The US transportation system moves agricultural supplies and products through a vast network of food system distributors.

The trucking industry is influenced by the cycle of supply chain and freight demand.

They set the tone for the rates and capacity.

Different seasons play a crucial role in the transportation industry and they impact the trucking companies, fleet owners and truck drivers.

Seasonality of Freight

1.Quiet Season from January to March

Because of the cold weather, icy and snowy roads the volume of the freight is low.

The holidays have ended and it is the beginning of slow period for truck drivers.

However, truckload rates incline to favor shippers over carriers during this season because the volume of shipping is lesser related to peak shipping season, which has a tighter capacity.

2.Produce Season from April to June

The produce season is a period of time where the largest volumes of fruits and vegetables are collected.

As the warm weather approaches the summer load freight increases.

The food harvest is being shipped to food manufacturers, grocery stores and merchants.

Rates at this period are going up and finding an available truck becomes very difficult since all carriers are thriving for the best paid loads.

3.Peak season from july to september

Shippers prepare for the back to school and holiday seasons.

That means as orders rise so will shipping volumes, further tightening capacity.

Typically, shipping volumes are so high that shippers need additional trucks than typical to fulfill the demand.

4. Holiday Season from October to December

As the holiday season approaches and the biggest holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year are getting closer, the freight demand is getting higher.

Shippers tend to complete every order.

People are shopping more and buying gifts for the holiday, prepare the table with various food dishes and the shelves are emptying faster.

As mid-December approaches, most customers are over with the shopping and the shipping business slows down again before the start of the next new year.

Dominant Products by Each State and Highest Freight Demand

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Alabama

Alabama`s topmost agricultural products are cotton, corn, hay, peanuts and soybeans.

Some other fruits that grow in the state are peaches, apples, nectarines, plums, grapes, strawberries and blueberries.

Alabama produces around 4% of the country`s entire crop.

Dominant product: Cotton

Highest peak: May – July 

ARIZONA

The State of Arizona has many sunny days which allows its growing season to produce cotton, alfalfa, and a variety of grains, vegetables, fruits, and nuts.

Statistically the most harvested product is lettuce, followed with spinach and cauliflower.

Dominant product: Lettuce

Highest peak: May-July and December 

ARKANSAS

Arkansas has a humid, subtropical climate and the largest crop produce is soybeans.

Dominant product: Soybeans

Highest peak: June – August 

California

California leads the nation in producing specialty crops and in some commodities is the sole producer.

With many sunny days, California has a great growing climate through the whole year.

The most valuable products are grapes, almonds, pistachios, strawberries, plums, rice, dates, kiwi and peaches.

Dominant product: Grapes

Highest Peak: May – August 

COLORADO

Colorado is diverse geographically from mountains, high plains, deserts and river valleys.

The state is known for hay, corn, wheat and potato produce.

Dominant Product: Corn

Highest Peak: June – July 

CONNECTICUT

Connecticut is famous for hay, corn and maple syrup produce.

Dominant Product: Flowers

Highest Peak: Non 

DELAWARE

Delaware produces outstanding quantities of corn, soybeans, sweet corn, wheat and melons.

Dominant Product: Corn

Highest Peak: September 

FLORIDA

The Sunshine State produces a lot of fruits, citrus and vegetables.

It is recognized for production of oranges, tomatoes, strawberries, melons, peppers and sweet corn.

Dominant Product: Orange

Highest Peak: April – July  

GEORGIA

Georgia is number one state in the production of peanuts, peaches, pecans, blueberries and spring onions.

There are also many chicken farms that raise chickens specifically for meat production and eggs.

Dominant Product: Peanuts

Highest Peak: May – August 

IDAHO

Idaho leads the nation in potato production.

The growers produce more than 100 million hundredweight of potatoes yearly on more than 300,000 acres.

Other crops that grow in this state are wheat, barley, sugar beets, onion, peas, lentils and hay.

Dominant Product: Potato

Highest Peak: October – December 

ILLINOIS

Illinois is a leading farm income state and it`s most important crop is corn.

The second farm product are soybeans followed by hay, wheat, rye, oats and grain sorghum.

Dominant Product: Corn 

Highest Peak: October – December 

INDIANA

In Indiana`s agriculture, the top produce are corn and soybeans.

These two products take approximately 60% of the agricultural products sold in this state.

Dominant Product: Corn 

Highest Peak: September – November 

IOWA

Iowa is another agrarian state with highest production of corn and soybeans.

Other major crops include oats and hay, red clover, flaxseed, rye and wheat.

Dominant Product: Corn

Highest Peak: August – October  

KENTUCKY

Kentucky`s dominant production is soybeans, corn, hay, wheat and tobacco.

Dominant Product: Soybeans

Highest Peak: July – September 

KANSAS

The most important crops in Kansas are corn, wheat, soybeans, hay and sorghum.

Dominant Product: Corn

Highest Peak: June – August 

LOUISIANA

Sugar cane is the leading farm product in Louisiana.

Other important crops are rice, cotton, corn, soybeans and sweet potatoes.

Dominant Product: Sugar cane

Highest Peak: June – July

MAINE

Maine is well known for its blueberries produce.

They are a specific product for shipping, because they have short seasonal window and must be shipped as soon as they are ready.

Other products that generate high revenues in the state are dairy products, potatoes and eggs.

Dominant Product: Blueberries

Highest Peak: August

MICHIGAN

Michigan grows a variety of crops with a high-quality.

The state is known for apple produce, asparagus, cucumbers, cherries and squash.

Other agricultural products are corn, soybeans and sugar beets.

Dominant Product: Apple 

Highest Peak: August – October  

MARYLAND

Maryland agricultural commodity production is diverse with a production of poultry, corn, soybeans and dairy.

