May 24 • 💭 Chat
Trucking Industry Seasons (Month-by-Month Breakdown) ⬇️ Posted by @Christian Chamboneth
Best Freight Types: Reefer, Dry Van (some), Flatbed (for nursery/landscaping)
What’s moving:
• Citrus FL, CA, TX
Berries (CA, FL, GA)
• Onions / potatoes
• Plants, flowers, mulch, soil (spring landscaping surge)
Effects:
• Rates increase, especially for reefers.
• Florida & California outbound become strong
• More spot market volume
2. Peak Produce Season (May – July)
Best Freight Types: REEFER ( the hottest months), dry van for packaging
Major produce states BOOM:
• CA
• Texas
• Georgia
• Arizona
• Florida tapering off
What’s moving:
• Watermelons TX, GA, FL
Stone fruits: California, Washington
• Lettuce and tomatoes
• Peaches, onions, cherries
Effects:
• Reefer rates skyrocket
• Short haul produce loads pay extremely well
• Brokers desperate for trucks easier negotiations
3. Construction Season: March - October
Best freight types: Flatbed, step deck, hotshot
What moves:
• Lumber
• Steel
• Roofing materials
• Heavy equipment
• Concrete & building supplies
Effects:
• Flatbed rates rise
• Southeast, Midwest, and Southwest reach peak demand
• Hotshot stays busy with urgent deliveries
4. Back-to-School Retail Season: July - September
Best Freight Types: Dry Van, Box Truck (local), Reefer (for chocolate, perishables)
What moves:
• School supplies
• Attire
• Electronics
• Retail restocking
Effects:
• Dry van volumes spike
• Amazon/Target/Walmart move more freight
• Midwest and Southeast lanes heat up
5. Peak retail & holiday season: September - December
Best Freight Types: Dry Van ( ), Reefer (food holiday rush), Step deck (equipment)
What moves:
• Holiday goods
•Toys
• Winter clothing
• Thanksgiving & Christmas food products
• E-commerce surge: Amazon, FedEx, UPS freight
Effects:
• The rates rise steadily
• Thanksgiving week is VERY hot
• Black Friday / Cyber Monday create huge spot market demand
6. Slow Season (January – February)
Freight types affected:
• Dry Van drops the most
• Flatbed drops due to weather
• Reefer stays semi-steady from winter produce imports
Effects:
• Rates soften
• Carriers seek out contract freight
• Dispatchers need to depend more upon niche markets:
• Auto parts
• Paper/plastics
• Dedicated lanes
• Cross-border freight (Mexico is strong in winter)
7. Winter Seasonal Freight (December – February)
Best Freight Types: Reefer, Dry Van, Flatbed (weather permitting)
What moves:
• Christmas trees
• Potatoes, onions, apples (cold storage produce)
• Salt, de-icing materials
• Winter fuel & propane (hazmat/tanker)
Effects:
• Regional surges, not national
• Northeast & Midwest lanes heat up due to winter storms
• Emergency loads sometimes pay 2–4× normal rates
8. Fuel & Energy Season (Year-Round but Peaks Sept–Mar)
Best freight types: tanker, Hazmat, power-only for fuel deliveries
Peaks:
• September through March (cold weather = more heating demand)
What moves:
• Gasoline
• Diesel
• Propane
• Chemicals
9. Agriculture / Harvest Season (August – November)
Best Freight Types: Hopper Bottom, Dry Van, Flatbed
What moves:
• Corn Soybeans
• Wheat
• Cotton
• Hay Effects:
• Midwest gets very busy
• Hopper-bottom rates spike
• Flatbeds move agricultural equipment
10. Nursery & Landscaping Season (March – June) Best Freight Types: Flatbed, Conestoga, Hotshot
What moves:
• Trees
• Mulch
• Soil
• Fencing supplies
• Sod Effects:
• South & Southeast states boom first
• Heavy demand for urgent same day moves
19
13 comments
Trucking Industry Seasons (Month-by-Month Breakdown) ⬇️ Posted by @Christian Chamboneth
skool.com/gill22
Learn how to make 💰 in truck dispatching.
Leaderboard (30-day)
1
+500
2
+441
3
+297
4
+253
5
+212
Powered by