Refrigerated Rates

Reefer Truckload (TL) Sector

July 2026 Update

July 31, 2026

As of July 2026, reefer rates remain one of the stronger areas of the truckload market, supported by constrained specialized capacity, seasonal food and beverage freight, and broader supply-side tightening. Freight demand remains uneven, but refrigerated networks are especially sensitive to equipment and driver availability, helping sustain firmer pricing.

ACT’s July Freight Forecast shows continued year-over-year strength in reefer spot rates. Rates increased 39% year over year in June, excluding fuel, and continued to track above normal seasonal patterns in early July. Reefer spot rates also moved above contract rates in June for the first time since February 2022, signaling acute near-term capacity tightness.

Spot Rates

Reefer spot rates, excluding fuel, increased 13 cents in June to $2.69 per mile and were 39% higher year over year. Rates were seven cents above contract rates and continued to run ahead of seasonal patterns in early July.

A softer produce season may have limited part of the recent increase, but beverage demand, extreme temperatures, and constrained refrigerated capacity remain important pricing supports. The reefer trailer fleet is also historically old, leaving the market more exposed to equipment availability and maintenance constraints during seasonal demand peaks.

Contract Rates

Reefer contract rates are responding more clearly as sustained spot strength moves through shipper-carrier negotiations. Rates, excluding fuel, increased nine cents in June to $2.59 per mile and were 12% higher year over year.

ACT expects stronger contract-rate gains in 2026 and 2027, with the potential for larger increases if reefer capacity becomes more constrained. For shippers, transportation budgets, bid strategies, and routing guides may require adjustment as leverage narrows. For carriers, firmer contract pricing should support revenue quality, although insurance, labor, maintenance, equipment, financing, and other operating costs continue to pressure profitability.

Summary

Entering July 2026, the reefer market remains comparatively strong, with pricing supported by specialized capacity constraints, an aging trailer fleet, seasonal freight, and broader truckload tightening. Demand is not uniformly strong, and the softer produce season has moderated some pressure. However, food, beverage, frozen, and other temperature-controlled freight continue to provide a stable demand base.

Shippers, carriers, brokers, fleets, and investors should continue monitoring produce and beverage volumes, extreme temperatures, refrigerated equipment availability, contract bid activity, and whether sustained spot-market tightness leads to further contract-rate gains.

To see how reefer rates are projected to evolve, and for detailed TL, LTL, and intermodal forecasts, see ACT’s Freight & Transportation Forecast.