Temperature-controlled freight is cargo that travels in a refrigerated trailer (a reefer) held at a set temperature from pickup to delivery. For food moving in the U.S., FDA's sanitary transportation rule says the shipper must specify that temperature to the carrier in writing, and the receiver must check for temperature abuse on arrival.
What counts as temperature-controlled freight?
Anything that spoils or loses quality outside a temperature range: fresh produce, dairy, meat, frozen food, and other perishables. This guide focuses on food, because that's where federal rules are clearest and where most reefer loads come from. If your product has its own temperature requirements, such as medicine, give them to your broker the same way.
Why temperature control matters
USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service says bacteria grow most rapidly between 40 °F and 140 °F, doubling in number in as little as 20 minutes. Its guidance for food is to never leave it out of refrigeration over 2 hours, or 1 hour if the temperature is above 90 °F. That is consumer guidance, not a trucking rule, but it shows why a few hours of poor temperature control on a load can matter.
Who is responsible for what
FDA's rule on the sanitary transportation of food is in 21 CFR 1.908. It divides temperature control between the people who handle the load. Here is the summary, in plain terms.
| Party | What the rule requires |
|---|---|
| Shipper | Specify an operating temperature for the trip in writing to the carrier, including any pre-cooling. Update the carrier in writing if it changes. Have written procedures for temperature control. |
| Loader | Before loading, verify that each mechanically refrigerated compartment is adequately prepared, including pre-cooling if needed. |
| Carrier | When responsible under a written agreement: pre-cool as the shipper specified, and show that temperature was maintained if the shipper or receiver asks. Keep written procedures. |
| Receiver | On receipt, check for significant temperature abuse: the food's temperature, the trailer's ambient temperature and setting, and a sensory check such as off-odors. |
If any party learns of a possible material failure of temperature control, the rule says the food must not be sold or distributed unless a qualified person decides it did not become unsafe. This is the source of most disputes. When a load arrives warm, the paperwork shows who was supposed to do what.
What to give your broker or carrier
Start with the set temperature, in writing, and say whether the trailer needs pre-cooling. The rule puts that on the shipper. Add the commodity, pallet count and weight, pickup and delivery windows, and any receiver requirements. If you want proof that temperature held, say so up front: the rule says a carrier must show it on request, and time and temperature data is one way to do that.
For truckload moves, our full truckload service covers dry and temperature-controlled freight, and you can request a quote with your temperature and lane details.
What reefer freight costs right now
Refrigerated freight costs more per mile than dry van. DAT's reefer report for the week ending October 24, 2026 put reefer spot linehaul at $2.73 per mile, down 0.9% ($0.02) from the week before but up 31.4% ($0.65) from a year earlier. DAT's nine-year seasonal average is $2.12, so the current rate is 28.6% above it. In the same week, DAT's dry van linehaul was $2.24, a gap of $0.49 per mile. Both numbers exclude fuel.
Carriers aren't getting rich on it. In ATRI's 2026 cost report, truckload and refrigerated carriers both had operating margins below 1.0% in 2025. A reefer also burns fuel to run the cooling unit, so fuel costs matter. For more on how these figures fit together, see our US trucking industry statistics, and for when to lock a rate, spot rate vs. contract rate.
Common mistakes
Not giving a temperature. Telling a carrier "keep it cold" isn't a set temperature. The shipper is the one required to specify it.
Treating a reefer like a dry van. A refrigerated trailer needs to be pre-cooled before loading, and the loader is responsible for verifying it's ready.
Skipping the check at delivery. The receiver is required to assess the load for temperature abuse. Do it at the dock, and write down what you find, before the driver leaves.
Temperature-controlled freight questions
What temperature does a reefer trailer hold?
Whatever the shipper specifies. Under FDA's rule the shipper gives the operating temperature to the carrier in writing, so the right set point depends on the product.
Is reefer freight more expensive than dry van?
Yes. For the week ending October 24, 2026, DAT's reefer spot linehaul was $2.73 per mile against $2.24 for dry van, both before fuel.
Who is responsible if a load arrives too warm?
It depends on the written agreement and the records. The rule assigns duties to the shipper, loader, carrier and receiver, so check who was supposed to do what.
Not sure which trailer your freight needs? See which trailer is best for your shipping needs.
The bottom line
Reefer shipping works when the temperature is specified in writing, the trailer is prepared before loading, and the load is checked on arrival. Get those three things right and most disputes never start. If you ship perishables and want help with lanes or rates, talk to us. The American Truck Inc. is a licensed freight broker (MC 1631835, USDOT 4221571).
