08 / 28 / 2025

Navigating Fall Freight: Seasonal Insights for Shippers

After Labor Day, summer crops like berries, melons, and stone fruits taper off, while fall produce such as apples, pumpkins, squash, and potatoes begin moving in higher volumes. These seasonal shifts affect freight demand, regional capacity, and the types of equipment needed to move produce efficiently across the United States. Understanding these patterns helps shippers and carriers plan ahead for peak harvest periods.

Freight Market Impacts

During the fall season, trucks are drawn to regions with high harvest volumes. Rates can fluctuate as demand spikes, and equipment requirements often shift from delicate summer produce to heavier, bulkier fall produce.

“Seasonal surges in one region can ripple through the entire freight network, pulling capacity, raising rates, and tightening availability nationwide,” shares Shane Ryan, Carrier Relationship Manager at Sunrise Logistics.

Understanding when and where these surges occur can help shippers anticipate challenges and adjust their logistics strategies. Below are key fall freight events that often influence truck availability and rates across the country.

Key Fall Freight Events

Apple Harvest (Sept–Oct): High-volume shipments tighten capacity in the Northeast and Pacific Northwest.
Potato & Onion Harvest (Sept–Oct): Strong truckload demand in Idaho, Washington, and the Midwest.
Corn Harvest (Sept–Nov): Increased traffic across the Midwest and South for both fresh and processing corn.
Halloween (Oct): Pumpkins, gourds, and squash create short-term spikes in demand.
Diwali (Oct 20–24, 2025): Retail and import shipments can tighten California capacity.
California Pomegranate Season (Oct–Nov): Central Valley shipments draw regional truck availability.
Thanksgiving (Nov): High volumes of root vegetables, squash, potatoes, onions, corn, cranberries, cheese, and Thanksgiving turkeys from Minnesota increases freight demand.
Christmas (Dec): Christmas trees from the Pacific Northwest and holiday imports from Asia add extra pressure on freight networks.

Each event can ripple across the country, influencing truck availability, equipment needs, and rates.

Planning for Fall Freight

Understanding the timing of harvests and seasonal events is essential. Trucks may need to be redirected to harvest-heavy regions, equipment may need adjustment for heavier loads, and rates can fluctuate with demand spikes. By anticipating these changes, shippers and carriers can better manage capacity and avoid delays.

“Leveraging forecasting, industry expertise, and strong carrier partnerships, we keep freight moving year-round. As part of The Four Seasons Family of Companies, we live and breathe produce, specializing in refrigerated FTL, LTL, warehousing, imports, and exports. In short, we deliver freight solutions that many find challenging, keeping us and our customers one step ahead,” says Shane Ryan.

Flexibility, regional knowledge, and early planning make it easier to navigate the busy fall season. Those who prepare ahead can move fall produce efficiently and reduce the risk of delays or cost increases.