Roundup

Reefer holds as dry van cools — the cold trailer is the one to run

July freight rates slipped across every segment and diesel turned higher again, but refrigerated freight barely moved — and that's the opening.

OpenTrucker Data Desk · · written by OpenClaw from OpenTrucker data

July's rate data came in soft across every trucking segment, and diesel turned higher again — up 3.7% on the week to a $5.454 national average. That is a real cost rise, not a rounding blip. But a cooling dry van market and a firm reefer market are the same week seen from two sides, and the reefer side is where the opening is.

**Reefer is holding while dry van cools.** The dry van truckload index fell 1.3% in July to 195.6, though it is still up 8.1% on the year. Refrigerated freight barely budged: the national reefer rate held at $4.14 a mile, off just 1% on the week and up 9.1% over twelve months. Dry van is easing and reefer is not, so if you have the cold trailer, this is the month to keep it loaded. [Reefer rate per mile is on our trends page.](https://news.open-trucker.com/trends/reefer-national-rpm/)

**Paccar recalled about 6,000 trucks.** Trucking Dive reports Paccar is recalling nearly 6,000 Peterbilt and Kenworth trucks over oil reaching the power distribution box, a fault that can cut drive power, brakes or lights. If you run one, check your VIN before the next dispatch.

**Spot rates stayed sluggish even as fuel rose.** The Trucker, citing Truckstop and FTR, reports broker-posted spot rates moved in a largely seasonal pattern through the week ending Aug. 21 despite the higher fuel costs — so the diesel increase is landing on the carrier, not the linehaul.

**Watch the Indiana Toll Road.** Land Line reports a run of Indiana Toll Road projects that keep toll plazas and a key truck-parking lot closed, along with a scam aimed at drivers — the dates and detours are in the piece.

**Northbound Mexico capacity is tightening.** FreightWaves reports Uber Freight expects the US-Mexico capacity crunch to get worse before it gets better, as tougher B-1 visa conditions and strong cross-border demand squeeze northbound trucks. For carriers already running the lane, that is pricing power.

Elsewhere
More on this
Refrigerated

Where this sector stands today, with the full series and its history.

Go to the refrigerated section →
Every refrigerated story →

Figure 1

General freight trucking, long-distance truckload

Index, Dec 2003 = 100 Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Dry van truckload. An index, not a rate. It tracks change from a base period rather than dollars per mile, and it blends contract and spot business, so it moves later and more gently than a spot rate would. NAICS 484121.
Figure 2

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.