SPECIALIZED SERVICE
Reefer Drayage
Drayage of refrigerated containers (reefers) requiring temperature monitoring, powered chassis, and carriers equipped to maintain cold chain integrity.
Reefer drayage refers to the short-haul transport of refrigerated containers (commonly called "reefers") from a seaport or intermodal terminal to a temperature-controlled warehouse, cold storage facility, or food processing plant. Reefer containers are built with integrated refrigeration units that maintain precise temperature ranges, commonly -25°C for frozen cargo or +2°C to +8°C for chilled products. Common reefer cargo includes meat, seafood, fresh produce, dairy, pharmaceuticals, and certain chemicals.
Reefer drayage requires powered chassis — chassis with 460V electrical connections that plug into the reefer unit to maintain temperature during transport. Standard chassis cannot support reefer containers during a move. Carriers specializing in reefer drayage maintain an inventory of powered chassis or have established relationships with chassis providers who offer them. Reefer chassis availability is significantly more constrained than dry chassis, particularly at ports like Miami, Savannah, and LA/Long Beach that handle large volumes of temperature-sensitive cargo.
During a reefer drayage move, the driver must monitor the container's temperature logs and verify the unit is running correctly before departure. Most reefer containers record continuous temperature data internally; carriers and shippers can download these logs for compliance documentation. For pharmaceutical cargo, temperature logs must meet FDA cold chain documentation standards. For food imports, USDA/FDA phytosanitary and inspection requirements may delay terminal release and add urgency to the drayage timeline.