Reefer trucking is essential for Maine companies that sell perishable food products and other goods that require refrigeration in transit. After evaluating top Reefer shipping services on factors like cost, dependability, safety, and customer satisfaction, PEP Transportation ranks as the leading choice for moving temperature-sensitive freight.
Reefer Shipping Services & Transport in Maine
Check out our top recommendations for the best reefer trucking companies to ensure your products arrive fresh and secure.
Why Trust FreightWaves Ratings?
There’s a reason we’re one of the world’s leading authorities on the global freight market. Our expert team has an in-depth understanding of the industry and is up-to-date on employment trends, regulations, and other insights into the trucking workforce.
We conduct thorough research and data analysis to develop our recommendations for the best trucking companies in Maine. Every Maine trucking firm is closely scrutinized based on its service range and capabilities. Our team also verifies companies’ safety records and regulatory compliance and looks at what real users have to say about their experience.
From there, we narrow our focus to select only those top-performing and highest-rated firms to give you an informed and up-to-date list of the best trucking companies in Maine for your commercial shipping needs.
PEP Transportation
32 Prescott St, Gardiner, ME, 4345- Fleet size: 1 to 10
- Fleet age: 3 years
- Insurance: $1,000,000
- Safety rating: Satisfactory
Cargo Types
- Building materials
- Construction equipment
- Lumber
- Machinery & large objects
- Metal materials
Truck Types
- Dry van
- Reefer
- Flatbed
- Box truck
- Auto carrier
- Step deck
- Pneumatic
- Sprinter van
- Tanker
- Hot shot
- Last-mile delivery
- Lift-gate
- Consolidation
- Drayage
- Hazardous materials
PEP Transportation (DOT: 25286) is a reputable trucking company established in 1955, based in Maine. They boast a diverse fleet of up to 170 vehicles, including tankers, flatbeds, and box trucks, catering to a variety of logistical needs. PEP specializes in transporting heavy and large cargo such as building materials, machinery, and logs, among other items. With a “Satisfactory” safety rating, they demonstrate a strong commitment to maintaining high safety standards in operations.
In addition to offering regional and local driver services, PEP Transportation provides power-only and dry van services. The company enhances commercial shipments with features like flexible scheduling, guaranteed home time, and comprehensive support for hazmat and oversized loads. Benefits for employees include health, vision, and dental insurance, as well as a 401(k) retirement plan, underscoring their focus on attracting and retaining skilled drivers for reliable service delivery.
Safety
- Crashes: 4
- Unsafe driving: 0.41
- Driver fitness: 0.18
- Hours-of-service compliance: 0.16
- Vehicle maintenance: 1.55
- Controlled substances: 0.0
- Hazardous materials violations: 0
More Info
- Routes: interstate
- Drivers: 102
- Revenue: $4,060,000
- Miles driven: 3,243,845
Northeast Transport, Inc.
3200 Atlantic Highway, Waldoboro, ME, 4572- Fleet size: 50+
- Fleet age: 4 years
- Insurance: $750,000
- Safety rating: Satisfactory
Cargo Types
- Beverages
- Dry bulk commodities
- Produce
- General
- Meat
- Refrigerated food
Truck Types
- Dry van
- Reefer
- Flatbed
- Container
- Step deck
- Power only
- Sprinter van
- Last-mile delivery
- Lift-gate
- Cross-border
- Drayage
- Cross-docking
Northeast Transport, Inc. (DOT: 288676) is a reputable trucking company established in 1986, featuring a fleet of 72 vehicles based in Maine. They specialize in transporting a diverse range of cargo, including fresh produce, refrigerated foods, beverages, meat, and general freight. The company offers a variety of services, such as reefer and dry van, ensuring the safe and efficient delivery of perishable and general goods.
Northeast Transport provides strong support for commercial shipments with dedicated routes, cross-border operations, and managed transportation services. They prioritize safety and professional development, as evidenced by their satisfactory safety rating and ongoing training programs. Employees benefit from a comprehensive package including health and vision insurance, paid CDL training, and a retirement plan. With additional amenities like flexible scheduling, gym memberships, and guaranteed home time, Northeast Transport emphasizes driver satisfaction alongside reliable commercial freight transport.
Safety
- Crashes: 4
- Unsafe driving: 2.96
- Driver fitness: 0.12
- Hours-of-service compliance: 0.55
- Vehicle maintenance: 1.17
- Controlled substances: 0.0
- Hazardous materials violations: 0
More Info
- Routes: interstate
- Drivers: 40
- Revenue: $4,723,000
- Miles driven: 3,746,795
Hartt Transportation Systems, Inc.
262 Bomarc Rd, Bangor, ME, 4401- Fleet size: 50+
- Fleet age: 3 years
- Insurance: $1,000,000
- Safety rating: Satisfactory
Cargo Types
- Beverages
- Building materials
- Dry bulk commodities
- General
- Livestock feed
- Lumber
- Refrigerated food
- Paper products
- Water well
Truck Types
- Dry van
- Reefer
- Flatbed
- Container
- Step deck
- Last-mile delivery
- Cross-border
- Consolidation
Hartt Transportation Systems, Inc. (DOT: 184192) is an established transportation provider since 1948, offering a range of freight services across North America. Based in Maine, Hartt specializes in general freight, refrigerated foods, building materials, and dry bulk commodities. The company operates a robust fleet of over 391 trucks and offers a variety of services, including regional, local, and dedicated routes.
