Reefer spot linehaul rates paid to carriers averaged $2.73 per mile last week, minus fuel, down 0.9%, or $0.02 per mile, from the week before. Rates climbed 31.4%, or $0.65 per mile, year over year and held 28.6%, or $0.61 per mile, above the nine-year seasonal average of $2.12 per mile, near the top of the historical range.
All rates cited are linehaul only. They exclude fuel costs and surcharges unless otherwise noted.
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Bellwether states
The reefer bellwether states averaged $3.62 per mile last week, down $0.02 from the week before and up $0.93, or 34.6%, year over year. The ten states held 41.2% of national reefer outbound volume.
Regional rate trends
| Reefer — Top 10 Origins by Rate Per Mile · Week Ending October 24, 2026 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Origin Region | Avg RPM | WoW | YoY |
| 1 | Upper Midwest | $3.61 | −$0.04 | +$0.92 |
| 2 | Great Lakes | $3.33 | −$0.04 | +$0.85 |
| 3 | Ohio River | $3.24 | −$0.03 | +$0.82 |
| 4 | Lower Midwest | $3.16 | −$0.17 | +$0.69 |
| 5 | California | $2.73 | −$0.03 | +$0.58 |
| 6 | Upper Atlantic | $2.72 | −$0.09 | +$0.69 |
| 7 | Southeast | $2.42 | $0.00 | +$0.48 |
| 8 | Lower Mountain | $2.35 | −$0.02 | +$0.37 |
| 9 | South Central | $2.15 | −$0.01 | +$0.30 |
| 10 | Florida-So Georgia | $1.44 | −$0.02 | +$0.20 |
The top 10 origin regions accounted for 84.3% of reefer outbound loads last week. No region in the top 10 posted a gain. Southeast held up best, unchanged at $2.42 per mile, while Lower Midwest gave back the most, down $0.17 to $3.16 per mile.
Market conditions
The reefer load-to-truck ratio eased to 14.79 from 15.77 as load posts fell 4.7% and truck posts rose 1.6%. Load posts are now 4.4% below a year ago, a reversal from the 11.9% gain the week before last, though the ratio is still 19.6% above the 12.36 from the same week last year.
Produce report
USDA data for the week ending Oct. 20 show national refrigerated volume up 7% week over week and down 3% year over year. South Texas crossings led at 9% week over week, and a 72% jump in the Imperial and Coachella section lifted California 5%. Washington slipped 5%. Nationwide, cucumber volume rose 22% week over week, plum tomatoes 30%, and romaine lettuce 21%, while limes fell 18%, cantaloupes 14%, and strawberries 13%.
Washington apple and pear lanes lead the rate board at an average 63% above a year ago, followed by California and South Texas at 38% each. Week over week, California and South Texas lane averages were flat and Washington eased 3%. Lanes from Salinas and Santa Maria into New York gained 17% and 13%, while citrus lanes into Seattle fell 16%.
Short-term outlook
The DAT Rate Forecast projects reefer spot linehaul to edge up to $2.78 per mile 35 days out, against $2.73 per mile last week. The Forecast Low is $2.70 per mile and the Forecast High is $2.86 per mile, the widest spread of the three equipment types. A year ago the market sat near $2.11 per mile, so the projected level holds well above it.
