United States Department of Agriculture

Grain Truck and Ocean Rate Advisory

Fourth Quarter 2020 (October, November, December) 

Published March 12, 2021 

A quarterly publication of the Agricultural Marketing Service

Transportation Services Division

www.ams.usda.gov/services/transportation-analysis
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Grain Truck and Ocean Rate Advisory

Preface

The key roles of trucking and ocean vessels in agricultural transportation—especially for shipping grain—necessitate 

timely collection and dissemination of standardized intelligence on these modes. The Grain Truck and Ocean 

Rate Advisory presents an overview of the transportation market for grain trucks, as well as ocean freight rates, 

for shipping bulk grain. Benefiting decision makers, this information affords insights into investments, policy, and 

market phenomenon. 

This report includes analysis of the following market factors: 

• Rates per mile. National and regional truck rates are based on a gross vehicle weight limit of 80,000 

pounds. The rates per mile per truckload are reported for 25-, 100-, and 200- miles radiuses.

• Truck availability. Reported by grain elevators, truck availability describes the ease of hiring truck 

capacity in the current quarter, compared to the same quarter last year. This metric is on a scale of 

1 to 5, with degree of difficulty increasing as the number rises.

• Current and future truck use. Current and future national and regional truck use are ranked on a scale 

of 1 to 5, with 1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest. The truck-use indices compare both current 

and future use in the current quarter to the same quarter last year.

• U.S. diesel fuel rates. To capture this significant component of truck rates, this section presents the 

quarterly average national and regional diesel fuel prices as published by the U.S. Department of 

Energy, Energy Information Administration. 

• Ocean shipping rates. Ocean shipping costs affect the landed costs and, thus, the competitiveness of 

shipping U.S. grains overseas. This section presents quarterly ocean freight rates (in dollars per metric 

ton) for shipping bulk grain from the U.S. Gulf and Pacific northwest to selected foreign markets. 

The information presented in this publication is based on quarterly surveys of grain elevators conducted by 

North Dakota State University/Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute. 
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Grain Truck and Ocean Rate Advisory

truck advisory

Table 1. U.S. grain truck market, 4th quarter 2020

25 miles 100 miles 200 miles Truck availability Truck use Future truck use

1

Rate per mile, per truckload

Quarterly index*

1 = Very easy

 to 

5 = Very difficult

1 = Much lower

 to 

5 = Much higher

National average2 4.46 2.92 2.39 2.29 3.46 3.15

North Central 4.84 2.84 2.36 1.50 3.00 3.50

East 3.66 NA NA NA NA NA

South Central 4.67 2.50 2.46 1.50 4.00 3.00

West 4.26 NA NA 1.50 3.50 2.50

Rocky Mountain 3.73 2.80 2.49 2.00 3.00 3.50

1

 Rates are based on trucks with 80,000-pound (lb) gross vehicle weight limit, and are quoted in U.S. dollars

2 National average is based on rates received from various States, but not every State is represented.

*Current and future truck use indices are based on comparison to the same quarter last year.

Note: NA = not available because of low or no response rate.

Source: USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service.

Figure 1. U.S. Grain Truck Market, 4th quarter 2020

Average rate: $3.21

Availability index: 1.50

Fuel price: $2.22

Average rate: $3.66 

Availability index: NA

Fuel price: $2.52

Average rate1: $3.35 

Availability index: 1.50

Fuel price: $2.36

Average rate: $3.01

Availability index: 2.00

Fuel price: $2.45

Average rate: $4.26

Availability index: 1.50

Fuel price: $2.99

1

 Average rate per loaded mile, based on truck rates for trips of 25, 100, and 200 miles.

Note: Fuel prices are a quarterly average (unit per gallon).

Source: Fuel price data are from U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration, and availability index data are from USDA, 

Agricultural Marketing Service.

The truck advisory presents an overview of the transportation market for grain trucks, including national 

and regional truck rates, truck availability, truck usage, and diesel fuel prices.
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Grain Truck and Ocean Rate Advisory

truck use

Current truck use 

1 = Much lower to 5 = Much higher

Future truck use

 1 = Much lower to 5 = Much higher

2019 1st qtr. 2nd qtr. 3rd qtr. 4th qtr. 1st qtr. 2nd qtr. 3rd qtr. 4th qtr.

