Refrigerated trucking — "reefer" in industry shorthand — is one of the highest-demand, highest-margin segments in Canadian freight. Food supply chains, pharmaceutical distribution, and chemical transport depend on temperature-controlled trucks to move goods safely across vast distances. For carriers willing to invest in the equipment and discipline required, reefer freight pays premium rates with more stable year-round demand than dry van or flatbed.
This guide covers reefer equipment costs, regulations, load handling procedures, and the economics for carriers entering or expanding in this segment.
What Is Reefer Trucking?
Reefer trucking is the transportation of goods in a refrigerated trailer — typically 53 feet — equipped with a refrigeration unit that maintains a set temperature throughout transit. The unit can cool cargo to -30 degrees Celsius or heat it to prevent freezing. Key differences from dry vans: insulated walls (3 to 4 inches of polyurethane foam), the refrigeration unit, and an internal airflow system.
Reefer trailers serve three primary temperature ranges:
Frozen
Temperature set point: -18 degrees Celsius or colder. Used for frozen foods — ice cream, frozen meats, frozen vegetables, prepared meals, and seafood. Frozen loads are the most demanding on the refrigeration unit and consume the most fuel.
Chilled (Fresh)
Temperature set point: 0 to 4 degrees Celsius. Used for fresh produce, dairy products, fresh meats, cut flowers, and many pharmaceutical products. Chilled loads are the highest-volume reefer segment in Canada, driven by the grocery supply chain.
Controlled Ambient
Temperature set point: 15 to 25 degrees Celsius (or simply "protect from freeze"). Used for products that need to stay above freezing during winter transit — confectionery, canned goods, beverages, certain chemicals, and some pharmaceutical products. During Canadian winters, even "ambient" loads often require the reefer unit to run in heat mode to prevent freezing during overnight stops or extended transit.
CFIA and Food Safety Regulations
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) oversees food safety during transportation under the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR). Any carrier transporting food products must comply with requirements that include:
- Preventive controls: Identify and control food safety hazards — maintain temperatures, prevent cross-contamination, and ensure the trailer is clean before loading.
- Traceability: Trace food products one step forward and one step back in the supply chain.
- Licensing: Businesses importing food or trading interprovincially may require a Safe Food for Canadians licence. Shippers will require documentation from carriers.
- Temperature records: Continuous temperature monitoring (data logger recording every 15 to 30 minutes) is best practice and increasingly required by major grocery chains.
For cross-border shipments, US FSMA Sanitary Transportation Rule requirements for vehicle cleanliness, temperature control, and documentation also apply. Non-compliance can result in load rejection, financial liability for spoiled cargo, and enforcement action.
Equipment Costs and Specifications
Reefer Trailers
New reefer trailers from major manufacturers (Utility, Wabash, Great Dane, Hyundai Translead) range from $65,000 to $95,000 depending on specifications. Key variables include:
- Length: 53-foot is standard; 48-foot for certain regional and LTL applications
- Insulation thickness: Standard is 3 inches for walls and 4 inches for floor and ceiling. High-efficiency trailers may use thicker insulation.
- Multi-temperature capability: Some trailers can be partitioned into 2 or 3 independently controlled zones, allowing you to haul frozen and chilled products on the same load. Multi-temp trailers cost $10,000 to $20,000 more than single-temp units.
- Floor type: Flat aluminum floor (standard for frozen/chilled) or duct floor (channeled floor that improves airflow under pallets)
- Door configuration: Swing doors (standard) or roll-up doors for frequent-stop delivery routes
Used reefer trailers in good condition with a functional refrigeration unit range from $25,000 to $55,000 depending on age, mileage, and unit hours.
Refrigeration Units
The refrigeration unit is the heart of the reefer trailer. Major manufacturers include Carrier Transicold and Thermo King, which together dominate the North American market. A new standalone refrigeration unit costs $20,000 to $35,000 installed, though the unit is typically included in the price of a new trailer.
Refrigeration units have their own engine (usually a small diesel engine) and require separate maintenance, including:
- Engine oil changes every 1,500 to 2,500 hours of operation
- Belt inspections and replacements
- Refrigerant level checks (R-404A is the most common refrigerant, though newer units are transitioning to lower-GWP alternatives)
- Evaporator and condenser coil cleaning
- Annual or semi-annual inspections by a certified reefer mechanic
Budget $3,000 to $6,000 per year in reefer unit maintenance, on top of standard trailer maintenance. A major reefer breakdown (compressor failure, engine replacement) can cost $8,000 to $15,000 — which is why preventive maintenance is not optional in this segment.
Fuel Consumption
Reefer units consume fuel independently of the tractor engine. A standard reefer unit burns approximately 3 to 5 litres of diesel per hour when running continuously, depending on the set point temperature, ambient temperature, and load conditions. On a 24-hour transit, that is 72 to 120 litres of reefer fuel alone.
For frozen loads in summer conditions, the reefer unit runs at full capacity and may consume closer to the upper end of that range. In winter, a chilled load may require only intermittent cycling, reducing fuel consumption significantly.
