Refrigerated Trucking — Food-Grade, FSMA Certified, No Transloading
West Coast Carriers moves chilled and frozen freight for produce, dairy, meat, seafood, wine, and pharmaceuticals across all 48 states and Canada. Full truckload and LTL. FSMA certified. No transloading. Nationwide coverage since 2007.
What Is Refrigerated Trucking?
Refrigerated trucking — also called reefer trucking — is the transport of temperature-sensitive cargo in trailers equipped with active mechanical refrigeration units. These units maintain precise internal temperatures regardless of outside weather conditions, protecting product integrity from the moment freight leaves your facility to the moment it arrives at its destination.
Full truckload refrigerated shipments are sealed at origin with a metal, plastic, or bolt seal before the trailer departs your dock. That seal number is recorded on the bill of lading. When freight arrives at the receiving facility, the receiver confirms the seal number matches the BOL — proof that the load was not opened or tampered with at any point during transit.
West Coast Carriers operates under the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act Sanitary Transportation of Human and Animal Food rule — 21 CFR Part 1, Subpart O. Every member of our operations team is trained and certified in sanitary transportation requirements, which govern equipment cleanliness, temperature control, and documentation for food-grade freight.
Since 2007, we have moved chilled and frozen freight for produce shippers, dairy processors, meat distributors, seafood handlers, pharmaceutical companies, wine producers, and commercial plant growers across all 48 states and Canada.
Commodities We Transport
- ✓Fresh produce and agricultural goods
- ✓Dairy products and eggs
- ✓Meat, poultry, and seafood
- ✓Wine, beer, and chilled beverages
- ✓Frozen foods and ice cream
- ✓Pharmaceuticals and biologics
- ✓Floral and perishable plants
- ✓Live plants, floral, and nursery stock
- ✓Chocolate and temperature-sensitive specialty goods
Companies We Have Hauled For
West Coast Carriers has served some of the most recognized names in food, beverage, and consumer goods. These are real customers — companies that trust us with their temperature-controlled freight and have for years.
Refrigerated Full Truckload — Dedicated Capacity, Unbroken Cold Chain
One dedicated 53-foot food-grade refrigerated trailer. Your freight only. Point-to-point delivery with no stops, no transfers, and no shared space.
How Your Refrigerated FTL Shipment Moves
From your first call to the signed proof of delivery, every step is managed with cold chain integrity at the center.
Request a Quote
Share your origin, destination, commodity, weight, and required temperature. Most quotes come back within the hour on business days.
Carrier Selection
We match your load against our network of 5,000+ vetted refrigerated carriers — prioritizing food-grade equipment, clean safety records, and proven experience on your specific lane.
Pre-Cool Verification
Before your cargo loads, the trailer is pre-cooled to your specified temperature. No load goes into a warm unit. Your product never enters a trailer that hasn’t reached temperature.
Pickup and Temperature Lock
The driver confirms the setpoint at your dock. Temperature logging begins the moment the doors seal — giving you an unbroken cold chain record from origin.
In-Transit Monitoring
Our team tracks position and temperature throughout transit. You hear about anything that changes from us before you have to ask — not after the fact.
Delivery and Documentation
Delivery is confirmed with a signed POD available within 24 hours. Temperature documentation is on file for FDA and retail compliance. Your freight arrives on time, at temperature, with proof.
Temperature Ranges for Refrigerated Freight
Different freight types require different temperature ranges. West Coast Carriers maintains the precise range your product requires from pickup through delivery — no variance, no excursions.
| Freight Category | Temperature Range | Common Commodities |
|---|---|---|
| Hard Frozen | -20°F to 0°F | Ice cream, frozen proteins, frozen seafood, frozen meals, bakery |
| Fresh / Chilled | 34°F to 38°F | Fresh produce, dairy, fresh meat, poultry, seafood, floral |
| Controlled Cool | 45°F to 65°F | Wine, certain beverages, chocolate, some pharmaceuticals, cosmetics |
| Dual-Temperature | Two zones simultaneously | Mixed loads — frozen proteins in one zone, fresh produce in another |
| Live Plants and Floral | 65°F to 68°F | Live plants, nursery stock, cut flowers, floral arrangements, tropical plants |
| Pharmaceutical / Biotech | 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C) | Temperature-sensitive medications, biologics, vaccines, lab samples |
Not sure which temperature range your freight requires? Call us at (253) 212-9950 — our team confirms the correct setting before your load moves.