National 3.40 3.04 3.45 3.40 3.60 3.41 2.92 3.30

North Central 3.20 2.88 3.57 3.40 3.30 3.53 2.33 3.30

East NA 3.67 NA NA NA 2.67 NA NA

South Central 3.80 3.25 3.50 3.50 4.00 3.50 2.33 3.50

West NA 3.00 3.00 3.00 NA 3.50 3.50 3.00

Rocky Mountain NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

2020 1st qtr. 2nd qtr. 3rd qtr. 4th qtr. 1st. qtr. 2nd qtr. 3rd qtr. 4th qtr.

National 3.20 3.50 3.18 3.46 2.80 3.36 3.45 3.15

North Central 3.30 3.50 3.50 3.00 2.80 3.38 3.50 3.50

East NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

South Central 3.00 3.00 2.74 4.00 3.00 3.00 3.33 3.00

West 3.00 3.00 4.20 3.50 2.50 3.00 4.22 2.50

Rocky Mountain NA 3.50 3.50 3.00 NA 3.00 3.00 3.50

 *Current and future truck use indices are based on comparison to the same quarter last year.

 Note: qtr. = quarter; NA = not available. 

 Source: USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service

Table 2. Regional truck use index*

Figure 2. National truck usage, 4th quarter 2020

Note: Q = quarter; Nat. = national; avg. = average; N. = north; S. = south; NA = not available.

Source: USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service. 

1

2

3

4

5

Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

National North Central South Central West East

Index value

1 = Much lower to 5 = Much higher

4th quarter 2020 % change from: Nat. avg. N. Central S. Central West East

Last quarter -9 -14 46 17 NA

Last year 2 -12 14 17 NA

Truck use indices represent current and future national and regional truck use.
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Grain Truck and Ocean Rate Advisory

Table 3. Quarterly national truck availability index

Region 1 = Very easy 5 = Very difficult Current quarter as % change from

4th qtr. 

2020 Previous qtr. Same qtr.last year Previous qtr. Same qtr.last year

National 2.29 2.45 2.90 -7 -21

North Central 1.50 2.50 3.10 -40 -52

East NA NA NA NA NA

South Central 1.50 2.30 2.30 -35 -35

West 1.50 3.00 3.00 -50 -50

Note: qtr. = quarter; NA = not available. 

Source: USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service.

Figure 3. National truck availability

Note: Q = quarter; Nat. = national; avg. = average; N. = north; S. = south; NA = not available. 

Source: USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service.

0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

3.00

3.50

4.00

4.50

Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Index value

1 = Very easy to 5 = Very difficult

National North Central South Central

West East

4th quarter 2020 % change from: Nat. avg. N. Central S. Central West East

Last quarter -7 -40 -35 -50 NA

Last year -21 -52 -35 -50 NA

truck availability

The truck availability index tracks the trends in perceived ease of hiring a truck as reported by 

grain elevators.
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Grain Truck and Ocean Rate Advisory

Table 4. Average grain truck rates for short and long hauls, 4th quarter 2020 

Region

($/mile per truckload) % change from

Last qtr. Same qtr. last year

25 miles 100 miles 200 miles 25 miles 100 miles 200 miles 25 miles 100 miles 200 miles

National average 4.46 2.92 2.39 13.8% -9.0% -23.2% 3.7% 1.4% -11.8%

North Central 4.84 2.84 2.36 23.5% -8.1% -22.1% 15.8% -0.7% -7.8%

East 3.66 NA NA 2.8% NA NA NA NA NA

South Central 4.67 2.50 2.46 22.9% -21.1% -18.8% 13.1% -19.9% -27.2%

West 4.26 NA NA -0.2% NA NA NA NA NA

Rocky Mountain 3.73 2.80 2.49 -4.8% -17.2% NA NA NA NA

Note: qtr. = quarter; NA = not available.

Rates are based on trucks with 80,000-pound (lb) gross vehicle weight limit.

Source: USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service.

Figure 4. National average truck rates by trip distance

Note: Q = quarter; mi = miles.

Source: USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service. 

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

5.5

Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Rate (dollar per mile, per truckload)

25 mi 100 mi 200 mi

4th quarter 2020 % change from: 25 mi 100 mi 200 mi 

Last quarter 13.8 -9 -23 

Last year 4 1 -12

truck rates

The truck is assumed to carry 55,000 lbs. or 25 metric tons of grain. Rates per metric ton per mile can be 

calculated from rates per truckload.
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Grain Truck and Ocean Rate Advisory

Figure 5. U.S. average on-highway diesel fuel prices

2.07

2.30

2.38

2.47 2.57

2.55

2.63

2.87

3.02

3.19

3.24 3.26

3.02

3.12

3.02

3.06

2.88

2.43

2.43

2.47

2.00

2.20

2.40

2.60

2.80

3.00

3.20

3.40

Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

$/gallon

U.S. average diesel prices up 2%

from last quarter and down 19%

from the same quarter 

last year.

