Seasonal Freight Calendar

January is the quietest month on the freight calendar for most equipment types. The post-holiday slowdown hits dry van hardest — retailers have overstocked during Q4 and are now working through inventory rather than ordering more. Flatbed is nearly dormant as winter weather halts construction projects across the northern half of the country. The bright spot is South Florida, where produce season kicks off. Reefer demand rises steadily as tomatoes, peppers, strawberries, and early citrus shipments ramp up out of Homestead, Immokalee, and Plant City. If you run reefer, head south. If you run dry van, use January for maintenance, tire replacements, and DOT inspections while rates are low.

Florida produce season is now in full swing, pushing reefer rates in the Southeast to peak levels. Strawberries out of Plant City, tomatoes from Homestead, and bell peppers from Immokalee are all shipping heavy volume. The Rio Grande Valley in Texas begins its citrus and vegetable shipments. Meanwhile, dry van is still sluggish nationally — though you will see slight improvement as some shippers begin spring inventory planning. Oilfield activity in the Permian Basin typically restarts after the holiday slowdown, creating flatbed and heavy haul demand in West Texas and eastern New Mexico. Construction remains minimal in the Midwest and Northeast due to weather.

March marks the real inflection point where freight starts moving upward. Florida produce hits peak stride — blueberries join the mix alongside continued tomato and pepper shipments. The Rio Grande Valley is shipping citrus and vegetables at high volume. Spring weight restrictions begin in the Upper Midwest (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, the Dakotas), which limits truck weights on rural roads and creates capacity constraints as some carriers avoid affected states. Construction materials begin moving as the thaw hits the mid-South and mid-Atlantic states. Dry van improves noticeably as retailers begin their spring inventory push. Flatbed carriers positioned in the Southeast and Southwest see rates climb as building season starts in earnest.

April is where the freight calendar gets serious. This is peak produce season — Florida blueberries, Georgia Vidalia onions, California strawberries, and Carolinas early crops all ship simultaneously. Reefer demand outstrips supply in the Southeast, driving spot rates to their highest levels of the year for refrigerated equipment. Flatbed hits its stride as construction season is fully underway from the mid-South through the Northeast. Road projects, bridge work, and commercial building all require steel, lumber, concrete, and heavy equipment. Dry van benefits from spring retail and general freight increases. This is the first month where all three major equipment types see strong rates at the same time. If you are going to reposition your truck for seasonal advantage, April is the month to be in the Southeast or California.

May continues the strong freight trends that began in April. Produce season peaks across the Southeast — Georgia peaches and blueberries, Carolinas sweet potatoes, and the tail end of Florida shipments keep reefer rates elevated. Central California enters its busiest period with lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, and early stone fruit. Flatbed remains strong as construction is in full swing across most of the country, and the residential building season drives lumber and materials demand. Dry van continues to improve as summer retail inventory building begins — outdoor furniture, garden supplies, grills, and seasonal merchandise all need to move from warehouses to stores. Capacity tightens across most major corridors. May often ranks as the best overall month for reefer carriers when considering both rate and volume.

June sees a transition in the produce calendar as the center of gravity shifts from the Southeast to California and the Pacific Northwest. Washington state cherry season begins — one of the most time-sensitive (and highest-paying) reefer commodities in the country. California stone fruit (peaches, nectarines, plums) and grapes begin shipping from the San Joaquin Valley. Southeast produce winds down as Georgia and the Carolinas finish their harvests. Construction remains at peak levels, keeping flatbed rates strong. The automotive industry is typically in full production mode, generating consistent dry van freight from manufacturing hubs in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and Tennessee. Overall, June is a solid month across all equipment types, though reefer rates in the Southeast dip as produce moves west.

July presents a mixed picture. Washington cherries are at peak volume, California grapes and stone fruit are shipping strong, and summer produce generally keeps reefer rates respectable. Construction is at its annual peak with the longest daylight hours allowing extended work schedules, which means flatbed demand remains high. However, the automotive industry traditionally shuts down for two weeks (usually the first two weeks of July) for model-year changeovers and planned maintenance. This automotive shutdown can soften dry van rates on Midwest lanes that depend heavily on auto parts and finished vehicle components. Some carriers use the slight July softening to take vacation time while rates are not at their absolute peak. Independence Day holiday also creates a short disruption in freight movement around the 4th.

