**June Trucking Update: Dry Van & Reefer Capacity Tightens, but Open-Deck’s On the Move**

by TRUCKERS VA
(UNITED STATES)

Intro – Tight Like a Ratchet Strap in July

If you’re out here trying to snag freight this June, you might’ve already felt it: dry van and reefer capacity is tighter than a dispatcher’s vacation budget. At the same time, open-deck freight? It’s stretching its legs like a flatbed on a cross-country run.

The latest intel from ATS (Anderson Trucking Service) gives us a peek under the hood—and it’s a classic supply vs. demand story... with a twist.

Let’s break it down so you’re not caught slippin’ when it comes to rates, load boards, and strategic moves this summer.

Dry Van: Squeezed Like a Mid-July A/C Unit

Dry van capacity is tightening hard in June. Carriers are already stretched thin, and shippers are feeling the squeeze. There’s less availability, especially in high-demand regions like the Southeast and Midwest.

Why?

Summer retail demand is picking up.

Produce season is stealing trucks from dry van lanes.

Carriers are being picky about rates, especially with fuel prices nudging up again.

If you’re running a dry van, you might be in the catbird seat—IF you’re positioned right. But for brokers and shippers, this is where things start to pinch.

Reefer: Cold Freight, Hot Competition

It’s reefer season, baby—and the tight capacity proves it.

Fresh produce is flying out of California, Georgia, and Texas. But here’s the kicker: there ain’t enough reefers to go around.
If you’ve got a reefer trailer and you’re anywhere near a lettuce patch or peach orchard, you’re sittin’ pretty.

Key Factors:

Seasonal surges from produce and perishable foods

High temps = equipment strain, leading to more breakdowns

Driver shortages in specialty freight (a.k.a. not everyone knows how to run a reefer properly)

Rates are holding strong for now—but if too many carriers flood the zone in July, expect softening. Smart money says: milk it while it’s hot (pun intended).

Open-Deck: Finally Climbing Back

Here’s the surprise twist: open-deck freight (flatbeds, step decks, RGNs) is on the rise.

After months of slow crawl, this segment is finally gaining steam. Construction season is in full swing, and manufacturing is pushing out larger equipment that dry vans just can’t haul.

What’s fueling the rise?

Infrastructure projects across the country

Oil, gas, and wind sectors expanding transport needs

Inventory rebuilds at industrial warehouses

If you’ve been running open-deck and surviving the drought, June might just be the turning point you’ve been waiting for.

Multiple Perspectives – The Freight Chessboard

Carriers’ Outlook:
Dry van and reefer drivers are finally getting back some rate leverage. But they’re cautious—one fuel spike or market shift could flip the advantage back to brokers.

Shippers’ Strategy:
They’re scrambling for reliable carriers and willing to pay a little more—but they’re also negotiating hard and tightening shipping windows to avoid overpaying.

Owner-Operators:
Those positioned near hot zones (think: Florida, Texas, Georgia, Cali) are cashing in on reefer and flatbed freight. But O/Os outside of high-density zones? Still hustling for consistent loads.

Industry Response – What’s Being Done?

ATS reports suggest:

Shippers are locking in longer-term contracts with regional carriers to secure capacity.

Brokerages are boosting tech tools to forecast hot markets.

Drivers are shifting equipment to follow freight surges—some dry van O/Os even renting reefers short-term.

The game is changing fast, and everyone’s trying to adapt before Q3 kicks in.

Bottom Line – Truck Smarter, Not Just Harder

If you’re in dry van or reefer, this is the season to bank up—but stay mobile, stay strategic, and don’t get cocky.
Open-deck folks? You’ve waited long enough. Now’s the time to chase those heavier hauls and leverage growing demand.

Markets will shift again soon, so don’t sleep on repositioning before July 4th. The smart driver knows when to run, when to sit, and when to switch lanes entirely.

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