Spring Seasonal Freight Trends

Introduction to Spring Freight Trends

When most people think about spring, they picture blooming flowers, warmer weather, and a fresh start. But for shippers and logistics professionals, spring kicks off one of the most dynamic periods in the freight calendar.

From unpredictable weather to seasonal surges in produce and construction materials, the spring shipping season can be both an opportunity and a logistical minefield. Whether you’re moving dry goods, produce, retail stock, or industrial equipment, understanding spring seasonal freight trends can be the key to avoiding disruptions and unlocking serious cost savings.

Let’s dig into the data-driven strategies, challenges, and opportunities that define the spring shipping season—and how to outperform the market while others scramble to adapt.

Why Spring is Unique in Freight

Spring acts as a bridge between the low-volume Q1 and the peak summer rush. While winter brings harsh conditions and slowdowns, and summer brings demand overloads, spring combines elements of both—and then throws in some surprises.

Key Characteristics of Spring Freight:

• Weather shifts that still include snowstorms, flooding, and tornadoes

• Start of peak produce season in multiple regions

• Rising flatbed demand due to construction restarts

• Inventory restocks after Q1 clearance

• Holiday shipping volatility (Easter, Mother’s Day, Memorial Day)

It’s a season of rapid change, where market volatility increases, and smart shippers need to be proactive—not reactive.

Spring vs. Other Seasons: Freight Comparison

Compared to other shipping seasons, spring freight has:

• More regional lane imbalances, especially in the Southeast and Southwest

• Greater modal variability, with both truckload and LTL under pressure

• Unpredictable spot market volatility based on crop harvests and weather

Spring’s capacity challenges aren’t always national—they’re hyperlocal, meaning understanding your lanes is just as important as watching national indexes.

Key Industries That Drive Spring Shipping Demand

Spring breathes life into several freight-intensive industries. Here’s who ramps up and why:

Agriculture:

Produce season starts in states like California, Florida, and Texas, creating huge outbound demand for reefer and dry van capacity.

Construction:

As temperatures rise, construction materials start flowing again, pushing flatbed demand through the roof.

Retail:

Spring collections arrive, stores restock shelves and e-commerce returns spike. Big-box stores ramp up LTL and parcel volume.

Home & Garden:

Lawn furniture, grills, fertilizers, and more become hot commodities, adding complexity to warehouse throughput and last-mile planning.

The Produce Surge: Peak Season Shipping Explained

Spring marks the beginning of peak produce shipping, often referred to as the “produce season.” From March through July, freight demand grows weekly, especially for refrigerated trailers (reefers).

Key shipping hotspots:

• South Texas: Early spring veggies and citrus

• California Central Valley: Lettuce, berries, and carrots

• Florida: Strawberries, tomatoes, melons

These surges drive regional capacity imbalances. If you’re not shipping produce but operate in the same regions, you may face rate hikes and limited availability simply due to proximity.

💡 Pro Tip: If you’re not in perishables, avoid competing for reefer trucks in produce-heavy regions unless necessary.

Flatbed Freight Boom: Why Spring Demand Spikes

Flatbed freight sees one of its largest surges in spring. Why?

• Construction projects resume as weather improves

• Steel, lumber, and building materials start moving en masse

• Energy sector equipment also enters circulation post-winter

Flatbed rates can rise 20–40% between February and April. Capacity tightens regionally, with the Midwest and Southeast feeling the brunt.

If your business requires flatbed services, consider pre-booking or using brokerage partners who specialize in open-deck transport.

Spring Inventory Replenishment in Retail

Spring also brings a second wave of inventory restocking, especially as retailers prepare for Easter, spring sales events, and summer inventory.

This retail rhythm leads to:

• Increased warehousing activity

• Inbound port congestion, especially in LA/Long Beach and East Coast ports

• Higher demand for LTL and drayage services

For shippers in this space, timing is everything. Waiting too long to ship may force you to rely on expedited options—which, as we know, comes at a cost.

Seasonal Freight Rates: What to Expect in Spring

Freight rates in spring can feel like a roller coaster. While Q1 typically brings softness, spring sees steady rate inflation—especially in the spot market.

Trends to Watch:

• DAT and FreightWaves SONAR data show a typical 5–10% rate increase from March to May.

• Dry van rates rise in produce-heavy zones.

• Flatbed rates spike nationally, led by Southeast and Midwest lanes.

• Reefer spot rates surge by as much as 30% in May.

Weather-Related Delays

Spring weather is wildly unpredictable. You may face:

• Flooding in the Midwest

• Snowstorms lingering in the Rockies and Northeast

• Tornadoes in the South and Central US

• Heavy rains disrupting port access and rail lines

Always plan with a weather contingency buffer, especially for time-sensitive deliveries.

Regional Capacity Shifts During Spring

Spring freight isn’t balanced coast-to-coast. It’s regional and reactive.

