPORTATION BROKERS, LOOKING FOR REEFER CARRIERS: 1-800-404-5863.
Primland, a French marketer and grower projects the company’s Chilean kiwifruit will have a 20 percent yield increase for its green variety, which accounts for approximately 90 percent of the total volume, due primarily to favorable weather and orchard management.
Additionally, the water availability in Chile is contributing to excellent fruit quality this year.
The South American country remains one of the world’s key kiwifruit exporters, supplying the United States, Europe, and Asia when Northern Hemisphere production is out of season.
Alongside its traditional green varieties, Primland continues expanding its yellow-fleshed kiwi program. The Oscar® Gold variety currently accounts for about ten percent of its supply this season in Chile, but there’s room for growth due to the rise in yields, as well as new plantings.
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ALLEN LUND COMPANY, TRANSPORTATION BROKERS, LOOKING FOR REEFER CARRIERS: 1-800-404-5863.
By Joey Piedimonte, Pro*Act, Monterey, CA
I spent last week in Orlando for SEPC, and it was nice connecting with many of you out
there. While I was in Florida, I got a firsthand look at what the late January freeze did to
crops in the region and the impact is more significant than the reports suggested.
Bell peppers took a serious hit. Fields that should be loaded are thin, and what’s coming
out is inconsistent. Strawberry plants looked structurally sound, but the ratio of flowers to
fruit told the real story. There’s more bloom than berry right now, which means volume is
still weeks away.
That freeze is still echoing across the supply chain.
Bell peppers are tightening, particularly greens. Significant freeze losses in Florida have
resulted in lower yields and more off-grade fruit expected this spring. Western Mexico
volumes crossing through Nogales are rising and helping fill the gap, but prices are
climbing as demand grows. Red bells are relying heavily on Mexico, where Culiacán is
producing moderate volume with good quality and better yields ahead. Central Mexico
crossings remain steady but limited, and Florida supply is minimal. Markets will stay firm
short-term.
Tomatoes remain the headline. Southeast supplies are extremely limited after growers
invoked Force Majeure due to crop loss. Domestic production won’t recover until mid
April at the earliest. Mexico is helping cover the gap, but yields are lighter and quality at
pack-out has been mixed. Recent logistics disruptions have stressed the supply chain.
Rounds, romas, and grape tomatoes are all tight. Expect elevated pricing through the next
six weeks, and consider substituting rounds for romas where possible.
Corn took a beating. Bi-color, white, and yellow corn in the Southeast are all impacted. On
the West Coast, bi-color and white are limited, and yellow is extremely tight.
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ALLEN LUND COMPANY, TRANSPORTATION BROKERS, LOOKING FOR REEFER CARRIERS: 1-800-404-5863.
Fewer Chilean table grapes will be exported to the United States during its peak export window this season, projecting a 10 percent decline from 2025 volumes. Growers are facing an oversupply of grapes in the international market, plus the South Americans are replacing traditional varieties with newer, more productive grapes.
The US accounts for just over half of Chile’s total table grape exports, with estimates of 34.7 million 18-pound boxes to be shipped this season. The Andean country’s Table Grape Committee forecasts global exports of 63.5 million boxes, down 6.6 percent year-on-year.
The Chilean Table Grape Committee reports the 2026 season will be a year of adjustment, consolidating the varietal replacement with new cultivars, which this year will account for 72 percent. Five years ago, only 36 percent of exported table grapes were new varieties.
The imbalance between supply and demand in the US market is contributing to the pullback. Weekly demand has remained steady for years at between 3.5 million and 4 million boxes, while global supply has expanded.
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THE ALLEN LUND COMPANY,TRANSPORTATION BROKERS, LOOKING FOR REEFER CARRIERS:1-800-404-5863.
The California Avocado Commission (CAC) announced its annual early-season crop forecast, projecting 330 million pounds of Golden State-grown fruit.
The estimate includes 310 million pounds of Hass and 20 million pounds of GEM, Lamb Hass, and other avocado varieties.
With continued investment in new plantings and nearly 51,000 productive acres, the commission expects 2026 to be the third consecutive year with a total volume exceeding 300 million pounds.
Some harvesting has already begun, the organization reports, but the peak of promotable volume is expected from April into August.
“Recent rain in California generally was welcomed by growers due to its help with soil and tree health,” said Terry Splane, CAC Vice President of Marketing. “Now there is hope for these sunny days to continue into spring to ensure fruit sizing.”