Refrigerated Freight for Every Temperature-Sensitive Industry
From produce growers in the Willamette Valley to pharmaceutical distributors in the Midwest, we handle refrigerated freight for the full range of industries that depend on cold chain integrity.
Fresh Produce and Agriculture
Fruits, vegetables, berries, herbs, and leafy greens from Washington, Oregon, and California to distribution centers and grocery warehouses nationwide. Produce moves on tight windows — we dispatch on time and maintain temperature throughout.
◦ 32°F – 38°F typical
Dairy, Eggs, and Refrigerated Proteins
Milk, cheese, butter, yogurt, eggs, and refrigerated protein products move on tight temperature and timing requirements. Our carriers understand dairy handling standards and maintain continuous cold chain from origin through delivery.
◦ 34°F – 38°F typical
Meat, Poultry, and Seafood
Fresh beef, pork, poultry, and seafood require near-freeze temperatures with zero excursion tolerance. We haul for processors, distributors, and food service companies that cannot afford a single degree of temperature drift during transit.
◦ 28°F – 32°F typical
Wine, Beer, and Beverages
Pacific Northwest and California wines ship coast to coast in temperature-controlled trailers that protect against heat damage during summer months. We handle wine, beer, specialty beverages, and chilled drinks for wineries, breweries, and distributors.
◦ 34°F – 65°F depending on product
Frozen Foods and Ice Cream
Deep-frozen loads — ice cream, frozen entrees, baked goods, and frozen proteins — require verified equipment that maintains temperatures well below freezing. Our frozen-certified carriers document temperature throughout transit with continuous monitoring.
◦ 0°F or below; -10°F to -20°F for ice cream
Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare Cargo
Temperature-sensitive medications, biologics, and healthcare cargo require documented cold chain from origin to destination. We provide chain of custody records and temperature logs on request, meeting the documentation standards pharmaceutical distributors require.
◦ 36°F – 46°F typical per manufacturer spec
Refrigerated Trucking Lanes — All 48 States and Canada
Despite our name, West Coast Carriers is not limited to the West Coast. We pick up refrigerated freight across Washington, Oregon, and California and deliver to every major market in the country. We run inbound lanes too — any state to West Coast destinations. Every lane below runs in both directions.
Both directions, every week. Whether you are shipping out of the West Coast or moving freight back in, we have regular capacity on all lanes listed below.
Don’t See Your Lane?
We cover all 48 states. If you are shipping refrigerated freight anywhere in the U.S. or Canada, we can move it.
Equipment Built for Temperature-Critical Freight
Every refrigerated trailer in our network meets food-grade standards and FSMA requirements. We do not cut corners on equipment — your product deserves the right trailer every time.
What Makes West Coast Carriers Different
We have been moving temperature-controlled freight since 2007. Here is what sets us apart from other refrigerated trucking companies.
Refrigerated Trucking — Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to the questions shippers ask us most before booking their first refrigerated load.
What is refrigerated trucking and how is it different from dry van?
Refrigerated trucking — also called reefer trucking — is the transport of temperature-sensitive freight in a trailer equipped with an active mechanical refrigeration unit. These units maintain precise internal temperatures regardless of outside conditions. A dry van trailer has no refrigeration — it protects freight from weather but cannot maintain a specific temperature. Refrigerated trucking is required for produce, dairy, meat, seafood, wine, frozen foods, pharmaceuticals, and any cargo that must stay cold or frozen throughout transit.
If your shipment is smaller than a full trailer, our Refrigerated LTL service moves your freight alongside other compatible temperature-controlled loads at a lower cost per shipment.
What temperature ranges can you maintain?
Our carriers operate across a full range of setpoints. The most common include:
- Hard frozen: -20°F to 0°F — ice cream, frozen proteins, frozen meals
- Fresh / chilled: 34°F to 38°F — fresh produce, dairy, meat, seafood
- Controlled cool: 45°F to 65°F — wine, certain pharmaceuticals, chocolate
- Dual-temperature: two separate zones in one trailer at different setpoints simultaneously
- Pharmaceutical spec: 36°F to 46°F — per manufacturer requirement with documentation
Tell us your commodity’s specific setpoint when you request a quote and we confirm the right equipment before dispatch.
