Temperature and mode
The set point and whether the unit runs continuous or cycle, confirmed against the BOL before you accept.
Reefer dispatch that runs on the seasons
Produce moves with the harvest, frozen freight moves on tight appointments, and every hour at a dock burns unit fuel. We plan your reefer around all three, and you approve every load.
MILE02TOP QUESTIONS
Six answers before anything else
- What does reefer dispatch cost?
- 5% standard, 7% for an MC under 6 months, 4% for 2+ trucks.
- Do you book produce?
- Yes, plus frozen, dairy, meat and other temperature-controlled freight.
- Who sets the temperature?
- The shipper, on the BOL. We confirm it before you accept.
- Do I approve each load?
- Every one. The rate con comes straight to you.
- Do you claim detention?
- Yes, with terms agreed before you accept.
- Reefer box trucks?
- Only 26 ft and longer boxes.
MILE03SEASON STRIP
When each region ships
Pick a shipping region to see its usual busy months. This is how we think about your year: where the freight is building, where it's fading, and which loads take you toward the next season instead of away from it.
California, Salinas Valley: Lettuce, leafy greens, vegetables
- JAN
- FEB
- MAR
- APR
- MAY
- JUN
- JUL
- AUG
- SEP
- OCT
- NOV
- DEC
Orange months are the region's usual busy shipping season. Weather and harvest timing move it every year.
SOURCE: General seasonal patterns from USDA AMS fruit and vegetable market news shipping-point reports (checked Oct 2026). Not a forecast.
A reefer that follows the seasons runs fuller and deadheads less. Running Salinas lettuce in summer and Yuma lettuce in winter is one classic pattern; Florida and the Rio Grande Valley in winter and spring is another. We suggest a loop, and you decide whether you want to chase it or stay closer to home.
MILE04WHAT WE CHECK
What we check on reefer loads
Pulp temps
Whether the shipper expects pulp readings at pickup, and what to do if the product arrives warm.
Appointments
Pickup and delivery windows that actually fit your hours of service, not just the map.
Lumpers
Whether the receiver uses lumpers, who pays, and how the reimbursement works.
Detention terms
Free time and the hourly rate after it, on the rate con before you say yes.
Receiver reputation
Some facilities are known for long waits. If yours is one, you hear it from us first.
MILE05THE REEFER NUMBERS
Your reefer's numbers
| Spec | Typical value | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Trailer length | 53 ft | Most reefer freight is posted for 53 ft |
| Floor pallets | About 26 standard pallets | Insulated walls take a little width |
| Federal gross limit | 80,000 lb | Truck, trailer, unit fuel and freight together |
| Typical freight weight | Up to about 42,000 to 44,000 lb | Heavier empty trailer than a dry van |
| Unit fuel | Separate tank, burns by the hour | Waiting at docks costs real money |
SOURCE: FHWA federal size and weight overview (checked Oct 2026). Freight weight is a typical range, not a rule.
Unit fuel is a cost that never shows on the post. A long wait at a receiver can burn several gallons, so detention matters more on a reefer than almost anywhere else. Price a trip's fuel with the trip fuel cost calculator.
MILE06YOUR CALL
You see the temps first
Every reefer offer shows the set temperature, the mode, appointments, weight, rate and broker before you decide. We never book a load without your yes.
On a yes, the broker emails the rate con straight to you. Check the temperature and the times match, then sign it yourself. If anything differs from the offer, tell us before you roll and we sort it out with the broker. Pass on any load and it costs nothing.
LOAD OFFER
- EQUIPMENT
- 53 ft reefer, 34 °F continuous
- PICKUP
- Salinas, CA · Thu 14:00
- DELIVERY
- Phoenix, AZ · Fri 10:00
- LOADED MI
- 690 (deadhead 40)
- WEIGHT
- 40,000 lb, produce
- BROKER
- Credit checked, pays in 30 days
- TERMS
- Pulp temps at pickup
- RATE
- $2,300 ($3.33/mi loaded)
YOUR CALL. NOTHING IS BOOKED UNTIL YOU SAY YES.
MILE07FREIGHT WE BOOK
Reefer freight we book
| Freight | Usual temps | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh produce | About 32 to 55 °F, by commodity | Pulp temps, seasonal surges, lumpers |
| Frozen food | About -10 to 0 °F | Tight appointments, long dock waits |
| Dairy and eggs | About 33 to 40 °F | Multi-stop grocery deliveries |
| Meat and poultry | About 28 to 34 °F | Strict temp records, high value |
| Floral and plants | About 34 to 50 °F | Spring and holiday peaks |
| Dry freight in a reefer | Unit off | Useful backhaul when reefer lanes are thin |
Temperatures are typical ranges. The shipper's instructions on the BOL always win.
