How is the reefer marketing?

This time of year can be a bit chaotic in the refer world.

As an example: this time of year, the west coast produce tends to start transitioning from Mexico grown (Yuma and Nogales AZ pickups) to central Valley and Salinas valley grown product. Every year the Salinas produce companies send most of the "hands on" folks down to Yuma to work cause the fields near Salinas are too wet and muddy for the equipment to work. If the transition was not successfully timed because of weather, it will cause a drop in demand for trucks.

I doubt most of the U.S. is harvesting fresh produce yet this year.

This drop in demand ripples throughout the refer segment.

Even if a trucking company has a contract to move some refer freight (let's say beef or ice cream) they may opt to move it with a lower cost/more desperate contractor (that normally hauls produce) so they can make more money.

 

Feb-April is slow season for reefer. At this time you will see less overages come up on the spot market than any time of the year. Shipping does still happen but because it is a slow season for produce most carriers do fine hauling their customers shipping needs. My busy time is Nov-April. Direct freight. If you’re looking for consistency serve a customer. - And that’s what it sounds that you’re after. Miles, who cares about miles? My customer cares about shipments covered and not mileage. Chasing miles is what a company driver paid by mileage does…

 

EVERYWHERE, slow economy. EVERYONE flooded into trucking during covid when the rates spiked and now many more trucks are chasing low amounts of freight.

 

Lot of big places in NC and CA burned or drowned too which is doing some weird things to a lot of the market as well. Kinda a perfect #### storm for most drivers atm.

Too many trucks and new O/Os cutting each others throats on rates trying to stay in business after thr covid boom. Wide scale disruptions to two pretty big sectors of freight. An economy downturn. An election year. Inflated truck costs. Rampent out of control inflation New tarrifs and more besides.

Its not quite all doom and gloom but it aint sunshine and roses either and the market is basically in full tilt mode. So likely going to need a year or two to settle down. Sure some markets especially specialized are better off since its a hell of a lot harder to run out and grab a tanker or an end dump and not end up black balled for spilling or on your side within a week. Not to mention the costs involved. But basically everyone is hurting right now.