What You Need to Know about FTL Reefer Trucking

Refrigerated trucking (AKA reefer trucking) is essential for transporting perishable goods that need a controlled temperature environment. It helps ensure that food, pharmaceutical products, and other temperature-sensitive goods reach their destinations in optimal condition. 

How does full truckload reefer shipping work? What major benefits does it offer? Let’s take a closer look at this popular transportation method below. 

What is reefer trucking?

Reefer truckload shipping is the go-to transportation method for companies dealing with perishable goods. Drivers use refrigerated trucks to transport temperature-sensitive cargo, often across long distances. 

These specialized trucks have refrigerated units to maintain a consistent temperature throughout the journey. Cooling systems prevent overheating and cultivate the right environment to keep cargo in good condition. 

Due to the combination of refrigeration units and insulating materials, vehicles used for refrigerated trucking tend to be taller than standard ones. They are also designed to avoid odor absorption over years of use. 

A wide range of temperature-sensitive goods are transported with reefer trucking, including:

• Meat
• Dairy
• Medical supplies
• Plants
• Drinks 
• Paint
• Hazardous items

Teams must carefully handle temperature-sensitive items while storing, loading, or unloading them. This is crucial to maintaining the right temperature and environment at all times. 

What types of industries use reefer trucking?

Reefer truckload shipping is critical for industries that rely on transporting perishable goods. These include:

• Food and beverage: Refrigerated trucking transports dairy, frozen vegetables, condiments, fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, and beverages. This helps to ensure that they reach retail stores and customers in the best possible condition without any spoilage. 
• Pharmaceuticals: Drug companies depend on reefer trucking to store products at specific temperatures. Certain items like prescription medicines and vaccines can become less potent if exposed to the wrong temperatures. 
• Floral industry: Florists use refrigerated trucks to deliver flowers and seeds across long distances. These plants rely on a temperature-controlled environment to stay alive. 
• Agriculture: Transporting fruit, vegetables, and other farm products by reefer truck is common. 
• Airline catering: Refrigerated trucks deliver prepackaged meals to airlines at a stable temperature so they’re ready for passengers to enjoy thousands of feet in the air. 
• Hospitals: Reefer trucks keep everything from medications to donated organs at the right temperature while in transit. They’re also vital for delivering food and drinks to hospitals. 
• Education: Schools, universities, and colleges rely on refrigerated trucking, which is essential for the safe transportation of food, lab materials, and research supplies. 

Want to learn more? Check out our blog post: What Industries Rely On Refrigerated Truck Transportation?  

What are some types of reefer trucks?

Multiple types of refrigerated trucks transport cargo around the world each day. These include:

• Standard/single-temperature: These maintain a single temperature throughout the trailer for the journey. 
• Multi-temperature: These allow for different temperature zones within the same trailer. They’re ideal for transporting goods that need varying temperatures. 
• Pharmaceutical: These reefer trucks are specifically designed to maintain precise temperatures for drugs and vaccines. 

What are the benefits of full truckload reefer trucking?

Full truckload (FTL) reefer shipping is a fantastic option for businesses transporting temperature-sensitive goods in large volumes. Here are the main benefits:

• Exclusive truck use: With exclusive use of the truck, full truckload reefer shipping reduces the risk of one product contaminating another. 
• Consistent temperature control: Temperatures remain stable for the duration of the journey, ensuring they reach their destination in a saleable condition. 
• Faster transit times: Reefer truckers use direct routes and make fewer stops. That leads to faster delivery times and minimizes the risk of spoilage. 
• Better security: Refrigerated trucking involves fewer delivery stops and touchpoints, reducing the chances of theft or damage. 
• More sustainable: Modern reefer trucks are built to minimize carbon footprints. They also reduce the amount of food and other temperature-sensitive goods that go to waste using other transportation methods. 

Learn more about reefer trucking

By using FTL refrigerated trucking, businesses across various industries can help ensure their products arrive at their destinations safe and sound. Storing perishable goods and other temperature-sensitive items in refrigerated trucks can also prevent waste, which saves your business money and helps keep your operations sustainable. 

Want to know more? You can learn more about refrigerated shipping on our blog, which includes posts about the role of temperature control in freight delivery and how to ship perishable goods safely and efficiently. 

Need to ship temperature-sensitive goods for your business? Get in touch with DTS for help and advice.