Reefer spot linehaul rates paid to carriers averaged $2.71 per mile last week, excluding fuel, down 0.7% or $0.02 per mile from the week before, according to DAT Freight & Analytics. Rates ran 36.1% or $0.72 per mile above a year ago and 27.1% or $0.58 per mile above the nine-year seasonal average of $2.13 per mile.

Across the reefer bellwether states, the moves-weighted outbound rate was $3.59 per mile, essentially flat on the week and up 38.0% or $0.99 per mile from a year earlier. Those states carried 41.1% of the country's outbound reefer loads, compared with 40.9% the week before last and 39.4% a year ago.

The top 10 outbound reefer markets accounted for 84.1% of loads moved. Pacific Northwest posted the best weekly result, up 4.2% or $0.13 per mile, followed by Upper Midwest at 2.0%. Every top-10 market stayed above its year-ago level, with gains ranging from roughly 22% to 50%.

Reefer load posts fell 8.1% from the week before last but remained 32.4% above a year ago. Equipment posts declined 8.4% on the week and trailed last year by 20.1%. The load-to-truck ratio was 18.26, compared with 18.20 the week before.

The 35-day DAT Rate Forecast places reefer spot near $2.69 per mile by late October, within a band of about plus or minus $0.06 per mile. A year ago at this time the actual rate was $2.07 per mile.

California vegetable lanes moved higher after a flat week, with Chicago up 11% to 19% from four California origins and Miami up 14% to 17% from the Imperial/Coachella and Santa Maria baskets. DAT also reported that California citrus and Washington tree fruit are trading at large premiums to a year ago.

Source: DAT Freight & Analytics - https://www.dat.com/blog/reefer-report-rates-ease-as-produce-rush-cools-but-the-year-over-year-premium-holds