Anyone dealing in the transportation of chilled, frozen, or fresh produce will require a refrigerated truck to ensure the safe transfer of the goods. These can include food products, frozen products, pharmaceuticals, and other items that must not experience temperature excursions beyond acceptable ranges while in-transit. A refrigerated truck, or refrigerated shipping—commonly called a reefer truck in the industry—is specially designed to transport these kinds of cargo in a climate-controlled environment. It keeps the temperature constant from pickup to delivery and functions much like a home refrigerator does except much larger and on wheels. Refrigerated freight shipping with these trucks is a large part of the local and national supply chains and must be properly understood to be utilized efficiently.

What Are Refrigerated Shipping Quotes and What to Look For

The impact reefer trucking and refrigerated shipping services have on the supply chain cannot be over-emphasized. Given the high demand and relatively limited number of trucks available, capacity is at a premium and often brings a higher rate for shippers. According to TruckStop.com, “Because reefer trailers are more expensive to run and maintain, reefer load rates are generally higher than dry vans. But reefer freight rates can vary greatly depending on your location, the cargo you need to ship, and many other factors.” Still, quotes and rate negotiations are likely to occur regularly. Shippers should understand what to look for and what to expect from the reefer quote process. 

Capacity in All Markets at the Right Cost

Working with reefer shippers can help make the entire process of securing capacity easier. It is also an excellent way to make sure rates stay fair and accurate to keep profits as high as possible for shippers and carriers alike.

Speedy Tender Responsiveness

Having dedicated shippers allows for faster and more straightforward responses to issues and requests that come down the line. It also ensures quick responses to bid requests, capacity availability, and carrier communications at any time.

An Extensive Network of Temperature-Controlled Equipment

Not all shippers can logistically or financially establish and maintain their own reefer fleets. So, securing refrigerated shipping quotes from carriers and other transporters allows them to fill this niche without incurring excessive costs.

Absolute Visibility and Reporting

Refrigerated freight shipping requires fast and reliable communications along with real-time access and status updates about every order. Carriers worth their salt will provide reliable access to data and maintain end-to-end visibility at all times.

Dedicated Account Management

Reefer transportation experts will also help shippers maintain a competitive advantage by offering dedicated account management and logistical assistance. Carriers can track their fleets and report in real-time to the shipping managers.

Real-Time Visibility With Around-the-clock Traceability

Getting refrigerated shipping quotes from dedicated carriers can make it easier to manage shipments, trace orders, and monitor reefer status. Real-time updates, on-demand tracing, and push notifications make communication simple and easy.

Scalability to Handle Seasonal Peaks or Lulls

Another perk with reefer shipping contracts is planning for peak season surges and then readjusting for lulls in the market. Refrigerated shipping is always needed, scaling to meet short-term trends is also vital for success.

Advisory Services to Find the Best Transportation Route for Each Shipment

A secondary benefit of refrigerated freight shipping services that many do not think about is access to third-party services. These additional services can make management and logistics much more manageable for shippers.

Drop Trailer and Specialty Services

Accessing specialized services for loading, unloading, and general transportation makes it easier to manage multiple loads and coordinate shipping lanes. Having access to drop trailer services at distribution hubs can help speed up shipments of specialty loads.

B2B and D2C Service

Refrigerated shipping services can cover many different niche markets and customer bases. Business-to-business is common, but other services such as direct-to-customer can also open doors to additional capacity and revenue with skilled reefer carriers.

Get the Best Reefer Experience With the Right Partner

Refrigerated freight shipping quotes are an essential part of supply chain management and budgeting expenses. For shippers dealing with reefer loads regularly should work with carriers that specialize in refrigerated shipping to make the entire process much simpler and more manageable.  Contact Entourage Freight Solutions today to get started.