At current diesel prices ($1.50 to $1.80 per litre in most Canadian markets as of Q1 2026), reefer fuel adds $4.50 to $9.00 per hour to your operating cost. Over a long-haul trip, reefer fuel can represent 8% to 15% of total trip fuel expense. This must be factored into your rate calculations.
Use our fuel calculator to model total trip fuel costs including reefer consumption before quoting a rate.
Reefer Rate Premiums
Reefer loads typically command a 15% to 30% premium over equivalent dry van rates on the same lane. This premium compensates for:
- Higher equipment cost (purchase/lease of reefer trailer)
- Higher operating cost (reefer fuel, unit maintenance)
- Greater liability exposure (spoiled cargo claims can be substantial)
- Additional compliance requirements (temperature monitoring, food safety)
- Seasonal demand surges (produce season, holiday freight)
As of Q1 2026, national average reefer rates are:
- Spot market: $2.50 to $3.20 per mile (all-in including fuel surcharge)
- Contract rates: $2.70 to $3.40 per mile
- Produce season (April-September): Rates can spike $0.30 to $0.50 per mile above baseline on outbound lanes from major growing regions
For current benchmarks, see our freight rates guide.
The premium makes reefer an attractive segment, but it only translates to higher profit if you manage equipment costs and minimize cargo claims. A single spoilage claim on a full trailer of fresh produce can erase the premium on dozens of subsequent loads.
Pre-Cool Procedures
One of the most common mistakes in reefer operations — and one of the most common causes of cargo claims — is improper pre-cooling.
The Correct Approach
Before loading, the trailer must be pre-cooled to the specified set point temperature and the walls, floor, and ceiling must be at or near that temperature. This typically takes 60 to 90 minutes for a chilled load and 90 to 120 minutes for a frozen load, depending on ambient temperature and trailer condition.
Start the reefer unit and set it to the required temperature well before the scheduled loading appointment. At pickup, the shipper will typically check the trailer temperature and may check the pulp temperature of the product with a probe thermometer. If the trailer is not at set point, the load may be delayed or rejected.
What Not to Do
Never load warm product into a pre-cooled trailer and expect the reefer unit to bring it down to temperature during transit. Reefer units are designed to maintain temperature, not to cool down large volumes of warm product. A 44,000-pound load of warm produce placed in a reefer trailer set to 2 degrees Celsius will overwhelm the refrigeration unit, and the product in the centre of the load may never reach the correct temperature before delivery.
Similarly, never pre-cool the trailer with the doors open. This wastes fuel and does not achieve uniform wall temperature.
Continuous Temperature Monitoring
Modern reefer operations require continuous temperature monitoring from pickup to delivery. This involves:
Data Loggers
Standalone data loggers (Sensitech TempTale, Emerson GO Real-Time, Carrier Lynx) record trailer temperature at 5 to 15 minute intervals. Major Canadian grocery chains (Loblaw, Sobeys, Metro, Walmart) require data logger records as a condition of acceptance.
Telematics Integration
Newer reefer units include built-in telematics that transmit real-time temperature data to a TMS platform. Integrating reefer telematics with a dispatch platform like TruckerPro lets you monitor trailer temperatures across your fleet, receive out-of-range alerts, and generate temperature documentation automatically.
Common Reefer Problems and How to Avoid Them
Temperature Excursions
A temperature excursion — the trailer drifting outside the acceptable range — is the most costly problem in reefer trucking. Common causes: unit malfunction, drivers shutting off the reefer at rest stops, damaged door seals, and improper loading that blocks airflow. Prevent excursions by maintaining the unit on schedule, training drivers to never shut it down during transit, and inspecting door seals before each load.
Cargo Claims
Reefer cargo claims average $15,000 to $40,000 for a full truckload. The best defence is continuous temperature logs proving the cold chain was maintained. If your records are clean when a claim arises, liability shifts to the shipper or receiver.
Fuel Management
The reefer fuel tank (typically 200 to 250 litres, separate from the tractor) provides roughly 40 to 80 hours of run time. Check and top it off at every fuel stop.
Is Reefer Worth the Investment?
For carriers with the operational discipline to maintain equipment, monitor temperatures, and handle food-safety documentation, reefer trucking offers consistently higher revenue per mile and more stable demand than dry van. The produce season from April through September creates predictable rate surges, and the grocery supply chain runs 52 weeks a year regardless of economic cycles.
The barriers to entry — equipment cost, maintenance requirements, regulatory compliance — also serve as barriers that keep capacity tighter than dry van, which supports the rate premium. If you are running dry van today and considering a move into reefer, model the full cost using our cost-per-mile calculator before committing. Include reefer fuel, unit maintenance, and higher insurance premiums in your projections.
For carriers already in the reefer segment, the opportunity in 2026 is in efficiency: better route planning, tighter temperature monitoring, and faster documentation workflows. These are the margins that separate profitable reefer operations from those that merely cover costs.