Work · Reefer rates

Central Minnesota to Chicago

What a refrigerated truckload of produce costs from Big Lake and Central Minnesota to Chicago, week by week, from USDA’s National Truck Rate Report. The lane is out of season right now; it was last quoted the week of Sep 20, 2021, at $1,720–2,150 a load.

Last quoted
Sep 20, 2021
Range
$1,720–2,150
Change
−14%
Trucks
Shortage

How the last quote compared · On the low side

The lowest of the 5 weeks on record.

Lowest on recordHighest on record

Months it has been quoted in: August to September.

Every week on record Aug 23, 2021 to Sep 20, 2021

$2,365$1,720

The shaded band runs from the lowest to the highest rate USDA reported each week; the line is the middle of the “mostly” range, or of the full range when USDA gives no “mostly”. Gaps are weeks the lane wasn’t quoted.

Week by week The last 5 quotes

Week ofRangeMostlyChangeTrucks
Sep 20, 2021$1,720–2,150—−14%Shortage
Sep 13, 2021$1,720–2,365$2,150–2,3650%Slight Shortage
Sep 6, 2021$1,720–2,365$2,150–2,3650%Slight Shortage
Aug 30, 2021$1,720–2,365$2,150–2,3650%Slight Shortage
Aug 23, 2021$1,720–2,365$2,150–2,365—Adequate

Into Chicago this week Cheapest first

FromRange
Florida, statewide$2,150–2,350
Georgia$2,200–2,400
South Texas$3,600–4,400
Nogales, AZ$6,200–6,400
Salinas, CA$6,810–7,130
Imperial Valley & Yuma$7,280–7,630
Kern, CA$7,460–7,980
Yakima & Wenatchee, WA$7,200–8,800
South & Central CA$7,825–8,115
Santa Maria, CA$7,920–8,295

About these numbers

Rates are USDA’s, for a full load in a 48 to 53 foot refrigerated trailer, broker fees included, as reported in the Specialty Crops National Truck Rate Report. The range is the lowest to highest rate reported that week; “mostly” is where most loads moved. USDA names this shipping area “BIG LAKE AND CENTRAL MINNESOTA”. The latest report was published Oct 28, 2026; the next is due Wed, Nov 4, 2026.

The rate sheet has every lane for this week, how the data is collected, and the whole history as a CSV download. Source: USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, Specialty Crops Market News.