Capacity Hotspots:

• Southeast (Florida, Georgia): Produce and garden goods

• Southwest (Texas, Arizona): Ag and cross-border freight

• Midwest: Flatbed and construction equipment

• Pacific Northwest: Replenishment freight and late snow delays

Use lane-specific analytics and freight indices to adapt your strategy dynamically.

Carrier Behavior & Driver Availability in Spring

Spring marks a major behavioral shift in the carrier landscape, and understanding these changes is critical for shippers.

How Carriers Shift in Spring:

• Lane Prioritization: Carriers start to favor produce-rich regions due to higher rates. If you’re not in those markets, expect longer wait times for truck coverage.

• Short-Haul Flexibility: With volatile spring demand, carriers may opt for shorter, higher-paying regional runs over long hauls.

• Modal Shifts: Carriers with both dry van and reefer assets may reassign dry vans to reefer loads due to profitability.

• Flatbed Realignment: Many carriers reposition assets for the construction and manufacturing surges, especially in the South and Midwest.

Spring Driver Availability Challenges:

• Spring Hiring Lag: Many carriers experience delays in bringing on new drivers after Q1 attrition. This creates tight supply during early spring.

• Increased Driver Turnover: Spring offers better weather and opportunities, leading to more drivers changing companies or lanes.

• School Breaks & Holidays: Driver time-off requests increase around spring holidays and family events, leading to temporary reductions in capacity.

Takeaway: If you’re not proactively working with your carriers or 3PL partners to forecast needs and lock in capacity, you’ll feel the pinch when availability drops suddenly.

Top Spring Freight Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)

Even experienced shippers fall into seasonal traps. Here are the most common mistakes and how to sidestep them:

Mistake #1: Assuming Spring = Lower Demand

Spring is often underestimated compared to the holiday or back-to-school peaks. But with produce, construction, and retail all surging, demand can spike just as sharply.

Fix: Forecast like it’s Q4. Run week-by-week projections, especially for April–May.

Mistake #2: Waiting Too Long to Book

Holding out for better rates in spring can backfire. Capacity can vanish in a flash due to weather disruptions or regional surges.

Fix: Book early and establish mini-bids or flexible contracts in key regions.

Mistake #3: Using the Wrong Mode

Using a full truckload when LTL or shared truckload would suffice (or vice versa) leads to wasted budget and capacity.

Fix: Evaluate every lane with mode optimization tools or consult your broker for the best-fit service type.

Mistake #4: Not Factoring in Holidays

Easter, Memorial Day, and Mother’s Day create short weeks and rate hikes—not factoring them in can cause missed deadlines or late fees.

Fix: Build in buffers around holiday weeks and reroute early when needed.

Spring Freight KPIs Every Shipper Should Track

To stay ahead of spring market volatility, tracking the right key performance indicators (KPIs) is a must.

• Tender Acceptance Rate: Measures how often your carriers accept contracted loads. Drops in spring indicate tightening capacity.

• Cost Per Mile (CPM): Watch for sudden jumps. Spikes could signal regional disruptions or poor planning.

• OTIF (On-Time In Full): Spring weather and rate volatility often hurt this KPI—track and flag any service gaps.

• Load-to-Truck Ratio: A great leading indicator of tightening conditions in specific regions.

• Spot vs. Contract Rate Spread: If spot rates climb rapidly above contract, it may be time to rebalance modal mix or renegotiate contracts.

Pro Tip: Don’t just track these metrics—review weekly with your freight partners to make real-time adjustments.

Action Plan: How Shippers Can Prepare for Spring Freight Season

Spring’s success isn’t about reacting fast—it’s about preparing early. Here’s your 5-step action plan to thrive this season:

1. Analyze Lane-Specific Trends

Use data tools like DAT, FreightWaves SONAR, or historical booking data to identify:

• Spring rate surges

• Capacity constraints

• Mode switching opportunities

2. Engage with Carriers Early

Book your most volatile lanes several weeks in advance. Discuss:

• Driver availability

• Rate flexibility for early booking

• Backup capacity strategies

3. Audit Your Modal Mix

Spring offers more intermodal and LTL options than winter. Consider:

• Shared truckload for midsize shipments

• Intermodal for cost-savings in non-time-critical lanes

• Flatbed partnerships for construction-heavy routes

4. Build in Buffer Time

Weather delays and holiday closures can derail even the best-laid plans.
Add 1–2 days of slack in high-risk regions and around major holidays.

5. Communicate Proactively

Keep your vendors and customers in the loop:

• Alert teams to weather-based delays

• Adjust internal SLAs during peak weeks

• Set expectations clearly and early

Spring Is the Season of Preparation

While spring may not always get the attention of holiday peaks or back-to-school rushes, it’s one of the most complex seasons in logistics.

From produce surges to flatbed booms, from volatile weather to unpredictable rate hikes, the spring shipping season demands agility, insight, and proactive planning.

By understanding spring seasonal freight trends and using data to stay ahead, you can turn disruption into opportunity and ship smarter than the competition.