Freight Shipping FAQ
Answers to the most common questions shippers ask about refrigerated trucking, flatbed, dry van, drayage, and freight services across the U.S.
Refrigerated Trucking Questions
What is refrigerated trucking?
Refrigerated trucking — also called reefer trucking — is the transport of temperature-sensitive freight in a trailer equipped with a refrigeration unit. The trailer maintains a set temperature throughout the entire shipment, keeping perishable and temperature-sensitive goods safe from pickup to delivery.
What types of freight require refrigerated transport?
Fresh produce, dairy products, meat and poultry, seafood, frozen foods, beverages, wine, pharmaceuticals, and any other freight with temperature requirements. If your product has a storage temperature requirement, it likely needs a refrigerated carrier.
What temperature ranges can refrigerated trailers maintain?
Most refrigerated trailers can maintain temperatures from -25°F for frozen freight up to +70°F for chilled freight. Your specific temperature requirement is set at pickup and monitored throughout transit.
What is FSMA and why does it matter for refrigerated shipping?
FSMA stands for the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act. The Sanitary Transportation rule under FSMA requires refrigerated carriers handling human and animal food to maintain proper temperature controls, keep equipment clean, and follow documented sanitary transportation practices. West Coast Carriers is fully FSMA certified.
Do you offer both full truckload and LTL refrigerated shipping?
Yes. We offer refrigerated full truckload (FTL) for dedicated trailer shipments and refrigerated LTL for smaller loads of 1 to 15 pallets. LTL shipments share trailer space with other freight moving at the same temperature requirement.
General Freight Questions
What states do you service?
West Coast Carriers services all 48 contiguous United States and metropolitan Canada. Despite our name, we are not limited to the West Coast. We move freight to and from every state in the continental U.S. on a daily basis.
How do I get a freight quote?
Submit your quote request online at our freight quote page or call us at (253) 212-9950. Have your origin, destination, freight type, pallet count or dimensions, and temperature requirements ready. Most quotes are returned within the hour.
Are you an asset carrier or a broker?
West Coast Carriers is a licensed non-asset carrier and freight broker. We do not own trucks or trailers. Instead, we match your freight with vetted carriers from our network of 5,000+ contracted carriers nationwide. MC# 606964 · DOT# 2239463.
How long have you been in business?
West Coast Carriers has been operating since 2007. We are headquartered in Tacoma, Washington and serve shippers across all 48 contiguous states and Canada.
How do I track my shipment?
West Coast Carriers provides daily shipment updates via phone, email, or text. Contact your freight specialist directly for a status update on your shipment at any time during transit.
LTL Shipping Questions
What is LTL shipping?
LTL stands for less than truckload. LTL shipping means your freight shares trailer space with other shipments rather than booking a full dedicated trailer. You pay only for the space your freight occupies, making it a cost-effective option for shipments of 1 to 15 pallets.
What is the difference between LTL and FTL?
FTL — full truckload — means you book the entire trailer for your freight exclusively. LTL means your freight shares the trailer with other shipments. FTL is better for large volumes or time-sensitive freight. LTL is more cost-effective for smaller shipments that do not fill a full trailer.
Do you offer refrigerated LTL shipping?
Yes. Our refrigerated LTL service moves temperature-sensitive freight on scheduled lanes across all 48 states. Your freight shares trailer space with other shipments running at the same temperature. We never transload your freight between trucks or warehouses.
What is the minimum and maximum shipment size for LTL?
Our LTL service handles shipments from 1 pallet up to 15 pallets. For shipments larger than 15 pallets, a full truckload is typically more cost-effective and we can quote both options for comparison.
Drayage & Transload Questions
What is drayage?
Drayage is the short-distance transport of a shipping container between a port, rail yard, or warehouse and its next destination. It is the critical first or last mile that connects ocean and rail freight to the domestic trucking network. Without drayage, containers sit at the port.
What is transloading?
Transloading is the process of transferring freight from one mode of transportation to another — typically moving imported goods from an ocean container into a domestic 53-foot trailer for distribution across the U.S. Transloading reduces costs, avoids detention fees, and speeds up distribution.
Which ports do you service for drayage?
We provide drayage services at major West Coast ports including the Port of Los Angeles, Port of Long Beach, Port of Seattle, and Port of Tacoma, as well as inland rail ramps and intermodal facilities connecting to the national rail network.
How quickly can you dispatch a drayage container?
Most drayage requests are dispatched same day or next day. Contact us at (253) 212-9950 or submit a quote request online and we will get your container moving fast.
Still Have Questions?
Call us directly or submit a quote request and one of our freight specialists will get back to you fast.