Dominant Product: Corn 

Highest Peak: August – September 

MASSACHUSETtS

The region of Massachusetts is great for growing cranberries.

Other agricultural products are greenhouse, nursery, dairy, sweet corn and apples.

Dominant Product: Cranberry 

Highest Peak: September 

MINNESOTA

Minnesota’s best shipping commodities are soybeans, corn, livestock products, wheat and processed vegetables.

But, the most valuable crop is corn.

Dominant Product: Corn

Highest Peak: September – November 

MISSISsIPpI

Mississippi’s agriculture is a 83 billion dollar industry and their largest produce is soybeans, forestry, corn, cotton and hay.

Dominant Product: Soybeans 

Highest Peak: May – July  

MISSOURI

Missouri`s agriculture sector produces soybeans, corn, cotton, rice and forest products.

Dominant Product: Soybeans 

Highest Peak: July – September 

MONTANA

Montana’s economy is dominated by agricultural produce.

Containing 58,000,000 acres of farmland, the biggest produce is wheat and hay.

Dominant Product: Wheat 

Highest Peak: August – November  

NEBRASKA

Nebraska`s agriculture is diverse and has variable landscape from plains, to valleys and sandhills.

The largest produce is dairy, ethanol. pork, beef and corn.

Dominant Product: Dairy 

Highest Peak: May – July 

NEVADA

Nevada`s agriculture is primarily concentrated towards livestock production.

The state largest produce is cattle and calves, hay, dairy, onions and potatoes.

Dominant Product: Hay 

Highest Peak: Non 

NEW JERSEY

New Jersey is a leading producer in tomatoes.

Other agricultural crops are blueberries, cranberries, apples, peaches and strawberries.

Dominant Product: Tomatoes 

Highest Peak: July – October 

NEW MEXICO

New Mexico leads the nation`s nut production.

It`s famous for pecan produce.

Across the state other produce that effectively grows is onion, potato, pumpkin, watermelon, hay and pepper.

Dominant Product: Pecans 

Highest Peak: October – December 

NEW HAMPSHIRE

The State`s  best agricultural products are apples, greenhouse and nursery products, dairy, sweet corn  and maple products.

Dominant Product: Maple Syrup 

Highest Peak:  Non 

NEW YORK

New York is a leader producer of dairy products like cottage cheese, milk, then follow apples, grapes, cabbage and cauliflower.

Dominant Product: Apples 

Highest Peak: August – September  

NORTH CAROLINA

The state ranks first in the nation for tobacco and sweet potato, then eggs and pork.

Dominant Product: Sweet Potato 

Highest Peak: October – November 

NORTH DAKOTA

The best products coming from North Dakota are beans, lentils, flaxseed, oats, peas, wheat and honey.

Dominant Product: Beans 

Highest Peak: August – September 

OKLAHOMA

Primary products are grains, corn, soybeans, peas, hay and wheat.

Dominant Product: Grains 

Highest Peak: July – September  

OREGON

Oregon`s biggest agricultural export is greenhouse and nursery with a specification on Christmas trees.

Other important vegetable produce is potato, peas, onions, sweet corn and sugar beets.

Dominant Product: Christmas Trees

Highest Peak: September – December 

PENNSYLVANIA

Pennsylvania`s major produce is corn, soybeans, mushrooms, fruits like peaches, apples, cherries and grapes.

Dominant Product: Corn

Highest Peak: August – September 

RHODE ISLAND

The best agricultural commodities in Rhode Island are greenhouse and nursery products, dairy, sweet corn, seafood and apples.

It is knows also as “Ocean State” and has an abundance of fresh seafood.

Dominant Product: Seafood 

Highest Peak: Non 

SOUTH CAROLINA

South Carolina`s top produces are cotton, corn, and soybean fields; however, peaches have the most influence on transportation.

Dominant Product: Peaches 

Highest Peak: June – July 

SOUTH DAKOTA

The state grows large amounts of corn, soybeans, hay, and wheat, but it`s most important produce is sunflower.

Dominant Product: Sunflower 

Highest Peak: September – November 

TENNESSEE

Agriculture in Tennessee is categorized by a diversity of harvest and livestock production.

On an average basis, the three main crops are corn, hay, and cotton.

They make up 75% of the crop area collected.

Dominant Product: Dairy Products 

Highest Peak:  Non 

TEXAS

Texas leads all states in cotton production in most years, and currently the yearly Texas cotton harvest volumes to about 37.5 % of total production in the United States.

Dominant Product: Cotton 

Highest Peak: June – October 

UTAH

Utah generates the most revenue in dairy and hay produce.

Dominant Product: Hay 

Highest Peak: Non 

VERMONT

In rapports of revenue produced Vermont’s top agricultural goods are dairy products, beef cattle and calves, greenhouse and nursery products, hay, and maple products.

Dominant Product: Maple Syrup

Highest Peak: February – April 

VIRGINIA

Virginia is the biggest contributor of broilers with a total of 276.2 million birds.

Other products are tobacco, tomato, wheat, hay, apples and peanuts.

Dominant Product: Poultry 

Highest Peak: Non

WASHINGTON

The state leads the country in apple production, accounting for over 70% of all apples in the U.S.

Dominant Product: Apple

Highest Peak: September – November 

WISCONSIN

Dairy farming provides the foremost agricultural activity in Wisconsin.

Dominant Product: Dairy 

Highest Peak: July – September 

WYOMING

Wyoming is not popular in agricultural production.

Dominant Product: Non 

Highest Peak: Non 

Final Words

Being aware of the truckload shipping pattern is a must for any transportation expert and helps forecast and stay on top of the market changes.