What Are Best in Class Chilled or Cold Expedited Freight Service

What Are Best in Class Chilled or Cold Expedited Freight Shipping Services?

adam • April 26, 2022

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What Are Best in Class Chilled or Cold Expedited Freight Shipping Services?

The freight management and supply chain operations continue to shift and change as demands grow, shortages continue, and customer needs evolve. As chilled freight, among other critical cargo lines, continues under increasing pressure, the industry struggles to respond. Part of the disruptions has led to a change in typical operational expectations for volume moving through ports of entry to the US. Optimizing chilled freight services can help improve overall logistical performance within reefer transportation and keep the supply chain moving.

What Freight Services Are Included With Refrigerated Shipping?

Reefer and chilled freight transportation require a specialized approach to services, shipping, and handling. Any plan for better management of refrigerated shipping must begin with a thorough understanding of what services and activities should happen around such freight. This involves taking the following steps for each frozen freight shipment to ensure optimal cold freight services:

Continuous temperature monitoring detects deviations from the required range and alerts when temperatures fall out of range.
Expedited time of arrival (ETA) for the shipment and automated alerts to ensure all drivers arrive on time every time for pickup or delivery.
Greater access to and use of chilled warehouses for consolidation or deconsolidation and the staging of loads for distribution.
Expert insight into refer services and protocols, including how to properly document temperature deviations and prevent reoccurrence.
Access to dedicated Full Truckload (FTL) reefer trailers for temperature-sensitive goods and insurance to cover any losses beyond the driver's control.

These essential chilled freight services can help management and team members better monitor and manage freight to have more effective freight solutions.

Where Can Chilled and Cold Expedited Shipping Services Make a Difference?

The food industry’s most pressing challenge is economic losses due to improper handling of frozen and chilled freight. Many different products require specialized chilled freight services during transportation, including the following:

Livestock
Flowers
Produce
Pharmaceuticals
Meat
Beverages
Cosmetics
Chemicals
High-value art or electronics
Frozen food

Finding available expedited, chilled shipping options and utilizing expedited delivery services makes the delivery of these reefer items much more accessible.

Services to Look for When Choosing an Expedited Chilled Shipping Provider

Choosing the best-suited chilled freight transportation partner is key to successfully delivering temperature-controlled freight. When comparing providers and looking at cold freight services, they should consider the following points carefully:

National & International Certification – Does the shipper know what they are doing?
Reefer Storage and Holding – Do they have the capacity to handle your cargo?
Pre-Inspection – Are they set to follow good practices before, during, and after transport?
Pre-Cooling Service – Will they ensure cargo is handled correctly at all shipping stages?
Real-Time Monitoring – Do they utilize updated technology to improve delivery success?
Automated Setting Adjustment – Will they be able to track temperatures in real-time?
Equipment and Tools – Can they safely handle perishable goods and cargo?
Vehicle Inspection/Maintenance – Will the trucks reliably get from Point A to B?

When trying to work out the logistics of transporting chilled freight, securing reliable chilled freight services remains a key concern in light of ongoing disruption and uncertainty within the supply chain network.

Benefits of Successful Chilled Freight Transportation

Many benefits can come from the effective and practical application and utilization of chilled freight services. According to JOC, Floridian ports have seen a massive shift of freight that would have previously been destined for the West Coast, including an influx of expedited chilled shipping and similar cargo. Partnering with a dedicated freight shipping partner means fast and easy access to experts who can help make managing reefer freight easier. Some of the benefits include:

Fewer loads that get lost or damaged due to delays and human errors.
Overall higher customer satisfaction and higher retention rates.
More on-time in-full deliveries with fewer delays and claims.
Much higher profits and lower costs for better cash flow management.
Higher rankings and overall better industry standing and reputation.
The solid competitive advantage with state-of-the-art services.
Improved growth and overall success now and in the future.

Partner With Entourage Freight Logistics Today to See the Difference the Right Reefer Logistics Company Can Make

For shipping service providers specializing in reefer transportation, understanding the temperature levels needed for different types of products calls for is a crucial aspect of chilled freight services. The right reefer logistics company can make all the difference in the world to complete chilled freight shipments. The right third-party partner can save shippers time and money, from saving on fuel and shipping costs to reducing claims and losses. Connect with an expert at Entourage Freight Solutions to start with proven cold freight services.

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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.