Note: Q = quarter.

Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration. 

Table 5. 4th quarter 2020 average diesel fuel prices (all types - $/gallon)

Location Price

Change from

Last qtr. Same qtr. last year

East Coast 2.52 0.01 -0.53

New England 2.58 -0.04 -0.48

Central Atlantic 2.72 0.03 -0.53

Lower Atlantic 2.38 0.01 -0.54

Midwest 2.36 0.06 -0.60

Gulf Coast 2.22 0.04 -0.57

Rocky Mountain 2.45 0.09 -0.70

West Coast 2.99 0.04 -0.69

California 3.28 0.02 -0.68

U.S. 2.47 0.04 -0.59

Note: qtr. = quarter.

Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration.

u.s. diesel fuel rates

The diesel fuel price provides a proxy for trends in U.S. truck rates. Diesel fuel is a significant expense

for grain movements.
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Grain Truck and Ocean Rate Advisory

U.S. Gulf to

Country 1st qtr.

2019

2nd qtr.

2019

3rd qtr.

2019

4th qtr. 

2019 Avg. 1st qtr.2020

2nd qtr.

2020

3rd qtr.

2020

4th qtr.

2020 Avg.

Japan 40.85 42.78 50.05 48.26 45.49 43.38 36.33 42.99 42.11 41.20

Rotterdam 16.73 16.62 20.21 19.02 18.15 14.82 13.18 19.41 19.02 16.61

China 39.61 42.2 49.35 47.05 44.55 41.98 35.40 42.14 40.79 40.08

Mexico 13.89 14.01 15.5 15.23 14.66 13.64 12.41 14.39 14.43 13.72

Colombia: Atlantic Ports (East) 19.75 19.99 21.13 19.74 20.15 18.85 17.96 19.76 19.97 19.14

Colombia: Pacific Ports (West) 29.38 29.1 29.02 32.01 29.88 27.11 27.55 30.34 30.94 28.99

Table 6. Ocean shipping rates for bulk grain ($/metric ton)

PNW to

Country 1st qtr.

2019

2nd qtr.

2019

3rd qtr.

2019

4th qtr.

2019 Avg. 1st qtr.2020

2nd qtr.

2020

3rd qtr.

2020

4th qtr.

2020 Avg.

Japan 22.98 23.56 27.9 26.28 25.18 23.10 18.94 23.05 23.40 22.12

China 22.44 22.93 27.28 25.71 24.59 22.28 18.20 22.37 22.65 21.38

Note: qtr. = quarter; avg. = average; PNW = Pacific Northwest.

Source: O’Neil Commodity Consulting.

Figure 6. Grain vessel rates and spread, U.S. to Japan

Note: Q = quarter; PNW = Pacific Northwest; Spread is the diffierence between the U.S. Gulf-to-Japan and PNW-to-Japan ocean freight rates.

Source: O’Neil Commodity Consulting. 

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

U.S. $/metric ton

Spread

U.S. Gulf to Japan

PNW to Japan

4th quarter 2020 ocean rates % change from: U.S. Gulf PNW Spread

Last quarter -2 2 -6 

Last year -13 -11 -15

ocean rates

Quarterly ocean freight rates for shipping bulk grain from the U.S. Gulf and Pacific Northwest to selected 

foreign markets in dollars per metric ton.
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Grain Truck and Ocean Rate Advisory

Surajudeen Olowolayemo, Economist

E-mail: Surajudeen.Olowolayemo@usda.gov

202.720.0119 

April Taylor, Economist

E-mail: April.Taylor@usda.gov

202.720.7880

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Related Websites

• Grain Transportation Report

• Mexico Transport Cost Indicator Report

• Brazil Soybean Transportation Indicator

• Agricultural Refrigerated Truck Quarterly

Preferred Citation:

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service. Grain Truck and Ocean Rate Advisory.

March 2021. Web. <http://dx.doi.org/10.9752/TS265.03-2021>

Photo Credit: USDA

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