MILE08PLANNING THE LOOP
How we plan a reefer week
- Start with your home and your limits. Home base, home-time days, how far you'll run, and the lowest rate per mile you'll take after unit fuel.
- Book into strength, out of strength. A produce region in season pays well going out. We check that before booking you into a region that's winding down.
- Mind the clock. Appointments are set against your hours of service, with room for a slow receiver, so a late dock doesn't wreck the next load.
- Use dry freight when it helps. When reefer freight is thin near your drop, a dry load in the reefer can beat a long empty run. We show you both.
MILE09FEE
5% on the loads you haul
One reefer with authority older than 6 months runs at 5% of the gross on loads you haul. New authorities pay 7% until month six; fleets of two or more pay 4%. No setup fee and no minimums.
All the rules are on rates and fees. Waiting on broker payments? Read about freight factoring.
REEFER WEEKNO. 0034
EXAMPLE
- Salinas to Phoenix
- $2,300
- Phoenix to Los Angeles
- $1,100
- LA to Salinas
- $1,300
- Gross
- $4,700
- Fee 5%
- $235
Kept before costs$4,465
MILE10OBJECTIONS
What reefer owners ask us
- "Produce season is busy. Why would I need a dispatcher then?"
- Busy is when rates are worth fighting for and when the next load matters most. It's also when receivers are slowest. A desk counters the rates, chases detention and lines up the load out of the produce region before the season ends.
- "Temperature claims scare me."
- They should be taken seriously. We confirm set points and mode before you accept, flag shippers who expect pulp temps, and remind you to keep your unit download. That paper trail is what protects you in a claim.
- "I want to stay regional."
- Then we plan regional. Plenty of grocery and dairy freight runs short loops. You tell us the radius and home time; we stay inside it.
MILE11FAQ
Reefer dispatch FAQ
Q01How much does reefer dispatch cost?
5% of the gross on loads you haul for one reefer with authority older than 6 months. New authorities pay 7% until month six, and fleets of two or more trucks pay 4%. No setup fee and no fee on loads you turn down.
Q02Do you book produce loads?
Yes. Produce is a big share of reefer freight and it moves with the harvest. We plan around the seasons in your region and look for produce lanes that head toward home when the season ends.
Q03Who pays lumper fees?
Usually the broker or receiver reimburses lumper fees, but it varies by load. We confirm who pays before you accept, and if you pay at the dock, we make sure the receipt reaches the broker so it's added to your settlement.
Q04How do you handle detention on reefer loads?
We get the detention terms on the rate con before you accept, track your arrival and departure times, and request detention in writing once the free time runs out. Reefer waits also burn unit fuel, so we raise that too.
Q05Can a new MC get reefer loads?
Yes, though some brokers want more history for high-value food loads. We work the brokers that book new authorities and build your record from there.
Q06Do you dispatch reefer box trucks?
Only refrigerated box trucks with a 26 ft box or longer. We don't dispatch smaller reefer boxes, cargo vans or sprinters.
Q07What do you check before I accept a reefer load?
Set temperature and whether it's continuous or cycle, pulp temp requirements, pickup and delivery appointments, lumper needs, the receiver's reputation for waits, and whether the broker's credit is solid.
Q08Do you plan around produce season?
Yes. We watch which regions are ramping up and which are winding down, and suggest loads that keep you near the freight. If you'd rather stay close to home, we plan regional grocery and dairy loops instead.
Q09What happens if a load is rejected for temperature?
Call us right away and keep your unit download and BOL. We work with the broker on the next steps and the paperwork. Clean temp records from the start are your best protection, which is why we confirm set points before you accept.
Q10Can you find reefer backhauls out of produce country?
Often, but not always at reefer rates. Outbound freight from farm regions is strong in season and thin after it. We look for a reefer load first, then a dry load in the reefer, and show you both against the cost of running empty to better freight.
Q11Do I approve every reefer load?
Yes. We present each load with temps, appointments, weight, rate and broker. You say yes or pass. On a yes the broker sends the rate con straight to you to read and sign.
Also run dry van or power only? See dry van dispatch and power only dispatch, or read how we dispatch. New MC? Start with dispatch for new authorities.
EXAMPLE ROUTE
Follow the freight, not the post
Apply in about 2 minutes. We plan your reefer around the seasons and your home time, and you approve every load.