Reefer Spot Rates Rise to $3.54 as Capacity Stays Tight

Refrigerated spot freight entered the Labor Day period with higher all-in rates even as more trucks returned to the market. TheTrucker.com reported September 8 that DAT's seven-day national average reefer rate rose 9 cents to $3.54 per mile for the week of August 30 through September 5. The figure includes linehaul and a fuel surcharge.

Reefer load posts fell 1% to 778,579, while truck posts increased 5% to 36,228. That pushed the reefer load-to-truck ratio down from 22.8 to 21.5. Capacity loosened week over week, but availability remained 18.7% below the comparable period last year. Across all equipment types, DAT recorded just under 3 million load posts and 178,484 truck posts, the lowest Week 36 equipment total in its records.

The reefer linehaul component increased 5 cents to $2.74 per mile. Higher diesel also contributed to the all-in gain: the national on-highway diesel price used for the week's surcharge calculation was $5.652 per gallon, up 19.8 cents. Van averaged $2.95 all-in, up 6 cents, while flatbed averaged $3.54, up 4 cents. DAT described the market as supply-led because equipment remained scarce even as trucks returned after the prior inspection week.

Carriers should separate linehaul from fuel before comparing offers, because a rising all-in rate can overstate improvement in operating margin. Reefer operators also need to price deadhead, washouts, detention, temperature requirements and seasonal repositioning into each load. Shippers can reduce coverage risk with realistic appointment windows and earlier tendering. The national average is a benchmark, not a guaranteed lane rate; local produce cycles, backhaul options and trailer availability can produce materially different results.