The Different Types of Refrigerated Trucks: What Fits Your Needs?

Nick Terry • March 24, 2023

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What Type of Refrigerated Truck is the Right Fit for What You Need?

After the manic period during the pandemic that left shippers struggling to keep up with customer orders, shipping rates are slowly returning to what they were before the pandemic.

According to DAT Freight & Analytics, the rates for all types of trucks have returned to about the level they were in 2018 after reaching staggering heights in 2021. For instance, the data shows that reefer rates topped out at $3.20 in December 2021 and have steadily dropped to $2.02 at the end of February 2023. Experts say freight rates will likely remain in that area for at least the first half of the year.

With the prices dipping, shippers can optimize operations and more closely consider their strategic options. They can improve efficiency by choosing the right reefer transport for their operations rather than hastily choosing a carrier based primarily on limited capacity. This blog explores the meaning of reefer freight shipping, the different types of refrigerated trucks, and ways to increase reefer performance efficiency.

What is Reefer Freight Shipping?

Refrigerated shipping is a method of freight transportation that uses temperature-controlled modes of transport for foods and products that require tightly monitored environments to maintain optimal quality and keep them safe to consume. Here is a list of some items that reefer freight shipping:

Perishable food: Meat, seafood, poultry, dairy products, eggs, fruits, and vegetables must be refrigerated. Refrigerated trucking is vital in helping reduce load rejection due to spoilage. Technology advancements have greatly improved shippers’ and their supply chain partners’ ability to track, trace, and continuously monitor perishable food shipments to maintain quality and freshness throughout the journey.
Certain beverages: Beer, wine, spirits, and many other non-alcoholic beverages are sensitive to temperature fluctuations and must be refrigerated during transport and warehousing.
Pharmaceuticals: Most pharmaceuticals have strict temperature ranges shippers must adhere to. A temperature excursion could alter the chemical stability of medications and vaccines, resulting in lower efficacy or even life-threatening consequences if consumed. Some products may also need technology to regulate air moisture.
Electronics: While temperature ranges when shipping electronics aren’t as stringent as those for consumable products, there are specific thresholds they need to stay within to arrive in good working condition. Electronics should generally be kept at room temperature — between 50 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit — to keep casings from overheating and batteries from melting. Bigger equipment, such as computers, should be shipped and preserved at 72 degrees. Electronics should not be shipped in extremely low temperatures either because the batteries can freeze and the casings can crack. There is also a concern over moisture that, if not regulated, could damage the electronics.
Flowers: Flowers fall into a unique category; too cold during storage a duin that they cannot be refrigerated since the petals will be damaged yet they can wilt or rot if left in an uncontrolled atmosphere. That means a temperature-controlled truck is an ideal option for transporting flowers.
Cosmetics: Colder temperatures can help the active ingredients of certain products, especially skin care products, last longer and allow the product to be better effective.
Fine art and antiques: Extreme temperatures can cause paintings to crack. Generally, art should be transported and stored between 65 and 75 degrees. Also, severe temperatures can cause the materials in antique furniture to warp.

The demand for these products is growing even greater with businesses wanting on-demand access. The market size in 2019 was 3.1 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEU) and is predicted to reach 7 million TEUs by 2030, an 8% compound annual growth rate, according to a reefer container market research report.

Different Types of Refrigerated Trucks

Products that are being shipped are not all in need of the exact same temperature control or climate control. That’s why there are different types of refrigerated trucks to handle different situations. With the booming market to meet current needs, it’s vital that shippers know precisely which reefer freight truck will best suit the product. Here are four types of reefers:

Full-Freezer Van

A full-freezer van allows for the most significant freezing of all types of refrigerated trucks. It has the thickest heat-resistant doors and sidewalls. The thicker walls are able to lessen how much the inside of the cargo area heats up due to the sun’s rays on the metal exterior.

