Home / Services / Reefer dispatch
Reefer dispatch
Reefer freight pays better than dry van for good reason: tighter windows, temperature liability, and a produce season that rewards carriers who move before the market does.
or $350/week flat
The market
Reefer rewards timing more than any other trailer
Reefer rates are seasonal in a way dry van simply isn't. Produce out of California, Arizona, Florida, Georgia and Washington moves on a calendar, and the carriers who position for it a week early get the good rates while the carriers who react get the leftovers. The rest of the year, protein and frozen freight out of the Midwest and Plains keeps the trailer earning.
The risk is different too. A reefer breakdown or a temperature deviation isn't a late load — it's a cargo claim that can run into five figures. That changes which loads are worth taking and which brokers are worth working with.
How we run a reefer truck
- Seasonal positioning. We watch produce calendars and start pointing you toward the region before the rates spike, not after.
- Temperature terms on the rate con. Set point, continuous or cycle, and pre-cool requirements confirmed in writing before you accept — not discovered at the dock.
- Broker credit checked harder. Reefer claims and reefer detention are where weak brokers disappear. We check credit scores and days-to-pay before booking, not after.
- Lumper fees agreed upfront. Who pays, how it's reimbursed, and on what timeline, in the rate confirmation.
- Multi-stop pricing. Reefer loads with three and four stops are common and routinely underpaid. Each additional stop gets negotiated separately.
What we need from you
Your reefer's make and model, whether it runs continuous or cycle-sentry, your download capability for temperature records, and confirmation your cargo insurance covers reefer breakdown. Some brokers require a reefer breakdown endorsement and will not set you up without it.
Answers
Reefer dispatch — questions
How much does reefer dispatch cost?
7% of gross linehaul revenue, or $350 per truck per week flat. Lumper fees, detention and fuel surcharge are never included in the percentage calculation. There's no setup fee and no contract.
Do you dispatch produce season?
Yes, and we plan for it. We watch regional produce calendars and start repositioning your truck toward the loading region ahead of the rate spike rather than chasing it afterwards. Produce runs hard for short windows, so we also plan your home time around it.
What happens if I get a temperature claim?
We make sure the set point, continuous-versus-cycle requirement and pre-cool terms are stated on the rate confirmation before you accept, and we keep the confirmation on file, which is the first thing that matters if a claim is filed. We are not an insurer and cannot resolve a claim for you — that runs through your cargo insurance carrier.
Can I run both reefer and dry van freight?
Yes, many reefer operators do when produce is slow. We'll book dry van freight in your reefer when the numbers are better, and you're billed at the reefer rate for the week either way.
Want to see what's moving in your lanes this week?
Send your MC number and your usual lanes. We'll pull live loads you could run and show you the rates before you commit to anything.