Truckload spot and contract rates climbed sharply in April, but according to DAT, the gains were almost entirely attributable to higher fuel costs rather than increased freight demand. That's an important distinction — it means the market isn't tightening from a capacity standpoint, but shippers are still feeling the pain at the invoice level.
For produce shippers, fuel surcharges hit hard because fresh product moves on tight timelines and can't be held back to wait for better rates. Higher transportation costs on top of already elevated input and commodity prices are compressing margins across the supply chain.
If fuel costs stabilize or pull back through the summer, some of this rate pressure should ease. But with produce shipping season heating up, any further fuel spikes will be felt immediately across the industry.