Semi-Freezer Van

These freezer vans have more advanced insulation than chiller conversion or insulation vans, about 75 millimeters thick, and have a higher refrigeration capacity than chiller vans. They can transport frozen foods and other items that must stay below freezing and also have quick-defrost measures that mean there is no need for a defrost heater.

Chiller Conversion Van

A chiller conversion van is an insulated van with a refrigeration unit attached. It is able to keep heat out effectively while pumping in cool air to keep temperatures low. A chiller conversion van can transport many perishable products that do not require below-zero storage temperatures. Florists and companies shipping nonfrozen foods and beverages are able to use chiller conversion vans.

Insulation Van

While insulation vans do not have a refrigeration system, they can still keep products cool for as long as possible by keeping the heat out and the cold in. With 50-millimeter plastic foam insulation that cuts off potential heat and air entryways after the cargo is sealed, insulation vans are ideal for transporting cool long-lived products.

Boosting Reefer Performance with On-Demand Reefer Capacity

The increase in on-demand delivery because of the emergence of e-commerce has caused an escalation in on-demand reefer freight capacity. With many items going directly to the customer and the rise in expedited delivery, there is more pressure on all forms of shipping, including refrigerated freight. Here are some strategies to bolster reefer shipping efficiency and performance.

Procuring the Correct Mode of Transportation

With products that need to be moved in refrigerated transportation, time is essential to make sure the goods stay fresh. That means choosing a suitable mode of transportation is of utmost importance to get the product delivered safely and quickly to maintain that freshness, no matter how far the distance. Finding the van that will make sure your product stays at the right temperature is a must with the other consideration being the cost of that type of van. With the help of an experienced frozen LTL freight carrier, the entire process can be made easier.

Assuring Equipment Stays Clean and Well-Maintained

To make deliveries that maintain the product’s freshness, you need to have vehicles that are dependable and have very little chance of breaking down during the journey. With a well-maintained and clean vehicle, you can strikingly reduce the chances of something going wrong while also protecting perishable goods against contamination and thawing.

Being Prepared Before Loading

Freight must be already frozen or cooled to the appropriate temperature before loading and the reefer truck’s job is to maintain the temperature of the product during transport. So when the product is loaded, the truck must already be at the right temperature that the product needs to be at. The truck must then be able to maintain adequate temperature control when hauling the freight.

Knowing the Right Temperature Balance

It is important to keep in mind that the products have a temperature range. While it might be obvious that products that need to stay frozen cannot thaw, it is also important to remember that some products cannot be frozen. That is why you must know the temperature range the product needs to be in and be vigilant that it stays within that range by using monitor and tracking systems.

Exploring Routes for Faster Transportation Times

Delays during the transportation of a product might mean it will spoil and be of no use, which will put a dent in your bottom line. By exploring your options on the routes that the transport can take or by choosing a reliable partner that has more alternative ways of getting a shipment there faster, you are limiting the chances of an on-time delay and increasing the window of time you have to get the product there while it is still fresh.

Working With Reefer-Specialty Partners

One of the benefits of working with a partner that had knowledge in reefer freight specialties is that they can make sure the transport can handle the specific load you have and know what is needed for that particular shipment, whether it is frozen foods, produce, medical supplies, or vaccines. They can find the pertinent service for each unique shipment.

Properly Loading the Truck

This strategy may be overlooked, but it can be extremely helpful in keeping your product as fresh as possible while speeding up the unloading process. The order that shipments will be put on and taken off the truck and the way that the product is placed inside the truck can make a difference.

Entourage Freight Solutions Can Help You Find the Right Reefer Fit

Rates for shipping reefer freight are dropping and returning to what they were before the pandemic. That gives shippers the option to search for the best deal, not just for the price but for the ability and efficiency of the reefer transport company. The information in this article has helped you understand reefer shipping better and has provided you with some ways to raise your efficiency. One of the key ways to do that is to work with a dedicated third-party logistics company. Entourage Freight Solutions, a one-stop third-party logistics solutions service that specializes in foodservice, has an expert team to guide you through the world of refrigerated freight. With more than 7,500 carriers in its network, EFS can help you get freight on the road faster and more efficiently. Take a look at the many services EFS has to offer on our website. You can also request a quote on the website today.