August is the bridge between summer freight patterns and the fall surge. Late-summer produce continues from California and the Pacific Northwest — Washington apples begin their long harvest season. Back-to-school retail creates a noticeable uptick in dry van freight as clothing, electronics, supplies, and furniture ship to stores and dorms across the country. This is often the first clear sign of the Q4 freight wave building. Construction remains strong but some projects begin wrapping up in anticipation of fall. Smart carriers start pre-positioning for the Midwest harvest — grain elevators, ethanol plants, and agricultural processors in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Nebraska will need significant truck capacity starting in September. Reefer carriers should consider moving toward the Midwest or staying in the Pacific Northwest where apple and berry harvests continue.

September marks the beginning of the fall freight surge — the most intense and sustained period of high demand on the freight calendar. Midwest harvest season kicks off in earnest. Corn, soybeans, wheat, and other grains begin moving from fields to elevators, processors, and export terminals. This creates massive demand for hopper trailers and dry van in rural Midwest corridors. Simultaneously, holiday import season ramps up at major ports — Los Angeles/Long Beach, Savannah, Charleston, Newark, and Houston see container volumes spike as retailers receive goods ordered months ago for the holiday season. These containers need to be drayed to warehouses and then distributed inland, creating cascading demand across intermodal, dry van, and reefer. Rates across all equipment types begin climbing and will generally continue upward through November.

October is the king of the freight calendar. It is typically the highest-rate month across all equipment types, and for good reason — three massive demand drivers converge simultaneously. Midwest harvest is in full swing, with corn and soybean yields moving at maximum capacity. Holiday import freight from ports is flooding distribution centers nationwide as retailers scramble to stock shelves before Black Friday. And general retail restocking hits its annual peak as consumer spending ramps toward the holidays. California produces continue year-round, adding reefer demand on top of everything else. Flatbed benefits from the final push of construction season before winter, plus heavy equipment moves as projects wrap up. Capacity is genuinely tight in October — if you are on the road with available hours, you are in a strong position to negotiate premium rates on virtually any lane in the country.

November sustains the October peak with some shifts in composition. Holiday retail freight is at its absolute zenith — Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the entire Thanksgiving-to-Christmas shopping rush create relentless demand for dry van capacity from distribution centers to retail locations. Washington apple harvest wraps up, ending one of the longest produce seasons in the country. Midwest harvest winds down as corn and soybean fields empty, though grain transport to export terminals and processors continues. Flatbed begins its seasonal slowdown as construction projects close for winter in the northern states, though Southern states (Texas, Florida, the Carolinas) maintain construction activity. Thanksgiving week itself creates a mini-disruption — many drivers take time off, which further tightens capacity and supports elevated rates. Carriers who run through Thanksgiving week often see some of the best spot rates of the entire year.

December is a tale of two halves. The first two to three weeks maintain the holiday freight rush — retailers making final inventory pushes, e-commerce fulfillment running at maximum speed, and last-minute seasonal shipments keeping dry van and reefer rates elevated. This is especially true for reefer carriers hauling holiday food items: turkeys, hams, dairy products, baked goods, and beverages ship at premium rates to grocery chains and food distributors. Then Christmas hits, and the freight market falls off a cliff. The week between Christmas and New Year is one of the deadest periods in trucking. Shippers close, warehouses run skeleton crews, and load boards thin out dramatically. Rates crater. Smart carriers use late December for home time, maintenance, and tax preparation. The cycle resets in January and the whole seasonal pattern begins again.

Dry van follows the retail calendar closely. Rates bottom out in January when retailers are working through holiday inventory and shippers are budgeting for the new year. The slow climb begins in March, accelerates through back-to-school in August, and peaks during the October-December holiday freight rush. Dry van carriers who can stomach the January-February dip and stay loaded will see rates climb steadily from March through November.

Reefer has the most unique seasonal pattern because it follows agriculture rather than retail. Peak reefer rates typically hit February through May as Florida, Texas, Georgia, and California produce ships simultaneously. A second but smaller peak arrives in October-December when holiday food items (turkeys, hams, dairy, baked goods) command premium reefer rates. July and August can be soft between summer produce winding down and fall shipments ramping up.

