Why Florida is different
Florida has a lot of people and not a lot of outbound freight for its size. Trucks pour in full of groceries, building materials and retail freight, and far fewer loads leave. FreightWaves calls Lakeland, the market that serves central and south Florida, a backhaul market with more inbound than outbound volume.
That's why loads into Florida often pay well, and loads out often don't. Brokers know you need to get out. The rate into Florida is only half the story.
Plan the exit before you book the load in
- Price the round trip. Add the load in, the best realistic load out, and any deadhead, then divide by total miles. If that number is under your minimum, the load in isn't as good as it looks.
- Deliver north if you can. Jacksonville and North Florida are closer to Georgia freight than Miami is. A delivery in Orlando or Tampa beats one in the Keys.
- Watch the day. A Friday delivery in South Florida can mean a weekend waiting on a cheap Monday load.
- Sometimes deadhead out. A couple hundred empty miles to a better market can beat a cheap load that leaves you somewhere worse. Do the math both ways.
Florida seasons
- Produce season. Florida vegetables and strawberries ship north through the winter and spring, and outbound reefer demand flips the market for a while. DAT's June 2026 report described the season winding down by mid-June, down to a late mix of okra, peppers, squash, tomatoes and watermelons, with rates falling.
- Flowers before Valentine's Day. DAT, citing USDA, reported that Miami handled about 90% of imported roses, carnations, tulips and orchids, and that most roses and carnations arrive in the first six weeks of the year. Miami outbound reefer volume jumps with them.
- Summer and fall. The slow stretch for outbound freight, and the heart of hurricane season.
Florida rules and costs to know
- Agricultural inspection stations. Trucks coming into Florida stop at stations run by the state's Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement, separate from the weigh stations. Have the BOL ready, and expect a stop on any load of plants or produce.
- Hurricane season, June 1 to November 30. Storms close ports and highways and can strand a truck for days.
- Diesel. EIA's Lower Atlantic average, the region that includes Florida, was $5.65 a gallon for the week of October 12, 2026, against a $6.18 US average.
- Tolls. Florida's turnpike and expressways are tolled. Price them into the load, and into the cost per mile calculator.
How TenFour dispatches Florida
Every truck gets its own dispatcher who knows your lanes, your minimum and your home time. Before we book a load into Florida, we look at what comes out of where it delivers, and we judge every load on rate per total mile with deadhead included. If Florida isn't on your lanes, we don't book you there. Brokers pay you directly, and we never touch your freight money.
Questions
Why are loads out of Florida so cheap?
For most of the year more freight goes into Florida than comes out, so there are more trucks than loads leaving the state. FreightWaves describes Lakeland, which serves central and south Florida, as a classic backhaul market for that reason. Brokers know trucks need to get out, and price the outbound loads to match.
When is the best time to be in Florida?
During the produce season, when vegetables and strawberries ship north and outbound reefer demand jumps. DAT's June 2026 report described the season winding down by mid-June, with rates falling as load counts thinned out.
Do trucks have to stop at Florida agricultural inspection stations?
Generally, yes. The Florida Department of Agriculture's Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement runs inspection stations on the major highways coming into the state, and trucks are expected to stop. Have your bill of lading ready.
Should I avoid Florida during hurricane season?
Not avoid, but watch it. Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30. Know where your truck is when a storm is forecast, and don't get caught on the wrong side of an evacuation.
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.