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Tariffs, Trade Policy, and the Great Freight Fallout

By Nick Terry • April 28, 2025

In 2025, trade policy is no longer something that the freight industry can leave on the back burner. Trade policy today is shaping strategy at every level. From tariff escalations and retaliatory duties to sweeping regulatory changes and targeted maritime fees, supply chain leaders are navigating a freight market in which unpredictability is the only constant. Sourcing decisions are shifting, pricing dynamics are unstable, and long-standing operational models are being rewritten in real time. This edition brings together key stories highlighting the growing pressure across logistics channels. Each development points to an industry moving fast, and often reactively, to keep pace with volatile policy decisions. Tariffs Stall US Freight Recovery as Shippers Pause Orders The recent move by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to impose entrance fees on Chinese-built ships calling U.S. ports has only added to the confusion and uncertainty gripping global supply chains and freight operations. Shippers are pausing plans and slashing orders, with truckload volumes, containerized imports, and manufacturing output all showing signs of contraction. Ocean freight spot rates have collapsed: Asia-U.S. West Coast rates have fallen 61% since January to $2,050 per FEU, while East Coast rates have dropped 53.7% to $3,100 per FEU . Blank sailings are rising, with vessels leaving Asia half-empty. Amazon and Five Below are among the major retailers reducing orders from Asia. Container imports jumped 15.3% in 2024, but forecasts now predict a 20-27% decline through the summer. Exporters, particularly agriculture and forestry suppliers, are also squeezed, facing 125% retaliatory tariffs from China. Truckload and intermodal rates remain stagnant, while U.S. factory output fell sharply in March. US Apparel Importers Brace for Long-Term Volume Declines According to Trade Partnership Worldwide, a 124.1% tariff on Chinese clothing and footwear is expected to reduce U.S. apparel imports by 1.6% annually . China still accounts for 41.7% of apparel shipments, leaving limited flexibility for diversion. The American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) is warning of price hikes and mounting infrastructure stress as sourcing pivots toward Vietnam, India, and Indonesia. A looming May 2 deadline for de minimis exemptions could further complicate flows and delay deliveries. Even with a temporary 90-day pause in reciprocal tariffs, the policy uncertainty already affects long-term planning. AAFA CEO Steve Lamar calls the shifting policies “chaotic,” and warned that high tariff pressure will hit both importers and U.S. manufacturers reliant on Chinese components. Port and rail capacity limitations at larger gateways are adding to concerns. Retailers now face rising costs, shrinking margins, and operational delays — all while consumer demand continues to shift rapidly. Freight Pricing Gains Lose Momentum According to the TD Cowen/AFS Freight Index, Q1 truckload rates rose 5.9% above the 2018 baseline, but are expected to decline slightly in Q2. Shippers are responding to tariff threats with aggressive front-loading and shorter-haul routes, driving per-shipment costs to three-year lows. LTL carriers remain focused on profitable lanes and high-quality freight rather than chasing volume. The index forecasts a 0.7% year-over-year increase in LTL rate per pound for Q2 , despite sustained demand softness and macro uncertainty. A key driver behind the softening spot market conditions is a shift to shorter hauls and regionalized distribution, pushing per-shipment costs to their lowest point in more than three years. This trend reflects how retailers and manufacturers are repositioning inventory in response to tariff volatility, as NRF’s Jonathan Gold and DAT analyst Dean Croke noted. Meanwhile, the LTL sector is seeing a 4% rise in fuel surcharges, offsetting lower weights and shorter hauls. With the freight market still under pressure after 26 months of contraction, optimism remains subdued as we enter the midyear period. US Truckload Freight Spot Rates Continue to Fluctuate National benchmark rates have experienced a decline across all categories. As of April 18, dry van decreased by 4 cents to $1.62, reefer by 2 cents to $1.88 , and flatbed by 3 cents to $2.16. This marked the first overall decrease since late January, signaling potential shifts in market dynamics. These changes