Hartt Transportation stands out with its commitment to driver incentives, offering sign-on and referral bonuses, and competitive salaries. They support logistics with managed transportation and cross-border shipping solutions. While maintaining a satisfactory safety rating, Hartt is noteworthy for its emphasis on technology-driven logistics solutions, ensuring efficient and reliable delivery services for business owners. Despite having reported crashes, their safety practices are proactive, with ongoing training and development programs.
Safety
- Crashes: 10
- Unsafe driving: 0.28
- Driver fitness: 0.04
- Hours-of-service compliance: 0.0
- Vehicle maintenance: 1.77
- Controlled substances: 0.0
- Hazardous materials violations: 0
More Info
- Routes: interstate
- Drivers: 370
- Revenue: $35,795,000
- Miles driven: 34,000,000
Richard Carrier Trucking, Inc.
46 Industrial Park Road, Skowhegan, ME, 4976- Fleet size: 50+
- Fleet age: 4 years
- Safety rating: Satisfactory
Cargo Types
- Building materials
- Construction equipment
- Trash
- General
- Lumber
- Machinery & large objects
- Metal materials
- Vehicles
Truck Types
- Dry van
- Reefer
- Container
- Step deck
- Sprinter van
- Tanker
- Last-mile delivery
- Drayage
- Cross-docking
- Hazardous materials
Richard Carrier Trucking, Inc. (DOT: 74288) is a reputable trucking company operating in Maine, offering specialized transportation services for wood products, demolition, and equipment. The company boasts a fleet size of over 50 trucks, providing comprehensive solutions including flatbed, dry van, and tanker services. They are adept at handling diverse cargo such as building materials, construction elements, general freight, metal sheets, garbage/refuse, and large machinery.
Richard Carrier Trucking excels in delivering commercial shipment support with dedicated routes and team drivers. They offer cross-docking and intermodal services, enhancing their logistics handling capacity. Their commitment to quality and safety is reflected in their satisfactory safety ratings. Additionally, they provide a robust benefits package for drivers, including health insurance, paid time off, and a retirement plan. The company is also an active employer, showing their dedication to hiring qualified individuals to support their operations.
Safety
- Crashes: 5
- Unsafe driving: 0.26
- Driver fitness: 0.0
- Hours-of-service compliance: 0.14
- Vehicle maintenance: 2.62
- Controlled substances: 0.0
- Hazardous materials violations: 0
More Info
- Routes: interstate
- Drivers: 40
- Revenue: $15,584,000
- Miles driven: 3,331,896
P A F Transportation
75 Postal Service Way, Scarborough, ME, 4074- Fleet size: 50+
- Insurance: $1,000,000
- Safety rating: Satisfactory
Cargo Types
- Beverages
- General
- Paper products
Truck Types
- Dry van
- Reefer
- Flatbed
- Box truck
- Step deck
- Power only
- Hot shot
- Cross-docking
P A F Transportation (DOT: 192141) is a reputable trucking company based in Maine. They offer a diverse range of trucking services including flatbed, dry van, and step deck transportation, tailored to meet the needs of various clients. Specializing in general freight, beverages, and paper products, the company manages to efficiently handle different types of cargo.
P A F Transportation ensures reliable service with a fleet of over 96 vehicles and a team of 73 drivers committed to interstate operations. Commercial shipments are supported through features like power-only services and cross-docking facilities. The company prioritizes safety, evident from their satisfactory safety rating and low unsafe driving score. Additionally, they offer hot shot services and maintain a focus on driver benefits, providing safety bonuses and health insurance. With an active operational status, P A F Transportation exemplifies reliability and commitment in the trucking industry.
Safety
- Crashes: 5
- Unsafe driving: 0.25
- Driver fitness: 0.0
- Hours-of-service compliance: 0.03
- Vehicle maintenance: 0.96
- Controlled substances: 0.0
- Hazardous materials violations: 1
More Info
- Routes: interstate
- Drivers: 73
- Revenue: $6,653
- Miles driven: 4,749,000
Dubois Livestock
2 Irving Rd, Arundel, ME, 4046- Fleet size: 1 to 10
- Fleet age: 3 years
- Insurance: $1,000,000
- Safety rating: Satisfactory
Cargo Types
- Construction equipment
- Dry bulk commodities
- Farm supplies
- General
- Livestock feed
- Lumber
- Machinery & large objects
Truck Types
- Reefer
- Flatbed
- Box truck
- Hazardous materials
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Dubois Livestock (DOT: 369084) is an active trucking carrier in Maine with a fleet size ranging from 1 to 10 trucks and operates a total of 20 vehicles. Known for its satisfactory safety rating, Dubois Livestock offers specialized freight transportation services for agricultural and farm supplies, dry bulk commodities, construction materials, general freight, grain, feed, hay, and large machinery objects. The company stands out with its provision of hazardous materials transportation and its capacity to handle logs, poles, beams, and lumber.
