Refrigerated freight shipping: reefer LTL, box trucks and FTL with a $0 reefer surcharge.
Refrigerated trucking moves temperature-sensitive food, pharma, and perishable freight in reefer-equipped vehicles that hold cold-chain integrity from pickup to delivery. Warp dispatches reefer FTL trailers, refrigerated LTL, and refrigerated box trucks with the reefer cost included in the quoted rate — no separate reefer surcharge, no cold-chain premium, no accessorial fees. The Warp driver app monitors every delivery with live GPS, scan events, and proof of delivery photos. For cold chain shippers who need reliable temperature controlled capacity without the surcharge games, Warp delivers.
Best forMeal-kit, DTC food, packaged beverage and pharma shippers moving temperature-sensitive freight.How it startsQuote a reefer box truck, LTL or FTL in 10 seconds, no signup. Recurring cold-chain lanes get a call and a committed program.
By Troy Lester, Co-Founder & CRO
$0 reefer surcharge · Liftgate equipped · 2,000+ shippers · 98.2% on-time
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What is refrigerated trucking?
Refrigerated trucking moves temperature sensitive freight in a trailer or truck with its own refrigeration unit, called a reefer, that holds a set temperature from pickup to delivery. Full loads ride in 53 foot reefer trailers. Smaller shipments move as refrigerated LTL, sharing a reefer trailer with other freight kept at the same temperature. The shipper sets the temperature on the bill of lading, the carrier pre-cools the trailer to that setpoint before loading, and the unit runs continuously or in cycle mode for the whole trip.
Refrigerated FTL through the carrier network
For full truckload refrigerated freight, Warp dispatches from 24,000+ vetted carriers including refrigerated trailer capacity.
Reefer trailers handle full loads of frozen and chilled goods across regional and long haul lanes.
Every FTL carrier goes through authority verification, insurance validation, safety score review, and equipment inspection checks. ELD integrations provide continuous location data on line haul.
For recurring refrigerated lanes, Work Queue assigns consistent carriers who understand your temperature requirements and facility procedures.
Refrigerated LTL and choosing a refrigerated trucking company
Warp moves refrigerated LTL on FAK rates — no freight-class picking — through reefer-equipped local and cross-dock capacity; note your temperature requirement on the quote to confirm capability on your lane.
Choosing a refrigerated trucking company comes down to cold-chain reliability, visibility, and whether the reefer surcharge is bundled or stacked.
Warp books across 24,000+ vetted carriers (including reefer FTL capacity) with live GPS and proof of delivery, and bundles the reefer cost into an all-inclusive rate that runs 24% lower per-pallet cost vs traditional LTL on apples-to-apples lanes.
For named-carrier truckload comparison, see the Warp truckload carriers page.
No reefer surcharge means predictable costs
Traditional carriers charge a reefer surcharge on every temperature controlled shipment. This surcharge varies by carrier, by season, and by lane.
It makes cold chain freight costs unpredictable and inflates invoices beyond the quoted rate. Warp eliminates the reefer surcharge entirely.
The temperature controlled capability is included in the all inclusive rate. When you book a refrigerated shipment with Warp, the price you see is the price you pay. No fuel surcharges added.
No reefer premiums. No accessorial fees. This makes budgeting for cold chain logistics straightforward.
Food and beverage freight
For food and beverage shippers, maintaining temperature from warehouse to delivery point is non negotiable.
Warp moves fresh produce, frozen goods, dairy, meat, prepared foods, and beverages in reefer trailers on FTL and LTL lanes, and in refrigerated box trucks for local delivery.
The Warp driver app provides live GPS so you know where your perishable freight is at all times. Proof of delivery photos confirm condition at arrival.
For meal-kit, DTC food, and packaged-beverage shippers moving temperature sensitive products, the combination of cold chain capacity and all inclusive pricing makes Warp the clear choice over traditional reefer carriers that stack surcharges.
Pharma and healthcare freight
Pharmaceutical and healthcare freight has strict temperature requirements.
Warp temperature controlled box trucks maintain consistent temperatures for vaccines, medications, lab samples, and medical supplies.
The Warp driver app tracks every shipment with live GPS and scan events. Proof of delivery photos and e signatures document the chain of custody.
For pharma shippers who need temperature controlled last mile delivery to clinics, hospitals, pharmacies, and medical offices without loading docks, the liftgate equipped box truck is the right vehicle.
Top 10 refrigerated trucking companies in 2026
The right refrigerated trucking company depends on the freight and the leg. Asset reefer fleets win on dedicated long haul trailer capacity. Warp wins when the reefer cost has to stay inside the quoted rate and one network has to cover LTL and FTL.
Named truckload comparison lives on the truckload carriers page.
Refrigerated box trucks for dockless deliveries
Many perishable freight destinations do not have loading docks.
Restaurants, grocery stores, cafes, catering kitchens, and specialty food retailers often receive deliveries through a back door or side entrance.
For those short haul stops, Warp books temperature controlled 26 foot box trucks through local 3rd party carriers, and every one is liftgate equipped.
The reefer capability is included in the quoted rate, so there is no separate reefer surcharge or cold chain accessorial fee.