Flatbed is the most weather-dependent equipment type. When the ground thaws and construction begins, flatbed rates rise. When snow flies and building stops, rates drop. The peak window is April through October when construction activity, road projects, and infrastructure work are in full swing. Southern flatbed carriers have a longer season because construction continues year-round in Texas, Florida, and the Gulf states.

Step deck follows the construction calendar but specifically tracks heavy equipment and oversized loads. Excavators, bulldozers, cranes, industrial components, and prefabricated structures all move on step deck trailers. Demand peaks when large-scale projects are active in summer. Wind farm construction has become a significant step deck market, with tower sections and nacelles moving from manufacturing plants to installation sites primarily from May through September.

Hotshot is less seasonal and more event-driven. Emergency freight, expedited parts, and oilfield servicing create demand throughout the year. When oil prices are high, Permian Basin, Eagle Ford, and Bakken activity drives strong hotshot demand. Hotshot also benefits from being the go-to solution for expedited shipments that can't wait for standard scheduling — a broken-down production line needing a part overnight pays premium regardless of the season.

Heavy haul is the most permit-dependent and weather-sensitive equipment category. Oversize and overweight loads require state permits, pilot cars, and often route surveys — all of which are easier to obtain and execute in summer. Wind farm construction (turbine blades, tower sections, nacelles) has become a major heavy haul market, peaking from June through September. Infrastructure projects including bridge beams, transformer units, and industrial equipment also concentrate in warm months when road conditions allow oversized transport.

The freight year begins here. Homestead, Immokalee, and Plant City are the epicenters. Reefer demand starts building in January and peaks in March-April. Miami and Fort Myers are the primary origin markets. Rates on northbound FL lanes (FL to ATL, FL to Northeast) reach annual highs for reefer during this window.

The Valley ships overlapping with Florida, creating dual-source reefer demand in the first half of the year. McAllen, Weslaco, and Edinburg are key origins. Cross-border produce from Mexico also transits through Laredo and McAllen, adding to reefer demand. Texas-to-Midwest and Texas-to-Northeast lanes pay well during this period.

Georgia bridges the gap between Florida winding down and the mid-summer produce season. Vidalia onions are a signature crop — the entire annual harvest ships in a compressed April-June window, creating intense short-term reefer demand. Georgia peaches follow immediately. Tifton, Vidalia, and Fort Valley are primary origin points. GA-to-Northeast lanes see premium reefer rates in April-May.

The San Joaquin Valley and Salinas Valley are the most productive agricultural regions in the United States — and they ship every single day of the year. California accounts for over a third of all US vegetables and two-thirds of all US fruits. The Salinas Valley (the "Salad Bowl of the World") ships lettuce and leafy greens year-round. Stone fruit peaks in June-August. Grapes ship July-November. There is never a dead period for reefer in California, making it the most consistent produce market in the country.

North Carolina is the top sweet potato producing state in the country, and while the harvest is in fall, sweet potatoes ship from controlled-atmosphere storage facilities year-round. The Carolinas also contribute peaches, blueberries, and watermelons during their spring-summer growing season. Eastern North Carolina (Benson, Clinton, Nashville) and South Carolina (Edgefield, Ridge Spring) are key origin markets.

Washington state is the crown jewel of Pacific Northwest produce. Cherry season (June-August) creates some of the highest per-mile reefer rates in the country because cherries are extremely time-sensitive — they must be cooled and shipped within hours of picking. Washington apples have the longest harvest season, running from August through November, providing sustained reefer demand for months. The Yakima Valley, Wenatchee, and the Columbia Basin are primary origin markets.

The Midwest harvest is less of a reefer event and more of a dry van, hopper, and grain trailer event — but the sheer volume is staggering. Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Minnesota, and Nebraska produce billions of bushels of corn and soybeans that must move from fields to grain elevators, ethanol plants, feed lots, and export terminals. This creates massive demand for truck capacity in rural corridors from September through November, coinciding with the Q4 retail surge to create the tightest capacity of the year.