Reefer Dispatch Service for Owner-Operators

What our reefer dispatchers handle

Reefer freight pays more than dry van because it asks more of you. Tight appointment windows, temperature settings that have to be right, and receivers who'll reject a load that's a degree off. A good reefer dispatcher protects your on-time record as hard as your rate.

• Load sourcing for produce, frozen, dairy, beverage and other temperature-controlled freight, matched to what your unit can hold.
• Rate negotiation that accounts for the fuel your reefer burns and the time you'll spend waiting on cold docks.
• Temperature and appointment checks before booking, so the setting and the window on the rate confirmation match what you were told.
• Check calls and updates to the broker, so nobody calls you while you're backing into a door.
• Detention, layover and TONU documented and recovered from the broker when a shipper or receiver runs late or cancels.
• Paperwork handled, with invoices in your name and paid to you or your factor.

Reefer at a glance

Appointment windows, temps and breakdowns

Getting the temperature right before you load

The shipper sets the temperature, and it should be written on the rate confirmation and the bill of lading. Before we book, your dispatcher confirms the setting, whether the unit runs continuous or cycle, and whether the load needs pre-cooling.

If what you see at the shipper doesn't match the paperwork, call us before you sign. We'll get it sorted with the broker while you're still at the dock.

Protecting your appointment times

A missed reefer appointment can turn into a rejected load and a claim. We build in time for fuel, breaks and hours of service, and we won't book a pickup that only works if every light is green. When a shipper loads you late, we tell the broker right away and get the delivery appointment moved in writing.

When the reefer unit acts up

If your unit fails mid-load, call your dispatcher first. We tell the broker, find the nearest repair option, and work out with the broker whether the load continues, gets transferred, or gets inspected. Fast, documented communication is what protects you if there's a claim later.

Shippers and carriers moving food also fall under the FDA's sanitary transportation rule, which covers things like keeping the trailer clean and holding the required temperature. Clean your trailer between loads and keep your temperature records.

Produce season and what it means for you

Reefer demand climbs in spring and stays strong into early fall as produce moves out of growing regions. More loads usually means better rates, but also longer waits at packing sheds and tighter delivery windows. Plan your maintenance before the season, not during it, and make sure your unit can hold steady temps through long waits in the heat.

Outside produce season, reefer freight shifts toward frozen food, dairy and beverages. Those loads tend to be steadier and run on firmer appointment schedules. Your dispatcher adjusts where they look as the seasons turn, so you're not chasing produce that isn't moving. See our freight calendar for when produce peaks by region.

Why reefer owner-operators choose us

Where reefer freight is strongest

Reefer freight follows farms, food plants and harvests. These states are some of the best sources:

• Washington: apples, pears and cherries from the valleys east of the Cascades, shipping most of the year.
• Wisconsin: cheese and dairy plants that ship on steady schedules year round.
• Kansas: boxed beef from the large packing plants in the southwest corner of the state.
• Arizona: winter vegetables from Yuma and Mexican produce crossing at Nogales.

How reefer dispatch works with us

1. Send your docs. MC authority, insurance certificate, W-9, voided check and the signed dispatch agreement.
2. Get matched. We learn your unit, the freight you'll haul and your home time.
3. Loads get booked. We confirm temp and appointment windows before booking, then send the rate confirmation for your OK.
4. You haul and get paid. The broker pays you or your factor directly.

Here's exactly what you'll need to get set up, usually within 24 hours.

What reefer dispatch costs

A flat 6% of the gross. On a load that pays $3,500 in total, that's $210. Here's how our flat fee works, including what's covered.

Wondering how that compares to other dispatchers? Our breakdown of what truck dispatchers charge covers the whole industry, not just us. For the full picture, see our dispatch for one-truck owner-operators.

Pull a van some weeks too? Here's how we plan dry van lanes and backhauls, or compare every equipment type.