What to look for in a reefer freight broker
Refrigerated (reefer) freight includes temperature-sensitive cargo: produce, dairy, meat, seafood, pharmaceuticals, and floral. Reefer trailers maintain continuous temperature (typically 34–38°F for produce; as low as -20°F for frozen) throughout transit. Reefer loads are higher-stakes than dry van — a single temperature excursion can destroy an entire load's value. Carrier reliability and monitoring capabilities matter as much as rate.
Reefer brokers are not equal: some are generalists with light reefer capability, while others (like C.H. Robinson, Allen Lund, Choptank) have built carrier networks specifically around produce lanes, seasonal volume, and temperature compliance protocols. For produce and perishable shippers, the broker's relationship with regional reefer carriers in Florida, California, Texas, and the Midwest is often more valuable than raw carrier count.
- Temperature compliance track record — ask how the broker handles temp excursion claims
- Produce lane depth — Florida, California, Texas, and Southeast corridors need specialist carrier relationships
- Carrier reefer units — confirm pre-trip inspections and continuous temperature monitoring
- Seasonal surge capacity — reefer is tightest in summer; ask about contracted capacity programs
- FMCSA authority & bond — verify at li-public.fmcsa.dot.gov before every load