Frequently asked questions
Does Warp charge a reefer surcharge?
No. Warp includes temperature controlled capability in the all inclusive rate. There is no separate reefer surcharge, no cold chain premium, and no accessorial fee for refrigerated transport.
The quoted price covers everything.
What types of freight need refrigerated shipping?
Fresh produce, frozen goods, dairy, meat, prepared foods, beverages, pharmaceuticals, vaccines, lab samples, and any freight that requires temperature control during transit.
Warp handles all of these with temperature controlled box trucks and refrigerated trailers.
Do your refrigerated trucks have liftgates?
Yes. Every 26 foot box truck in the Warp network, including temperature controlled units, is liftgate equipped as standard. No liftgate surcharge.
This means refrigerated delivery to restaurants, retail stores, and other locations without loading docks is fully supported.
Can I track my refrigerated shipment?
Yes. Every refrigerated shipment includes live GPS tracking through the Warp driver app. Scan events confirm pickup and delivery. Proof of delivery includes photos and e signatures.
Our AI backbone, Orbit, monitors every shipment for SLA compliance.
Does Warp offer refrigerated FTL?
Yes. Warp dispatches refrigerated trailers from a network of 24,000+ vetted carriers for full truckload lanes. ELD integrations provide continuous location data.
For recurring lanes, Work Queue assigns consistent carriers familiar with your requirements.
Can Warp deliver refrigerated freight same day?
Yes. Temperature controlled box trucks are available for same day dispatch in 50+ metros. All inclusive pricing with no rush fees or reefer surcharges.
How much does refrigerated shipping cost with Warp vs traditional reefer carriers?
Refrigerated shipping cost depends on lane, mode (refrigerated box truck, reefer FTL, or refrigerated LTL), pallet count, weight, and temperature requirement.
Warp quotes an all-inclusive rate with no separate reefer surcharge — and runs 24% lower per-pallet cost vs traditional LTL on apples-to-apples lanes.
Enter your details for an instant rate in 10 seconds.
What are the best refrigerated trucking companies for last-mile and FTL?
For full truckload, reefer-strong national carriers include Schneider, Prime, and Marten.
For last-mile and regional refrigerated delivery, Warp books across 24,000+ vetted carriers with reefer-equipped box trucks and trailers, live GPS, and proof of delivery — at an all-inclusive rate with no reefer surcharge.
Compare named FTL carriers on our truckload carriers page.
What is the difference between reefer and dry van freight?
A reefer (refrigerated trailer or box truck) has a temperature-control unit that holds a set temperature for food, pharma, and perishables; a dry van is ambient with no temperature control.
Warp dispatches both — reefer for temperature-sensitive freight, dry van for shelf-stable — at all-inclusive rates with no reefer surcharge on the temperature-controlled units.
How much does refrigerated trucking cost?
Refrigerated trucking cost depends on lane distance, whether the freight moves as a full reefer trailer or as refrigerated LTL, pallet count and weight, the temperature setpoint (frozen burns more reefer fuel than chilled), produce season, and pickup timing.
Reefer rates usually run above dry van rates on the same lane because of the refrigeration unit.
Warp quotes reefer LTL and FTL all inclusive with no separate reefer surcharge, so the quote is the invoice.
What temperature does a refrigerated truck keep?
The shipper sets it. Common setpoints are 0°F or below for frozen freight, 34 to 38°F for fresh and chilled food, 36 to 46°F (2 to 8°C) for pharma, and 55 to 70°F for chocolate, candy and wine.
Produce runs from about 32°F for leafy greens to warmer setpoints for tropical fruit.
What is the difference between reefer LTL and reefer FTL?
Reefer FTL books the whole 53 foot refrigerated trailer at one setpoint and is priced per load.
Reefer LTL shares a refrigerated trailer with other shippers whose freight runs at the same temperature and is priced by the pallet.
LTL fits a few pallets; FTL fits a full load or freight that cannot share a setpoint.
What should I look for in a refrigerated trucking company?
Look for temperature records for the whole trip, FSMA Sanitary Transportation rule compliance for food, trailers pre-cooled to your setpoint before loading, live tracking, proof of delivery photos, and whether the reefer surcharge is bundled into the rate or stacked on the invoice.
Does Warp offer refrigerated LTL shipping?
Yes. Warp moves refrigerated LTL on FAK rates with no freight-class picking, using reefer-equipped local and cross-dock capacity.
Note your temperature requirement on the quote to confirm capability on your lane. The reefer cost is bundled into the all-inclusive rate — no separate surcharge.
About the Warp freight network
More about the Warp freight network
Warp is the open source freight network: the tech is free and the network is open. We run Warp LTL, our own carrier, Warp FTL, cargo van, box truck and fulfillment ourselves, with every major LTL carrier, parcel, ocean, air and drayage plugged in beside them. Our driver app rides on every truck and our warehouse app runs every cross-dock, so an open network of 38,000+ carriers behaves like one carrier you control. Warp is licensed by the FMCSA as a property broker and freight forwarder, and runs the network itself: instant rates, live tracking, 70+ cross-dock facilities, 14,000+ cargo vans and box trucks, 80%+ US LTL zip-to-zip coverage and nationwide FTL, box truck and cargo van.