can be attributed to factors such as tariff uncertainties and tighter capacity, especially affecting the flatbed market. Flatbed rates rely heavily on manufacturing activity in the country, which has been particularly hard-hit by the ongoing trade war with China, and to some extent, with the rest of the world. US Finalizes Tiered Fee Plan Targeting Chinese Ships The U.S. is moving forward with a revised plan to levy voyage-based fees on Chinese-owned and Chinese-built ships calling at American ports. The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced the measure as part of a broader Trump administration effort to counter China’s dominance in shipbuilding and logistics while reigniting domestic ship construction and port infrastructure investment. Starting in six months, Chinese operators will be charged $50 per net ton, with an annual increase of $30 for three years . Non-Chinese carriers using Chinese-built vessels will face lower rates, beginning at $18 per ton or $120 per container, with annual increases. The USTR capped fee applications at five voyages per vessel annually, scaling back its original, more punitive per-port-call proposal after intense industry pushback. The fees are tied to findings from a USTR investigation, which concluded that China’s shipbuilding dominance — producing 29% of global fleet capacity and 70% of all container ships on order — stemmed from unfair trade practices. Exemptions apply to ships arriving empty, those in the Great Lakes or U.S. territories, and some bulk exports. LNG vessel transport restrictions will phase in over 22 years to support U.S. production. China’s largest container carrier, Cosco Shipping Lines, has sharply criticized the USTR’s plan. In a strongly worded statement, Cosco labeled the move as “discriminatory,” and warned it would disrupt global industrial and supply chain stability. Cosco denied allegations from that USTR investigation that claimed China manipulated its shipping and shipbuilding sectors to gain an unfair advantage. The carrier said it upholds “integrity, transparency, and compliance” in global competition and remains committed to ensuring the resilience of international trade. Walmart Investing $6B in Mexico, Central America Store Expansion Walmart of Mexico and Central America will invest $6 billion to open new stores across the region , reinforcing its long-term commitment to growth in Latin America. The expansion will include Bodega Aurrera, Walmart Supercenters, Sam’s Club, and Walmart Express formats, building on a robust network of 3,200 stores across all 32 Mexican states. This latest move echoes Walmart’s earlier $1.3 billion investment in 2016 for regional distribution and operational upgrades. The retailer entered the Mexican market in 1991 with a Sam’s Club in Mexico City. In a statement, Walmart said the new expansion reflects confidence in the region’s economic potential and consumer demand. Globally, Walmart continues to invest aggressively in infrastructure and store development. The company has pledged about $4.5 billion for its Canadian operations and $1.3 billion in Chile to build 70 new stores and a distribution center. In the U.S., Walmart is executing a five-year plan to build or convert more than 150 stores while modernizing 650 existing locations under its “Store of the Future” initiative. Experience Seamless Shipping with Entourage Freight Solutions Entourage Freight Solutions believes in total transparency in the shipping process. That is why we invest in tech solutions that track every shipment extensively, monitor every driver, and extract every bit of efficiency without sacrificing quality. Our state-of-the-art platform utilizes cloud-based GPS tracking to keep you informed, reroutes shipments on the fly to avoid delays, and even responds to real-time market changes to ensure you receive your shipment on time and as soon as possible. Our Services Full Truck Load (FTL): When you need a truck all to yourself. Less-Than-Truckload (LTL): Efficient solutions for multi-stop shipments or combining smaller loads to save on costs. Refrigerated Trucking: Keeping your temperature-sensitive products fresh and safe. Cross-Docking: Strategically located facilities in Shelby, Ohio, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Romulus, Michigan, for streamlined consolidation, storage, and distribution. Ready to experience a new level of service and control in your freight shipping? Request a quote today to see how Entourage Freight Solutions can help with your freight movement and other supply chain needs.