Data brief

Produce reefer rates averaged $4.26 a mile in the week to 25 August

Where refrigerated produce freight paid best and worst, from USDA's weekly market news.

OpenTrucker Data Desk · · assembled from data

USDA quoted 73 refrigerated produce lanes in the week to 25 August 2026, averaging $4.26 a mile.

The strongest lane was Delaware, Maryland And Eastern Shore Virginia to Baltimore at $14.00 a mile over 100 miles, a load paying $1,400. The weakest was Mexico Crossings Through South Texas to Los Angeles at $2.00.

By destination, Seattle paid best at $6.30 a mile on average, while Los Angeles was weakest at $2.12.

These are the only lane-level dollar rates published free in the United States. They cover refrigerated produce only, and the mix of lanes quoted shifts with the growing season, so comparing individual lanes week to week is more meaningful than comparing the average.

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Figure 1

Refrigerated produce truck rate, national average

Dollars per mile Source: USDA Agricultural Marketing Service Reefer rate per mile. Refrigerated produce only, and an unweighted mean across whichever lanes were active that week -- so the mix shifts with the growing season. Treat week-to-week moves in the lane table as more meaningful than in this average.