Best Refrigerated Trucking Companies

Without refrigerated trucks, the world would be at a standstill. Refrigerated trucks offer a viable way to transport various items that require temperature-controlled environments. 

Refrigerated trucking companies have changed the world. As a result, everything from frozen food and life-saving medicines to fine art and animals can be transported safely and securely. If you are looking to transport large or small volumes of goods via refrigerated trucking, take a look at the following best refrigerated trucking companies.

Quicklook: Best Refrigerated Trucking Companies

• Best for Competitive Pay & New Drivers: Roehl Transport
• Best for Logistics and Transport Solutions: Prime Inc.
• Best for Transporting Perishable Goods: KLLM Transport Services
• Best for Flexible Logistics Solutions: Stevens Transport
• Best for Transportation Services: C.R. England
• Best for Industry-Leading Tracking: TransAm Trucking Inc. 
• Best for International Transportation: Swift Refrigerated
• Best for Specialized Transport Solutions: Hirschbach Motor Lines

8 Best Refrigerated Trucking Companies

Taking into consideration the four factors of delivery, operations, customer service, and consistency, we’ve created a list of the eight best refrigerated trucking companies for you! 

Roehl Transport

The title holder of the American Trucking Association’s President’s Award, Roehl Transport is one of the 100 largest trucking companies in the country. With nearly 2,000 tractors, over 5,000 trailers and more than 2,500 employees, Roehl Transport is always growing. The company is committed to hiring new drivers and expanding their ever-busy fleets. This nationwide outfit focuses on not only delivering goods but delivering them correctly. With telematic systems already installed in all of their reefer trucks, the company monitors deliveries to make sure drivers adhere to the company’s temperature standards.

Best For: Competitive Pay & New Drivers

Established: 1962

Location: Marshfield, Wisconsin

Cargo: 

• All cargo types 
• Refrigerated and time-sensitive products 

Carrier Type: 

• LTL
• Truckload
• Reefer
• Flatbed
• Curtainside
• Dedicated

Services Provided: 

• Temperature monitoring and alert systems
• Satellite communication with refrigerator units
  • On and off remote capability
  • Satellite temperature monitoring from across the country
• Modern trailers with an average age of just under three years 
• 50-gallon refrigerated fuel tanks on trailers
• Air-ride suspension
• Cold storage and warehousing

Prime Inc.

Prime Inc. is the largest refrigerated trucking company in the USA. With extensive nationwide facilities, top-class drivers and a variety of transportation vehicles, Prime Inc. is an excellent choice for companies that need help with logistics and transportation solutions. 

Location: 

• Based in Springfield, Missouri
• Facilities across North America 

Cargo: Prime Inc. transports delicate and temperature-sensitive perishable goods, whether they be liquid or solid. The company can also transport durable construction materials with its fleets of refrigerated, flatbed, tanker and intermodal freight carriers. 

Special Features: 

• Considered #1 in the business
• Excellent for all types of cargo

Benefits: 

• Centers all over North America
• Large network for moving cargo 
• Wide variety of trucks available
• Able to accommodate a wide range of products 
• Suitable for transportation in all climates 

Disadvantages: Understaffed department 

Price: 

• Contact Prime Inc. for a direct quote. 

KLLM Transport Services

KLLM Transport Services has been transporting perishable goods across the USA and Mexico for the last 50 years. They offer temperature-controlled services in different modalities, including over-the-road, regional and dedicated, making it a very good choice for your transportation needs. 

Location: 

• Based in Richland, Mississippi
• Offers service to 48 states and Mexico

Cargo: They transport temperature-controlled and dry commodities such as food, medical supplies, paper products, chemicals and cosmetics.

Special Features: 

• Temperature-sensitive and low-altitude routings
• Satellite communications network for accurate load tracking
• 98% on-time delivery rates
• Specializes in hazmat and chemical transport

Benefits: 

• Large fleet of 2,400 refrigerated trailers
• Long-haul and short-haul routes

Disadvantages: 

• Issues with micromanagement 
• Unclear delineation of duties at times 

Pricing: Request a quote from KLLM. 

Stevens Transport

Stevens Transport has won numerous awards as a premium carrier. Their reputation for responsiveness and premier services has won them a spot on the best refrigerated trucking list.   

Stevens Transport is considered an industry leader both in terms of reliable and flexible logistics solutions. With its ability to transport not only throughout the U.S. but to Mexico and Canada as well, the company offers the greatest number of routes across North America. 

Location: 

• Headquarters in Dallas, TX 
• Terminals and drop yard facilities 

Cargo: 

• Fresh produce and protein 
• Any type of refrigerated or time-sensitive products

Special Features: 

• Multi-lingual logistics experts on both sides of the border 
• Able to facilitate international trade 
• Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) certification 
• Trailers with adaptive functions
• Both road and rail use
• Maximum transport flexibility 

Benefits:

• Services through either road or rail
• Flexible personalized levels of services
  • Regional transport 
  • Local freight 
  • Cross-border deliveries 
• Multi-modal capabilities
• Relationships with major railroads
• Facilities in hub markets across North America 

Disadvantages: 

• ​​Poor communication
• Confusion in some cases 

Pricing: Request a quote from Stevens Transport. 

C.R. England

C.R. England is a company dedicated to providing transportation solutions that can meet the needs of all types of customers. Their services extend to Mexico, and the company is one of the best in the industry.