The network is supported by 24,000+ vetted FTL carriers.
Unlike traditional brokers, Warp uses AI to match the right vehicle to every load based on weight, dimensions, urgency, and cost targets. Cross-dock operations reduce transit time by eliminating unnecessary terminal transfers.
Pool distribution and zone-skipping programs help enterprise shippers lower per-unit delivery costs while maintaining tight appointment windows.
Self-serve shippers can quote, compare, and book freight online in under two minutes. Enterprise accounts get dedicated capacity planning, committed rate programs, and a named operations team. Every shipment includes scan-level visibility from pickup through final delivery.
Warp operates across the contiguous United States with regional density in the Southeast, Texas, Midwest, and Northeast corridors, and West Coast and Southwest coverage from Los Angeles, Seattle and Phoenix.
Warp operates 70+ cross-dock facilities across the US, with named markets including Chicago, Atlanta, Houston, New York, Savannah, Orlando, Charlotte, Indianapolis, Columbus, Denver, New Orleans, Milwaukee, Dallas-Fort Worth, Nashville, Phoenix, Tampa Bay, Seattle, Los Angeles. They support faster transfers and fewer touches on recurring lanes.
Freight modes and vehicle types
| Mode | Max payload | Max cube | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cargo van | 3,500 lbs | 400 cu ft | Time-sensitive, last-mile, light pallets |
| Box truck | 10,000 lbs | 1,500 cu ft | Regional distribution, no dock required |
| LTL | Per-pallet | Shared trailer | Lower per-pallet cost via cross-dock routing |
| Dry van / FTL | 42,000+ lbs | Full 53-ft trailer | High-volume lanes, recurring programs |
Cargo vans handle loads up to 3,500 pounds and 400 cubic feet, ideal for time-sensitive deliveries, last-mile retail replenishment, and lightweight palletized freight.
Box trucks carry up to 10,000 pounds and 1,500 cubic feet, fitting most regional distribution and store delivery needs without requiring a loading dock.
Dry vans and full truckloads move 42,000+ pounds for high-volume lanes and recurring programs. LTL shipments share trailer space on optimized routes through Warp cross-docks, reducing per-pallet cost by consolidating multiple shippers on the same vehicle.
Warp does not default every shipment to a 53-foot trailer. The AI engine evaluates load weight, cube, delivery window, and cost to recommend the right vehicle. Shippers see all available mode options with live pricing in one comparison screen before booking.
Cross-dock operations
Cross-docking at Warp facilities keeps freight moving instead of storing it: inbound freight is sorted and transferred directly to outbound vehicles, typically within hours. When inventory does need to sit, Warp's fulfillment centers in Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago and New Jersey hold it inside the same network, with same day delivery within 30 miles of each.
This reduces dwell time, lowers damage risk, and compresses delivery windows. Warp cross-docks support pallet-in, pallet-out operations with scan-level tracking at every handoff point.
- Atlanta — Southeast retail flow
- Chicago — Midwest manufacturing and replenishment
- Houston — Texas industrial distribution
- New York — dense Northeast delivery
Facility locations are selected for corridor density: Atlanta handles Southeast retail flow, Chicago serves Midwest manufacturing and replenishment, Houston covers Texas industrial distribution, and New York supports dense Northeast delivery. Each facility operates on appointment-based scheduling to prevent congestion and maintain throughput consistency.
Enterprise freight programs
Enterprise shippers get committed rate programs, dedicated account management, and custom SLA design. Warp builds lane-by-lane rate structures that account for volume commitments, seasonal variation, and mode flexibility. Operations teams monitor shipment execution daily and intervene proactively when exceptions occur.
Self-serve freight quoting
Shippers enter origin and destination, load details, and delivery requirements to see live rates across all available modes. Quotes include estimated transit time, vehicle type, and total cost.
Booking takes one click. After booking, shippers track every shipment with real-time GPS location, milestone updates, and proof of delivery documentation.
Industries and use cases
Retail shippers use Warp for store replenishment programs that deliver to hundreds of locations per week on tight appointment windows. Apparel brands use zone skipping to bypass regional parcel sortation and reduce per-unit delivery cost.
Food and beverage companies rely on time-definite delivery for perishable goods. Manufacturing operations use Warp for inbound vendor consolidation, combining multiple supplier shipments into fewer, fuller loads through cross-dock facilities.
Distribution companies use pool distribution to serve multiple delivery points from a single origin, splitting full truckloads at cross-docks into smaller last-mile vehicles.
Urgent freight recovery covers emergency capacity needs when primary carriers fail or demand spikes unexpectedly. Middle-mile optimization reduces cost and transit time on the longest segment of multi-leg shipments.
Get temperature controlled freight moving.
Book a refrigerated box truck or trailer with all inclusive pricing. No reefer surcharge, no cold chain premium.
$0 reefer surcharge · Liftgate equipped · 2,000+ shippers · 98.2% on-time
Performance figures are computed from Warp network data. See our methodology.
By Troy Lester