Set point: the temperature itself
Set point is the temperature you want the trailer at, in Fahrenheit. Frozen freight: -10°F to 0°F. Fresh produce: usually 33°F to 38°F. Dairy: 36°F. Meat: 28°F to 32°F (just above freezing). Pharma: depends on the product, often 36°F to 46°F.
Tell us the exact set point at booking. "Keep it cold" is not a set point. Receivers reject loads that arrive even 4 degrees off. The driver sets the unit, the seal goes on, and the temperature is logged the whole trip.
Continuous vs cycle mode
Reefer units run in two modes. Continuous means the compressor stays on the whole trip, holding temperature tight. Used for fresh produce, flowers, anything sensitive to temperature swing. Costs more in fuel.
Cycle (also called start-stop) means the unit shuts off when it hits set point and kicks back on when it warms up a few degrees. Cheaper to run. Fine for frozen freight that doesn't care about a 2-3 degree swing.
If you don't know which one your product needs, ask the receiver. They have spec sheets. Wrong mode = rejected load.
Pre-cool time: the part shippers forget
An empty reefer trailer is at ambient temperature when it shows up. If it's 95°F outside and you load 10,000 lbs of strawberries straight in, the inside of those pallets stays warm for hours. By the time the trailer cools the produce down, you've already started losing shelf life.
Pre-cool means running the reefer at set point for 30-60 minutes before loading. The trailer walls, floor, and air all hit the right temperature before the freight goes in. Tell us at booking if you want a pre-cool. Most facilities require it for produce. We tell the driver.
What makes a reefer load expensive
- Fuel for the unit. Reefer trailers burn diesel separate from the truck. Continuous mode burns more.
- Multi-temp. Frozen + fresh in the same trailer needs a multi-temp reefer (a divided unit). Smaller carrier pool, higher rate.
- Seasonal capacity. Produce season (March through September) tightens reefer capacity nationwide. Rates spike on West Coast and Florida lanes.
- Tight delivery windows. Receivers like Walmart, Costco, Kroger, HEB give 30-minute appointment windows. Miss it and you may sit 24 hours waiting for the next slot.
- Hot lanes. Texas to Florida in July is a different price than Texas to Maine in October.
- Pharma. Validated cold chain with continuous temp logging and tighter handling = premium rate.
What we need to quote a reefer load
- Pickup and delivery zips with appointment times.
- Set point in degrees Fahrenheit.
- Continuous or cycle mode.
- Pre-cool requirement (yes or no).
- Total weight and pallet count.
- Product description (helps the driver and the receiver).
- Whether the receiver requires temp download or sealed delivery.
If the receiver is going to download trailer temps, tell us at booking. Drivers need to leave the unit on after delivery for the readout. Easy to forget. Easy to lose a load over.
What happens if the load arrives warm
If the receiver rejects on temperature, we get the temp download from the unit, talk to the driver about pre-cool and dwell time, and look at the BOL for any pickup-side issues (was the freight pre-cooled before loading?). Sometimes it's a unit failure, sometimes the freight was loaded warm, sometimes the receiver's reading is off.
We work the claim with you. We do not just chargeback and walk away. Cargo insurance covers up to $100,000 standard, more on request. Reefer breakdown coverage is separate. Verify your carrier has it before booking.