Refrigerated Freight Shipping: Nationwide Reefer LTL

Q: How much does refrigerated LTL shipping cost?

Reefer LTL rates depend on lane, weight, pallet count, temperature requirements, and season. Because you're sharing trailer space, refrigerated LTL typically costs less than booking a full reefer truckload for a partial shipment. Our carriers are API-connected, so you get an instant refrigerated freight quote instead of waiting on a callback.

Q: What's the difference between reefer LTL and dry LTL?

Dry LTL moves in a standard trailer with no climate control. Reefer LTL moves in a refrigerated trailer that actively holds a set temperature, protecting perishable and temperature-sensitive freight the entire trip.

Q: Can frozen and chilled products ship on the same truck?

Often, yes. Many refrigerated LTL carriers run multi-temperature trailers with separate zones, so frozen and chilled freight can move together without either one drifting out of range.

Q: How is temperature maintained and verified during transit?

Reefer trailers run self-powered refrigeration units with in-cab monitoring, and carriers in ALG's network keep temperature logs throughout the trip. Your required range is documented on the bill of lading and held from pickup through delivery.

Q: What happens if a reefer trailer's cooling unit fails mid-transit?

Every reefer carrier in our network has protocols for equipment issues, including backup units, driver monitoring alerts, and rerouting to the nearest service point. Your dedicated ALG contact is looped in the moment an issue comes up, not after the fact.

Q: What products require refrigerated freight shipping?

Common refrigerated freight includes produce, meat and seafood, dairy, frozen foods, beverages, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, floral products, and freeze-sensitive goods like paints and chemicals that need protect-from-freeze handling.

Nationwide Refrigerated Less-Than-Truckload Shipping

Speak to a Human

Request a Quote

Unmatched Coverage for Refrigerated LTL Freight

When you're transporting goods that need to stay cold, there's no room for guesswork. Associated Logistics Group (ALG) moves refrigerated freight across the 48 contiguous states through one of the first true Reefer LTL networks built for full coast-to-coast coverage. With more than 90 vetted refrigerated LTL carriers, instant API-driven rates, and dedicated U.S.-based support, we give shippers of temperature-sensitive freight the reach of a national carrier with the flexibility of a 3PL, recognized by Inbound Logistics as a Top 100 3PL Provider.

What Is Refrigerated Freight?

Refrigerated freight, often called reefer freight, is any shipment that has to stay within a set temperature range from pickup to delivery. It travels in refrigerated trailers, or reefers, built with self-powered cooling units that hold a target temperature no matter what's happening outside. That's what separates it from dry van shipping, where the trailer is sealed and protected but has no climate control.

Reefer keeps perishable goods from spoiling, thawing, or taking on damage from heat, cold snaps, or long transit times. Reefer trailers aren't one-size-fits-all. Some run a single set temperature front to back. Others are built with multiple zones, so a load of frozen chicken and a load of chilled dairy can ride in the same trailer without either one leaving spec. The right setup comes down to your product, your packaging, and how far it's traveling.

Delivering to a job site, storefront, or your customer's door instead of a business dock? Our final mile delivery solutions keep temperature-sensitive freight controlled for that last leg.

Reefer LTL vs. Refrigerated Truckload: Which Do You Need?

Refrigerated LTL (less than truckload) shipping consolidates temperature-controlled freight from multiple shippers into one reefer trailer. If you're moving a handful of pallets rather than a full load, reefer LTL lets you pay for the space you use, while your freight still rides in the same temperature-controlled environment as a dedicated truckload.

A full refrigerated truckload (FTL) dedicates the entire trailer to your freight, typically 20 to 26 pallets in a 53-foot reefer, with direct routing and minimal handling along the way. Reefer LTL is the better call when your shipment doesn't fill a trailer: you share space and cost with other temperature-controlled freight, and the temperature integrity doesn't change. Many of the reefer LTL carriers in our network run multi-temperature trailers too, so frozen and chilled products can move together in separate zones instead of waiting on two separate trucks.

Shipping a full trailer instead? Explore our Refrigerated Full Truckload services.

Why Choose ALG for Reefer LTL?

Nationwide Coverage

From coast to coast, we connect shippers with trusted carriers to keep refrigerated freight moving, wherever it needs to go.

Instant Rates

Tired of waiting for a quote? All of our vetted carriers are required to have API connectivity so we can deliver instant rates. No waiting.

Extensive Carrier Network

Our 90+ specialized Reefer LTL carriers give us access to the right equipment, lanes, and schedules so your freight moves quickly and efficiently throughout your Cold Chain.

Best-in-Class Service

Every carrier is vetted to meet strict performance and compliance standards, ensuring your products arrive on time and in optimal condition.

Competitive Pricing

We leverage our strong buying power, carrier relationships, and technology to deliver market-leading rates without compromising the quality of your Cold Chain Logistics service.

Dedicated Human Support

We use the latest in Supply Chain AI technology to enhance, not replace, our people. You’ll always have a dedicated ALG contact based in the U.S. who knows your business, builds relationships, and delivers proactive support.

Can't wait on standard transit for a perishable or time-sensitive load? Our expedited freight services get urgent cold chain shipments moving fast.

KEEP IT COOL WITH ALG

Whether you need Protect-From-Freeze, chilled, or frozen solutions, ALG has the right carrier for the job. Contact us today for a competitive Reefer LTL quote and see what a dedicated cold chain partner can do for your freight.

Industries We Serve

Our cold chain logistics solutions are ideal for a wide range of temperature-controlled products, including:

Produce and perishables: Time-sensitive refrigerated transportation that protects freshness and shelf life from the farm or distribution center to the shelf.
Meat, poultry, and seafood: Strict frozen and chilled handling with carriers experienced in protein logistics and food safety compliance.
Dairy and frozen foods: Consistent deep-frozen and refrigerated transportation for products with zero tolerance for temperature swings.
Beverages: Chilled and protect-from-freeze options for products sensitive to both heat and freezing.
Pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals: Temperature-controlled shipping with the documentation and reliability regulated products require.
Floral and specialty products: Delicate, high-value freight that needs precise temperatures and careful handling.
Paints, chemicals, and freeze-sensitive goods: Protect-from-freeze service for non-food products that can't take a hard freeze without losing quality.

And more