Truck rates are running well below a year ago and most U.S. fresh produce shipping districts had adequate to surplus truck availability in late May.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s fruit and vegetable truck rate report for the week ending May 28 reported that truck rates from Oxnard, Calif., to various metropolitan regions were substantially below year ago levels.
Rates to Dallas for June 1 were $3,500 this year, down 17% from $4,200 at the same time last year. Meanwhile, rates to New York City from Oxnard were $6,600, down 6% from $7,000 at the same time a year ago.
Truck rates from Oxnard to Atlanta were reported at $4,800 on June 1 this year, down 19% from $5,900 at the same time a year ago.
In its May 28 report, the USDA said a slight surplus of trucks was reported for Mexico crossings through Nogales, Ariz., Yakima, Wash., California’s Kern District, Oxnard, Salinas, Watsonville, Southern California and Santa Maria. The USDA said a surplus of trucks was reported in south Texas.
A slight shortage of trucks was reported in Florida and North Carolina, the USDA said.
