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Home/Refrigerated Freight
Reefer · Temperature-Controlled

Refrigerated
Freight

In-Spec · On Time · No Surprises

Reliable temperature-controlled truckload across the U.S. We connect you with vetted reefer carriers, manage set-points and site requirements, and keep communication tight from pickup to delivery — so your product arrives in spec and on time.

Reefer Freight Is a Precision Problem, Not Just a Temperature Setting

Most brokers treat refrigerated freight like a standard dry van move with a set-point attached. It isn't. Moving temperature-controlled freight requires carrier pre-qualification, equipment pre-cooling, set-point confirmation, appointment coordination at both ends, and active monitoring throughout transit. Miss any one of those steps and you have a temperature excursion, a rejected load, or a compliance problem with a food-safety or pharma customer who has zero tolerance for mishandling.

We approach every reefer move as an integrity problem first. Product type, temperature requirements, transit time, shipper pre-cool protocols, and receiver requirements all factor into how the load gets planned and which carriers we use. We don't book a reefer carrier and ask questions later.

Temperature Ranges & What They Mean

Understanding exactly what your freight requires — not just a general “keep it cold” instruction — is the difference between a load that arrives in spec and one that gets rejected at the door.

Frozen & Deep-Frozen (−10°F and below)
Continuous operation required throughout transit. Pre-cooling the trailer before loading is non-negotiable. Any interruption in refrigeration puts the load at risk. Common for frozen food, ice cream, and certain pharmaceutical products.

Chilled & Fresh (34°F–38°F)
Narrow window that requires precise set-point management. Too warm and you risk spoilage or bacterial growth. Too cold and you freeze the product. Produce, fresh dairy, and certain medications operate in this range.

Ambient & Protect-from-Freeze (Above 32°F)
Not actively cooled — protected from freezing. Common for beverages, certain chemicals, and products that can't tolerate temperature extremes in either direction. Often overlooked until a winter transit turns into a product loss.

Heated Freight (Above ambient)
Active heat maintenance for products that must stay warm in cold-weather transit — certain adhesives, chemicals, and agricultural products. Requires carriers with heating capability, not just standard reefer units.

Equipment & Carrier Requirements

Not all reefer equipment is equal. Carrier and trailer age, unit maintenance history, pre-cool compliance, and food-safety certifications all matter depending on what you're moving.

Standard Reefer Trailer
48′–53′ trailers with single-temperature refrigeration units. Appropriate for most frozen, chilled, and ambient loads where the entire trailer is one product at one set-point.

Multi-Temperature Trailers
Trailers with a bulkhead dividing the space into two or more temperature zones. Available in select markets for loads requiring different set-points on the same truck. Requires advance confirmation — not standard inventory.

Food-Grade Equipment
Carriers moving food products must maintain clean, food-safe trailers and follow proper pre-cool and load procedures. We confirm food-grade compliance before dispatching on any food or pharma load.

Continuous vs. Cycle-Sentry Mode
Reefer units can run continuously or in a cycle (on/off). For frozen product, continuous is required. For fresh or chilled product, cycle-sentry may be acceptable but requires confirmation with the shipper. We specify mode at the time of dispatch, not after the load is picked up.

What We Handle

Frozen & Deep-FrozenFrozen food, ice cream, and products requiring uninterrupted sub-zero transit
Fresh Produce & PerishablesFruits, vegetables, fresh herbs, and commodities requiring tight window management at shipper and receiver
Food & BeverageChilled dairy, deli product, prepared foods, beverages, and ambient food including protect-from-freeze
Pharmaceutical & HealthcareTemperature-sensitive medications, biologics, clinical trial materials, and healthcare ingredients
Ingredients & Specialty ChemicalsFood-grade ingredients, flavoring compounds, and specialty chemicals requiring controlled temps or protect-from-freeze
Floral & HorticultureCut flowers, live plants, and perishable horticulture requiring precise temperature and humidity control in transit

How We Work

What You Can Count On

How to Get a Reefer Quote

The more detail upfront, the faster and more accurate the quote. Here's what we need:

If you don't have all of this yet, call us anyway. We can walk through the requirements before the quote process starts.

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(205) 855-6385
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Refrigerated Freight FAQ

What temperature ranges can you maintain?
Frozen (−10°F and below), chilled (34–38°F), ambient/protect-from-freeze, and heated configurations. Set-points are confirmed with the carrier before dispatch — not assumed.
Do you handle food-grade reefer freight?
Yes. We work with carriers that maintain food-safe equipment, follow proper pre-cool procedures, and meet food-grade compliance requirements. We confirm this before dispatching on any food or pharma load.
What's the difference between continuous and cycle-sentry mode?
Continuous mode runs the reefer unit non-stop — required for frozen product. Cycle-sentry runs the unit on a cycle to maintain temperature within a range, which is acceptable for some chilled and fresh loads. We specify mode at dispatch based on your product requirements.
Does the trailer need to be pre-cooled before loading?
Yes, for most frozen and chilled loads. We confirm pre-cool requirements with the carrier before the truck arrives at the shipper. Loading onto a warm trailer is one of the most common causes of temperature excursions and we don't let it happen by default.
What happens if there's a temperature excursion in transit?
We communicate immediately. Carriers are required to notify us of any equipment issues or temperature deviations. We do not wait until delivery to flag a problem — you hear about it when we do.
Can you handle pharmaceutical and clinical freight?
Yes. We confirm set-points, equipment condition, carrier qualifications, and any documentation requirements before dispatch. If your load requires a temperature recorder or chain-of-custody documentation, tell us upfront.
Do you offer drop trailer or multi-temp options?
Drop trailer is available in select markets. Multi-temp trailers — with separate zones for different set-points — are available depending on carrier and lane. Confirm your requirements upfront and we'll verify availability.
How far in advance do I need to book a reefer load?
Same-day and next-day capacity is available in many markets for standard reefer moves. Multi-temp, food-grade certified, or heated freight may require more lead time depending on the lane. Call us and we'll give you a straight answer on availability.
Temperature-sensitive
freight? We've got it.
Vetted reefer carriers. Set-point management. On-time delivery.
Request a Quote → Call (205) 855-6385