How far in advance do I need to book a refrigerated load?
Under normal conditions, 24 to 48 hours works on most lanes. On high-frequency corridors — California to the Pacific Northwest, California to Texas, California to the Midwest — we often have capacity with shorter notice. That said, refrigerated capacity tightens significantly during peak produce season, summer months, and the holiday freight surge. Last-minute freight during tight seasons comes at a premium.
The best outcomes in rate and performance consistently come from shippers who communicate early. You do not need a confirmed pickup date to reach out — sharing your commodity, lane, approximate dates, and scheduling flexibility lets us go to work on your behalf before the market tightens.
Our position is simple: the more information you give us and the earlier you give it, the better service we can provide. Early communication is always the better move for your budget and supply chain.
If your business ships refrigerated freight on a consistent lane weekly or seasonally, an annual lane commitment may be the right conversation to have. Shippers who commit to a defined volume for 12 months give us the ability to dedicate carrier relationships, prioritize their freight, and lock in contract rates not subject to spot market swings.
Interested in Annual Contract Rates?
Tell us your lane, approximate weekly or monthly volume, and commodity. We will put together a contract rate proposal built around your specific freight.
What types of freight do you haul in refrigerated trucks?
We move a wide range of temperature-sensitive commodities, including:
- Fresh and frozen produce — fruits, vegetables, leafy greens, herbs
- Dairy and frozen desserts — milk, cheese, butter, yogurt, ice cream, frozen concentrates
- Meat and poultry — beef, pork, chicken, processed proteins
- Seafood — fresh and frozen fish, shellfish, Pacific Northwest catches
- Grocery and retail food — full grocery loads, retail distribution, multi-SKU temperature-sensitive goods
- Beverages — juice, kombucha, cold brew, energy drinks, craft beverages
- Wine and craft spirits — temperature-controlled to protect quality in transit
- Pharmaceuticals — when temperature integrity and documentation are required
- Floral and live plants — perishable specialty freight
If your commodity is not on this list, call us. If it needs temperature control, we can likely move it.
What is pre-cooling and why does it matter?
Pre-cooling means the trailer is brought to your required setpoint temperature before your freight is loaded. This matters because a warm trailer absorbs heat from your product the moment the doors open. If the trailer is not at temperature at pickup, your cargo spends the first hours of transit cooling down rather than staying cold. We require pre-cool verification before any load is accepted. The driver confirms the setpoint at your dock, and temperature logging begins the moment the doors seal.
How do I know my freight stayed at the right temperature during transit?
Temperature data is logged continuously from pickup to delivery by the trailer’s refrigeration unit, producing a time-stamped record for the entire trip. If your shipment requires a temperature download or cold chain documentation, request it at booking and we arrange it. For food safety compliance, we recommend shippers retain temperature records as part of their FSMA documentation requirements.
Does West Coast Carriers handle food-grade refrigerated loads?
Yes. Food-grade refrigerated freight is a core part of what we do. We work with carriers whose equipment meets food-grade standards — clean, inspected trailers free of cross-contamination from prior loads. When you book, you can specify food-grade requirements and we confirm the carrier’s equipment qualifies before assignment. Shippers subject to the FDA FSMA Sanitary Transportation rule should inform us of any specific requirements at booking.
What does it mean that West Coast Carriers is a non-asset carrier?
Non-asset carriers like West Coast Carriers do not own the trucks themselves. Instead, we connect your shipment with the right carrier from our network of more than 5,000 contracted refrigerated carriers. This gives you access to a far larger capacity network than any single fleet could provide — more options, more competitive rates, and more flexibility on unusual lanes or tight timelines.
We are licensed by the FMCSA, which means we understand the operational side of refrigerated freight, not just the paperwork. When your supply chain depends on reliable refrigerated capacity, West Coast Carriers has the network, the experience, and the carrier relationships to move your load correctly.
Have a Question We Didn’t Answer?
Call us at (253) 212-9950 or request a quote and we will get back to you within the hour.
Ready to Move Your Refrigerated Freight?
Tell us your origin, destination, freight type, and temperature requirement. We will get back to you with a competitive rate — most quotes returned within the hour.
Need LTL capacity? Full truckload? We handle both on scheduled lanes across all 48 states and Canada.