Dubois Livestock invests in the well-being and development of its drivers, offering benefits such as health insurance, a 401k retirement plan, direct deposit, and paid time off. Additional support includes sign-on bonuses, safety bonuses, and driver referral bonuses. The company offers flexible employment options with regional and team driving opportunities, providing carriers with ongoing training and development programs to ensure a high standard of service and safety.
“`Safety
- Crashes: 0
- Unsafe driving: 0.0
- Driver fitness: 0.0
- Hours-of-service compliance: 0.0
- Vehicle maintenance: 0.0
- Controlled substances: 0.0
- Hazardous materials violations: 0
More Info
- Routes: interstate
- Drivers: 5
- Revenue: $260
- Miles driven: 83,198
How Safety Ratings Work in Maine
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Compliance, Safety & Accountability (CSA) program evaluates trucking companies using BASICS (Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories)
Here’s a look at what each of the BASICS cover:
- Crashes: Trucking companies are required to report any accidents that result in injury or death. The FMSCA uses these state-reported crashes to determine any patterns of crash involvement and potential behaviors contributing to that pattern.
- Unsafe driving: This CSA category covers behaviors like texting and speeding that can lead to accidents
- Driver fitness: The FMCSA requires trucking companies to keep up-to-date records on their drivers. That includes identification and paperwork like CDLs, annual driving reviews, and any relevant medical certifications or documentation. Violations of this category will result in lower overall safety scores.
- Hours-of-service compliance: The FMCSA cites truckers and trucking companies that do not follow or enforce hours-of-service regulations that limit how much time a large commercial vehicle operator can be on the road without rest.
- Vehicle maintenance: Truckers are responsible for completing inspections before hitting the road on a route. They must also log any issues and have repairs to those identified problems completed before operating the truck.
- Controlled substances: As with all vehicle operators, truckers must be sober behind the wheel. This category accounts for violations issued to a trucking company’s driver(s) for being under the influence of or in possession of alcohol and street drugs or prescriptionor over-the-counter medicines that could impair judgement.
- Hazardous materials violations: Trucking companies and their drivers must exhibit proper loading and handling of hazardous materials, including labeling these items correctly, ensuring packaging meets regulations, and follows all restrictions and rules for the vehicle type.
Companies scoring a zero for any or all of the above categories did not receive any citations or other violations within a given month. Essentially, any trucking company that has multiple zeroes in these categories can likely be considered a safe freight shipper in compliance with all FMCSA standards and regulatory requirement.
Choosing the Right Reefer Trucking Company in Maine for Your Shipments
Whether you manage a food, pharmaceutical, or retail operation in Maine, here are some tips on what to look for in reefer trucking company for your refrigerated shipments:
- Temperature-control capabilities: Choose a carrier that provides precise temperature monitoring and control to ensure your products stay within safe temperature ranges throughout the journey.
- Specialized Reefer options: Look for companies with a variety of Reefer trailer sizes and configurations to accommodate different loads and product requirements.
- Driver experience and training: Experienced drivers trained in handling Reefer loads can help prevent temperature fluctuations and ensure safe, timely deliveries.
- Tracking tools: Carriers with GPS and real-time monitoring tools keep you informed on the location and condition of your shipment.
- Fleet maintenance: Well-maintained reefer trucks minimize the risk of breakdowns that could compromise the quality of your products.
- Customer support: A company with a reputation for customer service and dedicated logistics and freight management teams will be better able to handle any changes or issues with your shipment.
- Safety record and compliance: Check a company’s CSA score to make sure they have a history of safe transport and are compliant with industry regulations.
FAQs
What products are best transported by truck in Maine?
The products that are best transported by truck in the U.S. include commodities like:
- Building materials
- Food and beverages
- Furniture
- Clothing
- Electronics
What is Reefer shipping, and when is it needed for businesses in Maine?
Reefer shipping is commercial transport via refrigerated trucks and trailers that maintain controlled temperatures for products that are sensitive to heat or cold. In Maine, businesses that ship food, pharmaceuticals, flowers, and other perishables rely on Reefer shipping to ensure product quality and prevent spoilage or damage during transit.
How does Reefer shipping protect temperature-sensitive goods?
Reefer shipping protects temperature-sensitive goods by utilizing trucks equipped with refrigeration units that can maintain specific temperature settings. By controlling the climate inside the trailer, Reefer shipping reduces the risk of spoilage and extends product shelf life during transport.
Other Types of Transport Options for Your Shipments
Depending on the types of products your business retails or manufactures, you may have several shipping options to choose from.
- Hopper Bottom Shipping Services
- Beverage Shipping Services
- Box Truck Shipping Services
- Drayage Shipping Services
- Dry Bulk Shipping Services
- Dry Van Shipping Services
- Flatbed Shipping Services
- Hot Shot Shipping Services
- Intermodal Shipping Services
- LTL Shipping Services
- Parcel Delivery Shipping Services
- Pneumatic Shipping Services
- Power-Only Shipping Services
- Tanker Shipping Services
