How to Make the Summer Produce Rush Work for You
Summer is not just a hot season for the weather, but also one of the busiest times in the freight world, thanks to the surge in fresh fruits and vegetables being transported from farms to stores across the country. The produce season may sound sweet, but it comes with plenty of logistical challenges that can impact your routes, scheduling, and most importantly, your bottom line.
If you are an owner-operator or small fleet leased with Americas Best Trucking, you are in a great position to thrive during this seasonal shift. We will break down what happens during produce season, how it affects your work, and why having the right partner in your corner makes all the difference.
How Produce Season Affects Routes and Rates
Regional Freight Surges
From California’s Central Valley to the peach farms in Georgia and the potato fields of Idaho, certain regions light up during summer. Trucks are needed, fast, to haul fresh, perishable goods to distribution centers and retailers nationwide. As a result, trucking routes shift toward these hot zones, and freight capacity gets tight.
If you are not set up to be flexible or strategic with your lanes, it is easy to get caught chasing loads or stuck in a slow area. That is where planning and having access to the right load boards come in handy.
Higher Spot Market Rates
The produce season can drive up rates, but only if you are positioned correctly. Freight demand in harvest-heavy areas often outpaces truck supply, resulting in better-paying loads for those willing to take on the challenge. But rates can drop quickly once the rush dies or if you are moving in the wrong direction.
Staying profitable means knowing when and where the freight is moving, and having a dispatch team or support system that keeps you informed.
Tighter Deadlines = More Pressure
Fresh produce waits for no one. Timely delivery is important in preventing soilage, and that means tighter schedules, less room for delays, and often long hours. Reefer drivers feel it the most, but even dry van drivers can experience the crunch with related goods moving alongside the harvest.
With great rates comes great responsibility, especially during peak produce weeks.
Why Leasing with Americas Best Trucking Makes All the Difference
Summer produce season can be a goldmine, but only if you have the right tools, support, and strategy. That is what you get when you lease on with Americas Best Trucking.
Here’s why:
· Access to High-Quality Freight: As a Landstar Agent, we give you access to a wide range of vetted, high-paying loads, especially in high-demand produce markets.
· Freedom with Support: You call the shots on when and where you run, but we are always here to help you plan routes, understand rate trends, and avoid dead zones.
· No Forced Dispatch: You stay in control, always. Take the loads that make sense for you, nothing more, nothing less.
· Strong Backing, Small-Town Service: Get the benefits of Landstar’s massive network combined with our personalized, down-to-earth support team that knows your name and cares about your success.
The summer produce season can be a time of chaos or a time of real opportunity. With the right partner, you can stay ahead of the rate changes, chase the right freight, and haul smarter, not harder.
Are you ready to navigate the season with confidence? Americas Best Trucking is here to help you turn seasonal spikes into consistent wins.