Reefer Truckload · Temperature-Controlled
Refrigerated Freight Shipping for Chilled and Frozen Products
Perishable freight needs the right setpoint, a trailer that’s ready when it backs in, and a carrier who understands your instructions. We arrange reefer shipping nationwide, with temperature requirements put in writing before pickup.
- Chilled and frozen loads
- Continuous or cycle mode
- Pre-cooled trailers
- Protect-from-freeze options
Mon–Fri 6 a.m.–6 p.m. & Sat 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Eastern
Refrigerated freight shipping uses a trailer with its own refrigeration unit, called a reefer, to hold a product at a set temperature from pickup to delivery. Fresh produce, dairy, meat, frozen foods, confectionery and many beverages move this way, along with some non-food products that can’t take heat or cold. Firehouse Freight is a veteran-owned logistics provider that moves freight to and from anywhere in the U.S. For reefer loads, we match each shipment with a carrier that can hold your setpoint, and we make sure your temperature instructions are clear before the trailer arrives.
Shipping chilled or frozen product? Tell us the temperature, the lane and the pickup date.
What Moves by Reefer
- Fresh produceFruit and vegetables, each with its own ideal range and sensitivity to ethylene and chilling.
- Dairy and eggsChilled products with tight ranges and short shelf lives.
- Meat, poultry and seafoodFresh or frozen, often with strict receiving checks.
- Frozen foodsIce cream, prepared meals and frozen ingredients held well below freezing.
- Beverages and confectioneryProducts that suffer from summer heat or winter freezing.
- Temperature-sensitive non-food itemsCosmetics, candles, adhesives and some coatings. If a product is regulated as hazardous, see hazmat freight shipping first.
Continuous vs. Cycle Mode
| Setting | How it works | Typically used for |
|---|---|---|
| Continuous | The unit runs all the time and keeps air moving through the load | Fresh produce, flowers and products that need steady airflow and an even temperature |
| Cycle (start-stop) | The unit turns on and off to hold the range, which uses less fuel | Frozen foods and well-packaged products that can handle small swings |
Put the mode on the bill of lading along with the setpoint. If you aren’t sure which your product needs, ask the manufacturer or your quality team before the load is tendered.
Getting the Temperature Right
- Pre-cool the productA reefer is built to hold a temperature, not to pull a warm product down. Load your product already at its shipping temperature.
- Pre-cool the trailerAsk for the trailer to arrive at the setpoint. Then load quickly, without leaving the doors open for long at a warm dock.
- Load for airflowKeep pallets off the walls where possible, don’t block the return-air opening at the front, and leave room above the load for cold air to circulate.
- Write it downPut the setpoint, the mode (continuous or cycle) and any pre-cool requirement on the bill of lading and in the load instructions.
- Check at deliveryNote product temperature and any problem on the delivery receipt before signing. If there’s a question, ask for the unit’s temperature download.
Food Safety Rules for Shippers
The FDA’s Sanitary Transportation rule under FSMA (21 CFR Part 1, Subpart O) places duties on shippers, loaders, carriers and receivers of human and animal food. For temperature-controlled loads, a key shipper duty is to tell the carrier the required operating temperature, in writing, including pre-cooling when it’s needed. Many receivers also check trailer cleanliness, seals and temperature on arrival. We pass your written requirements to the carrier and confirm them before dispatch. Food safety references on this page were last reviewed in October 2026.
Winter Shipping and Smaller Loads
Cold weather is a problem too. Beverages, paints, adhesives and some foods can freeze in a dry trailer in winter. A reefer can run in heat mode to keep a product above freezing. For smaller shipments, some LTL carriers offer protect-from-freeze service in heated trailers or terminals during the cold months. True refrigerated LTL is offered on limited lanes, so ask us what’s available for your origin and destination. See our LTL freight page for standard LTL options.
Related Services
- Expedited freightUrgent perishable deliveries, including straight trucks and after-hours requests.
- Team truckingLong-haul perishables where every hour of transit matters.
- Food and beverage freightGrocery DC appointments, MABD and more.
- Cargo insuranceCoverage options for valuable perishable loads.
- Freight claimsWhat to document if a temperature problem happens.
Refrigerated Freight FAQ
What information do you need for a reefer quote?
The product, the setpoint or range, continuous or cycle mode, the pallet count and weight, pickup and delivery locations and times, and any receiver requirements such as appointments or seal checks.
Can one trailer carry products at two temperatures?
Some carriers run multi-temperature trailers with separate compartments. They aren’t available everywhere, so ask us before you plan a mixed-temperature load.
Who is responsible if the temperature goes wrong?
It depends on the facts. That’s why written instructions, a correct bill of lading, product temperatures at loading and a unit temperature download matter so much. Our freight claims guide explains how to document a problem.
Can a reefer haul dry freight?
Yes. A reefer can carry dry freight with the unit off, and some shippers use reefers for products that only need protection from extreme heat or cold.
Need temperature-controlled capacity?Send the product, setpoint and lane, or call 800-674-3554.