Location: 

• Salt Lake City, UT
• Regional divisions throughout the United States

Cargo: 

• General merchandise
• Retail grocery
• Dry goods
• Food
• Beverage
• Produce
• Protein

Special Features: 

• Handles the transportation of import and export products 
• Delivery between Mexico and the USA
• Some of the fastest transit times in the industry
• Quick freight delivery services

Benefits: 

• Modern equipment with the latest technology
• On-time service
• High security with temperature-controlled shipments

Disadvantages: 

• Understaffed and disorganized offices

Pricing: 

• Request a quote from C.R. England. 

TransAm Trucking Inc. 

TransAm Trucking aspires to deliver the best customer service with the latest technology and real-time equipment monitoring. As one of the safest choices for temperature-controlled transportation within the Midwest, TransAm Trucking also services the Northeast and Southeast regions of the U.S.

Location: 

• Headquarters in Olathe, KS 
• Service locations:
  • Midwest
  • Northeast
  • Southeast

Cargo: 

• Any produce needing temperature-controlled transportation

Special Features:

• Detailed communication from pick-up to delivery  
• Comprehensive reporting throughout the entire process

Benefits: 

• Strategic locations across the U.S.
• Reliability
• Industry-leading trucking standards

Disadvantages: 

• Can be disorganized
• Poor communication in some cases 

Pricing:  

• Request a quote from TransAm Trucking. 

Swift Refrigerated

Swift Refrigerated is one of the largest temperature-controlled fleets in the industry. The company promises to keep products in environments with stable temperatures from the point of pick-up until it arrives at its final destination.

With dedicated providers in Mexico and Canada, Swift Refrigerated is equipped to provide exceptional temperature-controlled delivery across North America. Some of the company’s largest customers include Walmart, Costco and Target, all of which require the highest standard of service.

Location: 

• Phoenix, AZ
• Services all over the USA, Mexico and Canada

Cargo: All types of temperature-sensitive products

Special Features: 

• 24/7, 365 days per year 
• Owner of Transmex 
• Can provide quick and safe transportation services in Mexico 

Benefits: 

• Able to transport loads of all sizes 
• Expedited delivery in the Continental U.S., Canada and Mexico

Disadvantages: Complaints of poor equipment maintenance

Pricing: Request a quote from Swift Refrigerated.

Hirschbach Motor Lines

Hirschbach Motor Lines offers refrigerated truck services in 48 states. With specialized deliveries in the eastern part of the United States, they provide different solutions for non-traditional trucking needs. 

Location: 

• Dubuque, IA
• Services all 48 states

Cargo: 

• All types of temperature-sensitive freight

Employees:

• 501 to 1,000 employees

Revenue: 

• $533 million

Special Features:

• Wide range of specialized and dedicated transportation solutions
• Offers yard management, cold storage and warehousing 

Benefits: 

• Greatest number of solutions for non-traditional trucking needs
• Fast and reliable service 
• Specialized transport solutions

Disadvantages: 

• Complaints of poor management
• Lack of communication 

Pricing: 

• Request a quote from Hirschbach Motor Lines.

How Do Refrigerated Trucking Companies Work?

As the name implies, refrigerated trucking companies specialize in the transportation of temperature-restrictive goods with temperature-controlled and insulated refrigerated trailers, which are also known as reefer trucks. These companies range from small owner-operator trucks to large companies with fleets in the thousands. 

The basic purpose of a refrigerated trucking company is to safely deliver goods, within stringent timeframes, in a closely monitored and temperature-controlled setting. At this point, refrigerated trucking companies are so embedded within our daily lives that consumers don’t even realize that without them, all frozen food, fresh produce, flowers and key pharmaceutical needs wouldn’t be available. 

Beyond spoilage, fine art and materials used for creating computer processors and chips are also transported by reefer trucks. But what makes a good refrigerated trucking company? Keep reading to find out. 

What Makes a Good Refrigerated Trucking Company?

A good refrigerated trucking company should demonstrate exceptional professionalism from beginning to end. From delivery and services to operations and customer service, another important detail is that clear communication is present the entire time. 

A refrigerated trucking company’s primary job is to deliver delicate goods in perfect condition. They are also responsible for transporting items on time, so reliability must be a key tenant of these companies.  

On-Time Delivery

On-time delivery is essential for all business operations. If a refrigerated trucking company is not able to consistently meet its deadlines, nothing else matters outside of the safety of your materials, which could also be in jeopardy if they don’t arrive on time. Whether you are moving fine art for auctions or goods to restock in a local supermarket, every late or missed delivery can result in significant loss, whether it be in terms of profits, goods or both. 

Service and Operation

Service and operation refer to the overall delivery of the goods. From the delivery trailer to the final destination, it’s important that products are adequately packed. It’s also imperative that they arrive undamaged, too. Efficiency and professionalism throughout the entire transport process are also incredibly vital. 

Customer Service

Even with the best refrigerated trucking companies, there’s always the chance that something will go wrong. No one can control the world around them. An accident on the highway, natural disasters and other unexpected events can cause even the best-planned routes to become the cautionary tale of best-laid plans. 

In these cases, clear communication and exceptional customer service are a must. A company not only needs to offer the best service, but the company also has to interact with its customers, listen to their needs and adjust its processes as a result. If something goes wrong, you’ll want to be sure you are working with the best in customer service. 

Reliability & Consistency

The best trucking companies are reliable. They consistently either show up to appointments early or on time with well-packed and protected goods. Look for a refrigerated trucking company with a long track record of success and a habit of yielding consistent results. 

Refrigerated Trucking Companies For All Types of Business

The nine refrigerated trucking companies on our list of the best-refrigerated trucking companies offer exceptional value, reliability and service. Check them out today to figure out which company is best for you and your needs. 

FAQ