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ALLEN LUND COMPANY, TRANSPORTATION BROKERS, LOOKING FOR REEFER CARRIERS: 1-800-404-5863.
Flatbed carriers remained in high demand during the week of March 1-7, with flatbed loads on the DAT One marketplace up 4% and the average spot rate up 4 cents compared to the previous week.
Truckload freight trends from DAT One and DAT iQ
Spot market data for March 1-7, 2026 (Week 10)
Broker-to-carrier 7-day average spot rates for all three equipment segments:
▼ Dry van: $2.36 per mile, down 3 cents week over week
▼ Refrigerated: $2.75 per mile, down 3 cents
▲ Flatbed: $2.70 per mile, up 4 cents and up 18 cents over the last six weeks
The total number of loads posted to the DAT One marketplace settled lower last week, down 4% to 3.3 million. Truck posts fell to 219,869, also down 4%.
Reduced overall capacity, not a surge in freight volumes, continues to drive long-term spot-market pricing trends. With fuel accounting for roughly one-third of truck operating costs, $5 diesel this week could prompt carriers to park their rigs at least temporarily, exacerbating supply-side pressures.
Van: Load posts ease after weather-driven surge
▼ Van loads: 1.31 million, down 8% week over week
▼ Van equipment: 162,354, down 5%
▼ Linehaul rate: $2.00 per mile, down 2 cents
▼ Load-to-truck ratio: 8.1, down from 8.4
Reefer: Produce markets reset as capacity loosens
▼ Reefer loads: 542,704, down 10% week over week
▼ Reefer equipment: 36,498, down 7%
▼ Linehaul rate: $2.38 per mile, down 3 cents
▼ Load-to-truck ratio: 14.9, down from 15.3
Flatbed: Upward trajectory
▲ Flatbed loads: 1.49 million, up 4% week over week
▲ Flatbed equipment: 21,017, up 1%
▲ Linehaul rate: $2.33 per mile, up 4 cents
▲ Load-to-truck ratio: 70.3, up from 68.9
Market analysis from Dean Croke, Industry Analyst, DAT Freight & Analytics
Flatbed demand continued to press higher. At $2.33 per mile, last week’s national average spot linehaul rate for flatbed freight was 29 cents higher year over year and 16 cents higher than Week 10 in 2018, when flatbed equipment was in high demand. Flatbed load posts were nearly 47% higher year over year.
The produce reefer market just hit a reset. For the first time in weeks, the USDA Specialty Crops National Truck Rate Report is showing “Adequate” refrigerated truck availability in all 11 geographic regions. The capacity tightness that defined California, Florida, and South Texas over the past month has fully unwound. Florida outbound continued to a four-week pattern of spot-rate declines, Nogales flipped higher on key lanes, South Texas firmed modestly, and California settled into a holding pattern.
Florida’s weather-damaged crop supply continues to shrink the available reefer load pool faster than capacity can tighten. The Lakeland to Atlanta lane at $1,050–1,250 is remarkably soft but still paying carriers around $100 per load more than a year ago based on DAT 7-day rolling average rates. For context, this lane was $2,100–2,300 just four weeks ago.
Despite declining 8% week over week, dry van load post volumes were 53% higher than the same period last year and nearly double the 10-year average (excluding the pandemic years of 2021 and 2022).
With diesel pushing $5 a gallon, it’s worth noting that, unlike most loads moving under contract, there is no separate fuel surcharge on a spot rate. Carriers and brokers negotiate a single all-in rate per mile, and because spot loads are booked close to the pickup date, that rate is expected to already reflect current diesel prices.
About DAT Freight & Analytics
DAT Freight & Analytics operates DAT One, North America’s largest truckload freight marketplace; DAT iQ, the industry’s leading freight data analytics service; the Convoy Platform automated freight-matching service; Trucker Tools, the leader in load visibility; and Outgo, the financial services platform for truckers. Check out the latest DAT iQ Market Update every Tuesday or on demand: https://www.youtube.com/DATLoadBoards.
Load and truck posts refer to the number of posts on the DAT One marketplace during Week 10 (March 1-7). Load volume refers to the number of loads moved. Rates are aggregated from invoice data submitted to DAT iQ. dat.com
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ALLEN LUND COMPANY, TRANSPORTATION BROKERS, LOOKING FOR REEFER CARRIES: 1-800-404-5863.