DAT's weekly freight report for September 13–19 shows reefer spot rates at $3.59 per mile, up 9 cents from the prior week, with the load-to-truck ratio climbing to 19.1 — tighter than the week before. Fall produce is cited explicitly as a driver of increased reefer load volumes, which were up 8% week-over-week. Diesel hit $6.285 a gallon for the week ending September 14, the first EIA weekly reading above $6 in the agency's records going back to 2007.
The fuel surcharge used in freight rate calculations lags the actual diesel price by about a week by design, meaning the full cost impact of this diesel spike hasn't yet shown up in all-in reefer rates — but it will. Van and flatbed linehaul rates actually dipped slightly on the week, but diesel more than offset those moves, pushing all-in rates higher across all equipment types.
Buyers managing fall volume into retail should factor in tightening reefer capacity alongside rising fuel costs. Carriers and brokers will be pricing accordingly, and shippers with flexible timing or consolidated loads may have an advantage in negotiating freight costs over the next several weeks.