Standard freight
Refrigerated (Reefer) Freight
Keep the cold chain unbroken from dock to dock — temperature-controlled transport with the prep guidance to make it stick.
Get a freight quoteWhat is refrigerated freight?
Refrigerated, or "reefer," freight moves in a temperature-controlled trailer that holds your cargo within a set range from pickup to delivery. It is how perishable food, fresh produce, pharmaceuticals and other temperature-sensitive goods travel without spoiling.
RS Group brokers reefer freight as LTL (shared temperature-controlled space) or full truckload, matched to the right equipment and carrier on our 34,000-carrier network. We confirm the set point, the load plan and the prep with you before the truck rolls — because a broken cold chain cannot be fixed after the fact.
Why ship reefer with RS Group
A cold chain is only as strong as its weakest link. We engineer out the weak links before pickup.
- Reefer LTL or full truckload — matched to your volume and temperature range.
- The right equipment for your set point, from frozen to fresh to controlled-ambient.
- Prep guidance up front so your freight is pre-cooled and loaded for airflow.
- Carriers vetted for temperature-controlled lanes on a 34,000-carrier network.
- One point of contact, with tracking and proactive updates through delivery.
Cold-chain prep guide
A successful reefer move starts before the truck arrives. We walk you through each step:
- Pre-cool your product to its target temperature — the reefer unit holds temperature, it does not chill warm freight.
- Confirm the exact set point and whether the unit should run continuous or cycle-sentry.
- Pack for airflow — leave channels so cold air circulates around, not just past, the pallets.
- Palletize and secure so nothing shifts and blocks the airflow during transit.
- Document the load temperature at pickup so the cold chain is verifiable end to end.
- Plan the delivery so the product moves into refrigeration promptly on arrival.
Frequently asked questions
Does the reefer unit cool my freight down?
No — a reefer trailer maintains temperature, it does not pull down warm product. Your freight must be pre-cooled to its target temperature before loading. We confirm this in the prep step so a warm load does not compromise the whole shipment.
Can I ship reefer as LTL, or do I need a full truck?
Both work. Reefer LTL shares temperature-controlled trailer space for smaller volumes, while full truckload dedicates the trailer to your shipment. We will tell you which is more economical and safer for your product and lane.
What products do you move under temperature control?
Perishable and frozen food, fresh produce, pharmaceuticals, and other temperature-sensitive goods. Tell us the product and its required range and we match the equipment and the set point.
Ready to move your freight?
Tell us about your shipment and one team handles the rest — every mode, one point of contact.