DOCK 01REEFER
Reefer dispatch built around the setpoint, the appointment and the backhaul
Reefer dispatch is not van dispatch with a colder trailer. The temperature, the run mode, the pickup window and the receiver's rules all go on paper before you say yes. We handle that, plus the search and the haggling, for reefer trailers and refrigerated box trucks alike.
- SETPOINT
- PER BOL
- MODE
- CONT / CYCLE
- PULP
- CHECK AT PICKUP
DOCK 02THE PROBLEMS
What goes wrong on reefer loads
- 01
Rejected at the dock
A receiver turns away product that arrives out of temperature, and the carrier is the first one asked why. Loads with an unclear setpoint or no pulp check at pickup are where that starts.
- 02
Fuel for the unit
The reefer unit burns fuel on its own, on top of the truck. A rate that looks fine on miles can come up short once the unit runs for a long dwell.
- 03
Tight appointments
Food receivers run on appointment slots. A late pickup can push a delivery past its window and into the next day.
- 04
Produce season swings
When harvests move, so do the loads and the rates. Trucks in the wrong region sit while others turn down freight.
- 05
Waiting at the shipper
Loads that are not ready on time are common in cold freight. Detention only pays if it is written on the rate con.
DOCK 03TEMPERATURE
Refrigerated truck dispatch starts with the temperature
Pick a commodity. You see roughly where it sits, colder or warmer, and the details we confirm on the rate con before the load reaches you.
SETPOINT
AS ON THE BOL
Continuous or cycle as the shipper writes it. Some produce is sensitive to being loaded with other items, so we ask before a mixed load.
WE CONFIRM BEFORE YOU ACCEPT
- Setpoint and run mode in writing
- Pulp temperature check at pickup, and what to do if it is off
- Whether mixed commodities are allowed
- Lumper at the receiver, and who pays
Position on the strip is illustrative. The shipper sets the actual temperature in writing, and that is the number you run.
What the FDA sanitary transportation rule asks of carriers
Food hauled in a reefer falls under the FDA's sanitary transportation rule. In plain terms, the trailer or box has to be cleanable and kept in a sanitary condition for the food it carries.
When the shipper needs temperature control, the shipper must give the carrier the operating temperature in writing, and pre-cooling if it is needed. The carrier then has to be able to show the temperature was kept during the trip, if the shipper or receiver asks.
That is why we get the setpoint, the run mode and any pre-cool on the rate con, and why we remind you to keep your unit's records. If a load ever gets questioned, the paper is on your side.
SOURCE:eCFR, 21 CFR 1.906 (FDA), OCT 2026;eCFR, 21 CFR 1.908 (FDA), OCT 2026
What a reefer dispatcher checks before you say yes
- TEMPERATURE
- Setpoint, continuous or cycle, pre-cool, allowed range
- PRODUCT CHECK
- Pulp temperature at pickup, and the shipper's instructions if it is off
- TIMING
- Pickup window, delivery appointment, and how far it is between them
- UNLOADING
- Lumper, driver unload or drop, and who pays the lumper
- WAITING
- Free time and detention pay, written on the rate con
- YOUR TRUCK
- Trailer or box length, unit type, and whether you can run the setpoint
DOCK 04BOX TRUCKS
Reefer dispatcher for refrigerated box trucks
Refrigerated box trucks run a different kind of reefer freight: local and regional food distribution, restaurant and grocery deliveries, catering, floral and some healthcare runs. The loads are shorter and often have several stops.
We dispatch refrigerated box trucks 26 ft and larger. The details matter even more on a smaller unit: how long it holds temperature with the door opening at every stop, whether you have a liftgate, and how many pallets fit. The fee for one box truck is 7%.
Refrigerated box trucks explained · Reefer box truck loads · Choosing a reefer unit
Backhauls and the reefer week
A reefer that delivers into a region with little outbound cold freight either runs empty or hauls dry freight to get out. Both can be the right call. We look at what moves out of the delivery area before booking the load in.
Reefer trailers can also haul dry freight when the cold loads are thin. If your setup and the shipper allow it, we will offer you both and tell you which pays better for the week.
DOCK 05FEE
What it costs to dispatch a reefer
One reefer with 6+ months of authority pays 5% of gross. A new MC pays 7% for the first 6 months. A single refrigerated box truck pays 7%. With 2 or more trucks the rate is 4% (limited-time rate). Only on loads you haul, no setup fee, month-to-month, cancel with 30 days notice.
REEFER LOAD, LINEHAUL ONLY
Reefer dispatch questions
Q-01How much does reefer dispatch cost?
5% of gross for one reefer with 6+ months of authority, 7% while the MC is under 6 months old, 7% for one refrigerated box truck, and 4% for 2 or more trucks (limited-time rate). Charged only on loads you haul. No setup fee, no minimum, month-to-month, cancel with 30 days notice.
Q-02Do you dispatch refrigerated box trucks?
Yes, 26 ft and larger. Refrigerated box truck freight is mostly local and regional: food distribution, grocery, restaurant and catering runs, often multi-stop. We confirm setpoint, stops and liftgate needs before the load reaches you. The fee for one box truck is 7%.
Q-03How do you avoid rejected reefer loads?
We cannot control the product, but we control the paper. The setpoint, run mode, pre-cool and pulp check instructions go on the rate con before you accept. You check the product at pickup, keep your unit records, and call us before you sign for anything that looks wrong. That protects you if a load is questioned.
Q-04Do you book produce loads?
Yes. Produce pays well in season and comes with more rules: pulp checks, mixing limits, appointments and lumpers. We confirm each one before the offer reaches you, and we plan lanes around where the harvest is, so you are not waiting in a region that has gone quiet.
Q-05Who pays for reefer fuel?
The carrier pays for the fuel in the truck and the unit, as with any truck cost. That is why we count unit run time into the rate we ask for, especially on long dwells and multi-stop loads. If a load needs the unit running for hours of waiting, detention terms matter more.
Q-06Can you find reefer backhauls?
We look for them before we book the load in. When cold freight going out of the delivery area is thin, we may offer a dry load to get you back to better freight, if your trailer and the shipper allow it. You decide which one to take.
Cold freight, booked with the details right
About 2 minutes to apply. Tell us your unit and lanes.