Frozen Freight & Trucking Service Tips that Mean Better Outcomes

Frozen Freight and Trucking Service Tips that Mean Better Outcomes

adam • March 10, 2022

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Frozen Freight and Trucking Service Tips that Mean Better Outcomes

Of the specialty refrigerated freight transportation services used today to keep store shelves stocked and the supply chain moving, reefer trucking and frozen freight services are among the most common. Keeping up with frozen freight demands requires specialized partnerships with freezer truck delivery serviceproviders and close attention to critical details. According to GlobeNewswire, ”the global refrigerated goods market is expected to grow from $47.54 billion in 2020 to $50.02 billion in 2021 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.2.” With trends like this dominating the industry and many niche markets, it is no wonder that frozen freight companies are looking for ways to improve day-to-day processes and services to maximize profits and reduce overall costs.

1. Choose the Right Mode For Reefer Product Transportation

Frozen freight options and refrigerated freight shipper services continue to be in high demand, especially as more people dine at home rather than at restaurants. Choosing a suitable mode of transportation is critical to getting frozen goods delivered safely, no matter how far the distance. Partnering with experienced frozen LTL freight carriers can make the entire process easier. It is also essential to consider all other available transportation modes, such as air, rail, and local transportation providers.

2. Keep Equipment Clean and Well-Maintained

Market growth for general freight transportation continues to grow as the need to keep freight frozen remains a top priority for shippers. Along with reliable delivery is ensuring all cargo is safely maintained during transportation. Well-maintained and cleaned vehicles protect perishable goods against contamination, damages, thawing, and other issues. Professional frozen freight companies understand the importance of reliable and safe handling and shipping of reefer goods.

3. Pre-Cool the Freight Before Loading the Truck

One common misconception surrounding freezer truck delivery service is that reefer trucks actively cool and freeze the products they carry. The reality is that these trucks simply hold and maintain the cold temperature during transport. Freight must be already frozen or cooled to the appropriate temperature. Likewise, it is essential to ensure the trucks maintain adequate temperature control once the cargo is loaded when hauling frozen freight.

4. Avoid Freezing Injury to Goods That Need to Be Refrigerated Only

Frozen freight companies must have monitoring and tracking systems in place to keep tabs on the temperatures inside the containers and trucks at all times. While it is not good when frozen productsthaw, the opposite is just as bad as some products will ruin if they freeze. Professional frozen LTL freight carriers and trucking companies understand that balance and have the tools and equipment needed to maintain appropriate temperatures at all times.

5. Optimize the Route for Fater Transporation Times

Managing temperatures to a safe and appropriate range can be a delicate balance, especially during longer hauls with frozen freight cargo. Optimizing reefer transportation and shipping routes to avoid as many delays and disruptions as possible can save time and money. Managing freezer truck delivery services is all about finding the suitable carrier, the correct mode, and the right route for each specific order.

6. Prioritize Reefer-Specialty Vendors and Trucking Companies

Working with an experienced frozen LTL freight carrier is the fastest and easiest way to ship frozen and refrigerated freight. However, special considerations will still be necessary. A perfect carrier or route for frozen foods and meats might not be best for a more delicate load of medical supplies or vaccines. Frozen freight companies can find the right food and beverage shipping services for every unique shipment that a shipper has.

7. Plan the Load Configuration Properly.

Attention to detail and optimizing frozen freight routes to be as safe and fast as possible is crucial to finding the right freight shipping partner. It’s important to consider things like the order shipments that will be taken off the truck, the packagingused, and what sort of loading and unloading processes will be involved. Planning for these variations can help shoppers keep freight frozen no matter where it is going and what the local temperatures and conditions are outside.

Apply These Tips and Choose the Right Frozen Freight Companies to Streamline Your Supply Chain.

As the frozen and reefer freight transportation industry and markets continue to experience high levels of growth and continual rise in damnd, frozen freight companies continue to work to improve shipping services. Shipping frozen freight safely and efficiently requires specialized partnerships, tools, and equipment. Working with freezer truck delivery serviceproviders, such as Entourage Freight Solutions, will help protect your freight, so contact them today to get started.

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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.