Florida Reefer Rates Spike 25% as Flowers, Watermelons Squeeze Capacity

Why It Matters Florida's reefer market is operating at peak capacity right now, with spot rates climbing 25% week-over-week and year-over-year out of Miami. This surge won't last, making this week and next your final window for premium Florida rates before a sharp correction hits. The Perfect Storm Three forces are converging simultaneously. Mother's Day flower imports - roughly 90% of cut flowers from Ecuador and Colombia - are consuming reefer capacity that would normally move produce. RoadCheck Week is pulling compliant trucks off the road as carriers dodge inspection exposure. Meanwhile, watermelon season is just starting, adding outbound volume at the worst possible time. The Real Constraint Florida produce volumes are already running 40% below year-to-date averages due to Winter Storm Fern crop losses. Drivers and carriers have less freight to haul while facing fewer available trucks - a recipe for maximum rate pressure. What's Next Expect a fast, sharp rate correction in two to three weeks as produce shifts to the Southeast and West Coast, and post-Mother's Day floral demand clears. Plan your freight moves accordingly if you're in Florida now. Other Markets Vidalia onions remain hot across all lanes for the second straight week, with Georgia volume up 27% week-over-week. South Texas posted a 31% jump on the Boston corridor, while California coasts remain flat and Colorado potatoes have shipped their final seasonal load.