Posts Tagged “Memorial Weekend”
Supplies of refrigerated equipment from shipping areas c0ast-to-coast 
continue to tighten as seasonal fresh fruit and vegetable volume rises. The result is buyers of produce are being forced to pay higher freight rates and truckers now have the upper hand in rate negotiations.
Truck supplies are especially short in California, Nogales, South Texas and in Florida.
The truck supply situation will continue, and worsen, after Memorial Day as receivers replenish supplies.
California hasn’t even got cranked up yet with produce shipments, although they are certainly getting there. If you are a produce hauler, let the good times roll.
The week of May 21st there were already a few loads out Southern California, Santa Maria, as well as the Salinas and San Joaquin valleys topping $8000 to places like New York and Boston.
In Arizona, rates for Mexican grapes crossing the border at Nogales, increased the past week by double digits. The most extreme example was a 30-plus percent hike in rates to Dallas.
Speaking of Texas, strong demand for reefer loads out of the Lower Rio Grande Valley continues. There’s a lot of watermelons and other Mexican fruits and veggies coming into the USA.
In Florida, rates have been all over the board — especially for hauling red potatoes. If you hit it right when truck supplies are really short, you could gross $2000 MORE on a load to the Northeast. Most of the state’s watermelon shipments are coming from areas north of Orlando, with shipments now coming from Georgia.
Salinas Valley vegetables- grossing about $8200 to Boston with some loads higher.
Mexican grapes from Nogales – about $3400 to Dallas.
South Texas produce – about $5500 to Boston.
Florida potatoes – anywhere from $3000 to $5000 to New York.