Where the California freight is
- Los Angeles and Long Beach. The Port of Los Angeles says it has been the number one container port in the Western Hemisphere for 26 straight years. Imports get unloaded into warehouses in the Inland Empire and head east.
- The Central Valley. Fruit, nuts, dairy and processed food out of Fresno, Bakersfield, Stockton and the towns in between.
- Salinas and the coast. Leafy greens and vegetables, mostly on reefers.
- Imperial Valley. Winter vegetables near the Arizona line.
Reloads and deadhead in California
Southern California ships out more than it takes in, so loads leaving the state usually pay better than loads going in. That makes the run into California the hard leg. A cheap load into LA can still make sense if the reload out pays well, so we look at the two loads together, on rate per total mile, before we book either one.
Inside the state, watch the miles to the pickup. LA to Salinas, or the Inland Empire to the Central Valley, is a lot of empty driving if nobody counted it.
Produce seasons
- Winter, roughly mid-November to early April. USDA says most lettuce sold in the US comes from the desert valleys of Imperial County and the Yuma area in that window.
- Late April to mid-November. Production shifts to Central California, with Salinas the center of it.
- Spring tightness. DAT's June 2026 reefer report described the spring tightness clearing as all the coastal districts moved to adequate truck supply. Rates follow the harvest.
California rules and costs to know
- Truck and Bus rule. Diesel trucks over 14,000 lb need a 2010 model year engine or equivalent. Brokers and carriers are required to check compliance before they dispatch a truck in California, so many will ask.
- Clean Truck Check. CARB says it applies to trucks registered outside California when they operate in the state: report the truck, pay an annual compliance fee and pass periodic emissions tests.
- Reefer units. TRUs that operate in California have to be reported to CARB, including out-of-state units, and older units must meet an in-use emissions standard.
- 55 mph. Trucks pulling a trailer are limited to 55 mph. A 400-mile run inside California takes longer than the same miles in Texas.
- Diesel. $8.09 a gallon in California for the week of October 12, 2026, per EIA, against $6.18 nationally. Fuel up before you cross the state line when you can, and put the real price into the cost per mile calculator.
CARB rules change and get challenged in court. Check CARB's own pages for your truck before you plan California freight.
How TenFour dispatches California
Tell us whether your truck and reefer unit are CARB compliant. If they're not, California stays off your lanes and we don't book you in. If they are, every truck gets its own dispatcher, we book at or above your minimum, judge every load on rate per total mile with deadhead included, and read every rate con before you roll. Brokers pay you directly.
Questions
Can an out-of-state truck run in California?
Yes, if it's compliant. CARB's Truck and Bus rule requires diesel trucks over 14,000 lb to have a 2010 or newer engine or equivalent, and Clean Truck Check applies to out-of-state trucks too: report the truck, pay the annual compliance fee and pass the required emissions tests.
Does my reefer unit need anything for California?
CARB requires owners to report transport refrigeration units that operate in California, including units based out of state, and older units have to meet an in-use emissions standard. Check your unit's status with CARB before you book California reefer freight.
What's the speed limit for trucks in California?
55 mph for a truck pulling a trailer or with three or more axles, under California Vehicle Code 22406, even where cars can go 65 or 70. Plan transit times with that in mind.
How much more is diesel in California?
A lot. For the week of October 12, 2026, EIA had California diesel at $8.09 a gallon against a $6.18 US average.
Want a dispatcher who works for your margin?
Every truck gets its own dispatcher. We judge every load on rate per total mile, deadhead included, and never book under your minimum. Brokers pay you directly.