Refrigerated freight — commonly called reefer freight — is the trucking of temperature-sensitive cargo in trailers equipped with refrigeration units that maintain a specified temperature range throughout transit. It is used for food products, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and other cargo that degrades, spoils, or loses specification if exposed to temperatures outside defined limits. Refrigerated freight requires carrier selection based on equipment condition and temperature compliance records, pre-cooling of the trailer before loading, and temperature monitoring throughout transit.
Any carrier with a refrigeration unit can claim they do refrigerated freight. The real question is whether they do it reliably — whether the unit is properly maintained, whether the trailer is pre-cooled before loading, whether temperature is monitored throughout transit, and whether temperature excursions are caught and addressed before product is compromised.
Total Connection vets refrigerated carriers beyond the basic equipment check. We look at maintenance records for refrigeration units, temperature compliance history on similar lanes, and operational practices for pre-cooling and load monitoring. A reefer trailer with a poorly maintained refrigeration unit is worse than no refrigeration at all — it creates a false sense of security while the temperature climbs.
Products we move with refrigerated trucking
Food and perishables
Fresh produce, meat and poultry, dairy, seafood, frozen foods, and temperature-sensitive packaged food products. Strict temperature maintenance and pre-cooling requirements managed before loading.
Pharmaceuticals and life sciences
Finished drug products, active pharmaceutical ingredients, vaccines, biologics, and clinical trial materials requiring controlled temperature transport. Temperature monitoring and documentation for GDP compliance where required.
Temperature-sensitive chemicals
Chemical products with temperature specifications that affect stability, viscosity, or product integrity — including certain resins, adhesives, coatings, and specialty chemical formulations.
Floral and specialty products
Cut flowers, live plants, and other perishable specialty products requiring temperature maintenance and humidity control during transport.
Reefer and heated trailer options
Refrigerated (reefer) trailers
Standard refrigerated trailers maintain temperatures from approximately −20°F to +70°F depending on the refrigeration unit's capabilities and ambient conditions. Multi-temperature trailers with partitioned zones are available for shipments requiring different temperature ranges in the same trailer.
Heated trailers
For products requiring minimum temperature maintenance during cold weather — certain chemicals, adhesives, paints, and other products that freeze or solidify at low temperatures. Heated trailers or insulated trailers with supplemental heating maintain minimum temperature thresholds during winter transit.
Insulated trailers
For cargo requiring temperature protection without active refrigeration — typically used for shorter transits where passive insulation is sufficient to maintain the temperature range.
The detail that separates good reefer service from bad
Pre-cooling is the step that most shippers never ask about and most carriers occasionally skip. Running a refrigeration unit to cool an empty trailer to the required temperature before loading takes time — and it matters because loading warm product into an uncooled trailer forces the refrigeration unit to work hard to pull the temperature down, during which time the cargo may be outside specification.
Total Connection requires pre-cooling confirmation from every refrigerated carrier before a temperature-sensitive load is released for pickup. It's a simple step that makes a significant difference in temperature compliance — particularly on summer lanes where ambient temperatures are high and the refrigeration unit is already working hard to maintain setpoint during transit.
The other detail worth knowing: refrigeration units on reefer trailers are independent diesel-powered systems. They run out of fuel. On long transits a driver who doesn't monitor and refuel the reefer unit creates a temperature excursion that has nothing to do with equipment failure — it's an operational lapse. Our carrier vetting process includes operational practice review specifically for this reason.
Frequently asked questions
What temperature ranges can refrigerated trailers maintain?
Standard refrigerated trailers can maintain temperatures from approximately −20°F (−29°C) for frozen cargo to +65°F (18°C) for cool or controlled room temperature shipments. The actual temperature maintained depends on the refrigeration unit's capacity, the ambient outside temperature, the thermal load of the cargo, and the transit duration. For pharmaceutical cargo with narrow temperature specifications such as 2°C to 8°C, carrier selection based on equipment performance data on the specific lane is important.
What is pre-cooling and why does it matter?
Pre-cooling is the process of running the trailer's refrigeration unit before loading to bring the trailer interior to the required temperature before cargo is placed inside. Loading warm product into a trailer that hasn't been pre-cooled forces the refrigeration unit to work harder to pull the temperature down — and during that period the cargo may be exposed to temperatures outside the specification. Total Connection requires pre-cooling confirmation from refrigerated carriers before loading for temperature-sensitive shipments.
What is a continuous temperature recorder and when is it required?
A continuous temperature recorder (CTR) — also called a temperature data logger — is a device placed in the trailer that records the temperature throughout transit. It provides a complete temperature history from pickup to delivery. CTRs are required by some pharmaceutical shippers for GDP compliance, by certain food manufacturers for HACCP documentation, and by other temperature-sensitive cargo shippers for quality assurance purposes. Total Connection can coordinate CTR placement and reporting as part of refrigerated freight service.
Can you handle refrigerated freight for pharmaceuticals?
Yes. Pharmaceutical refrigerated freight has specific requirements beyond standard food reefer service — including carrier qualification documentation, GDP-compliant temperature monitoring, chain of custody records, and in some cases pre-approved carrier lists. Total Connection coordinates pharmaceutical refrigerated freight with attention to these requirements. For pharmaceutical shippers with formal GDP programs and carrier qualification requirements we recommend discussing those requirements at the time of initial engagement so we can confirm our service meets your specific standards.
What happens if the refrigeration unit fails in transit?
If a refrigeration unit failure occurs in transit the carrier is responsible for notifying the shipper immediately and taking appropriate action — which typically means finding the nearest repair facility or arranging a freight transfer to another refrigerated trailer. Total Connection monitors refrigerated loads throughout transit and escalates immediately if a carrier reports a mechanical issue. For high-value temperature-sensitive cargo we recommend discussing cargo insurance coverage before the load moves — carrier liability for temperature damage claims can be complex.
What is FSMA and how does it apply to refrigerated trucking?
The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act's Sanitary Transportation of Human and Animal Food rule sets requirements for the transportation of food products by truck — including temperature control requirements, equipment maintenance standards, and documentation requirements. Carriers transporting food requiring temperature control must comply with FSMA sanitary transportation provisions. Total Connection selects refrigerated food carriers who demonstrate FSMA compliance as part of our standard carrier vetting process.
Can you handle both frozen and refrigerated freight on the same load?
Yes — with a multi-temperature trailer. Multi-temp reefer trailers have partitioned zones that can maintain different temperature ranges simultaneously — frozen in one section and refrigerated in another, for example. Not all refrigerated carriers operate multi-temp equipment. When a multi-temp load is required we specifically source carriers with the right equipment configuration. Multi-temp loads are rated slightly higher than single-temperature loads due to the specialized equipment.
