United States Department of Agriculture

Grain Truck and Ocean Rate Advisory

First Quarter 2020 (January, February, March) 

Published May 27, 2020 

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

Truck Advisory

Table 1. U.S. grain truck market, 1st 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 4.56 3.14 2.73 2.50 3.20 2.80

North Central 4.61 2.67 2.94 2.70 3.30 2.80

Rocky Mountain NA NA NA NA NA NA

South Central 3.20 2.97 2.30 1.70 3.00 3.00

West NA 2.99 NA 3.50 3.00 2.50

East NA NA NA NA NA NA

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, 1st quarter 2020

Average rate: $2.82

Availability index: 1.70

Fuel price: $2.65

Average rate: n/a 

Availability index: n/a

Fuel price: $2.93

Average rate1: $3.41

Availability index: 2.70

Fuel price: $2.76

Average rate: n/a

Availability index: n/a

Fuel price: $2.87

Average rate: $2.99

Availability index: 3.50

Fuel price: $3.45

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.
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Grain Truck and Ocean Rate Advisory

Truck Us

Current truck use 

1 = Much lower to 5 = Much higher

Future truck use

 1 = Much lower to 5 = Much higher

2018 1st qtr. 2nd qtr. 3rd qtr. 4th qtr. 1st qtr. 2nd qtr. 3rd qtr. 4th qtr.

National 2.70 3.40 3.14 3.10 3.00 3.60 3.60 3.10

North Central 2.60 3.83 2.50 3.00 3.10 4.00 3.00 3.10

Rocky Mountain NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

South Central 3.00 2.50 3.10 3.30 2.50 2.50 3.50 3.00

West NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

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

Rocky Mountain NA NA NA NA NA NA 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

East NA 3.67 NA NA NA 2.67 NA NA

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

National 3.20 2.80

North Central 3.30 2.80

Rocky Mountain NA NA

South Central 3.00 3.00

West 3.00 2.50

East NA NA

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

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

Source: USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service.

Table 2. Regional truck use index*

Figure 2. National truck usage, 1st quarter 2020

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

Source: USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service.

1

2

3

4

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

2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

National North Central South Central West East

Index value

1 = Much lower to 5 = Much higher

1st quarter 2020 % change from: Nat. avg. N. Central S. Central West East

Last quarter -6 -3 -14 0 NA

Last year -6 3 -21 NA NA
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Grain Truck and Ocean Rate Advisory

Table 3. Quarterly national truck availability index

Truck Availabil

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

1st qtr. 

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

National 2.50 2.90 3.00 -14 -17

North Central 2.70 3.10 3.00 -13 -10

South Central 1.70 2.30 3.00 -26 -43

West 3.50 3.00 NA 17 NA

East NA NA NA NA NA

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

Source: USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service.

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

grain elevators.

Figure 3. National truck availability

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

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

2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Index value

1 = Very easy to 5 = Very difficult

National North Central South Central

West East

1st quarter 2020 % change from: Nat. avg. N. Central S. Central West East

Last quarter -14 -13 -26 17 NA

Last year -17 -10 -43 NA NA
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Grain Truck and Ocean Rate Advisory

Truck Ra

Table 4. Average grain truck rates for short and long hauls, 1st 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 4.56 3.14 2.73 6.0% 9.0% 0.7% 13.7% 23.6% 21.3%

North Central 4.61 2.67 2.94 10.3% -6.6% 14.8% 5.7% 21.9% 40.0%

Rocky Mountain NA NA NA NA - - - - -

South Central 3.2 2.97 2.3 -22.5% -4.8% -32.0% -8.6% -3.3% -24.8%

West NA 2.99 NA - 68.0% - - - -

East NA NA NA - - - - - -

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

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

Source: USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service.

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.

Figure 4. National average truck rates by trip distance

Note: Q = quarter. 

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

2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Rate (dollar per mile, per truckload)

25 mi 100 mi 200 mi

1st quarter 2020 % change from: 25 mi 100 mi 200 mi 

Last quarter 6 9 1 

Last year 14 24 21
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Grain Truck and Ocean Rate Advisory

Truck Rates U.S. Diesel F

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

2.00

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

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

$/gallon

U.S. diesel prices are down 6% 

from last quarter and down 5%

from the same quarter 

last year.

Note: Q = quarter.

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

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

 for grain movements.

Table 5. 1st quarter 2020 average diesel fuel prices (all types - $/gallon)

Location Price

Change from

Last qtr. Same qtr. last year

East Coast 2.93 -0.12 -0.15

New England 3.03 -0.03 -0.16

Central Atlantic 3.12 -0.13 -0.15

Lower Atlantic 2.79 -0.13 -0.14

Midwest 2.76 -0.21 -0.15

Gulf Coast 2.65 -0.14 -0.18

Rocky Mountain 2.87 -0.27 -0.06

West Coast 3.45 -0.24 -0.03

California 3.74 -0.22 -0.02

U.S. 2.88 -0.18 -0.14

Note: qtr. = quarter.

Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration.
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Grain Truck and Ocean Rate Advisory

U.S. Diesel Fuel Prices Oce

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 43.38

Rotterdam 16.73 16.62 20.21 19.02 18.15 14.82 14.82

China 39.61 42.2 49.35 47.05 44.55 41.98 41.98

Mexico 13.89 14.01 15.5 15.23 14.66 13.64 13.64

Colombia: Atlantic Ports (East) 19.75 19.99 21.13 19.74 20.15 18.85 18.85

Colombia: Pacific Ports (West) 29.38 29.1 29.02 32.01 29.88 27.11 27.11

Colombia: Pacific Ports (West)

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 23.10

China 22.44 22.93 27.28 25.71 24.59 22.28 22.28

Note: qtr. = quarter; 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.

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

2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

U.S. $/metric ton

Spread

U.S. Gulf to Japan

PNW to Japan

1st quarter 2020 ocean rates % change from: U.S. Gulf PNW Spread

Last quarter -10.1 -1.2 -7.7 

Last year 6.0 1.0 13.5
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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

Brian McGregor, Agricultural Marketing Specialist

E-mail: Brian.McGregor@usda.gov

202.720.0035

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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.

May 2020. Web. <http://dx.doi.org/10.9752/TS265.05-2020>

Photo Credit: USDA

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