Why Refrigerated Freight Costs More Than Dry Van
Reefer freight almost always costs more than equivalent dry van freight, and the reasons are structural, not arbitrary. Reefer trailers cost more to buy and maintain than dry vans, the refrigeration unit burns fuel independently of the truck's engine, there are fewer reefer trailers in the market relative to demand, and the freight itself often comes with tighter scheduling requirements that limit a carrier's flexibility to combine it efficiently with other loads.
Understanding this helps set realistic expectations - a reefer quote that comes in dramatically cheaper than others is worth a second look before you book it.
What Actually Drives the Price on Your Load
Distance is the obvious factor, but it's rarely the only one that matters. Trailer availability on your specific lane and season matters just as much - reefer capacity tightens during produce season and around major holidays. How tight your pickup and delivery windows are matters too: a flexible pickup date is genuinely cheaper to book than a hard same-day or same-hour requirement, because it gives the carrier more options to build an efficient route.
Weight and pallet count matter for FTL pricing less than most shippers expect (you're generally paying for the trailer, not the exact cubic footage used), but they matter significantly for LTL pricing, where you're paying proportionally for the space and weight your freight occupies.
FTL vs LTL Reefer: A Real Cost Comparison
Dedicated FTL reefer costs more per shipment but delivers faster with fewer handling points - you're paying for the whole trailer whether you fill it or not. LTL reefer costs less for smaller shipments because you're sharing trailer space and cost with other freight, but it takes longer and involves more stops, which increases handling risk for genuinely perishable product.
As a rough rule: if you're shipping close to a full trailer or your product can't tolerate the extra transit time and handling of LTL, FTL is usually worth the premium. If you're shipping a handful of pallets of something reasonably shelf-stable, LTL can cut your cost significantly.
Seasonal and Fuel Surcharge Factors
Reefer rates move seasonally more than dry van rates do. Produce season (roughly spring through fall, depending on the crop and region) pulls a large share of reefer capacity toward agricultural freight, which tightens availability and raises rates for everyone else shipping temperature-controlled freight during that window. Winter holiday freight volume does something similar in the fall.
Fuel surcharges apply to reefer freight the same way they do to dry van, but reefer units also burn fuel independently to run refrigeration, which is factored into the base rate rather than the surcharge specifically.
Extra Costs to Watch For
Detention charges apply if a truck sits at pickup or delivery longer than the free time allotted (usually 1-2 hours) - this matters more for reefer than dry van because the unit keeps running (and burning fuel) the whole time it waits. Protective service fees may apply for loads needing extra temperature monitoring or documentation. Multi-stop fees apply on LTL reefer if your freight requires delivery to more than one location.
None of these are hidden fees when you work with a broker who explains them upfront - the goal is knowing what's included in your quote before you book, not discovering extras on the invoice.
How to Get an Accurate Reefer Quote
Give us the product type and required temperature range, pickup and delivery locations with any hard appointment windows, approximate weight and pallet count, and whether you need FTL or are open to LTL. The more specific you are upfront, the more accurate - and often lower - your quote will be, because we're not pricing in uncertainty.
Frequently asked questions
Why is reefer freight more expensive than dry van?
Reefer trailers cost more to buy and maintain, the refrigeration unit adds fuel cost independent of the truck engine, there's less reefer capacity in the market relative to demand, and temperature-sensitive freight often has tighter scheduling requirements.
Is LTL reefer cheaper than FTL?
For smaller shipments, yes - you're sharing trailer space and cost with other freight. But LTL takes longer and involves more handling, which matters more for perishable product than for shelf-stable temperature-controlled goods.
What is detention and why does it cost more for reefer freight?
Detention is the fee for a truck sitting at pickup or delivery beyond the free time allotted. It applies more heavily to reefer freight because the refrigeration unit keeps running and burning fuel the entire time the truck waits.
Does the season affect reefer freight pricing?
Yes, significantly. Produce season and the winter holiday period both pull heavily on reefer capacity, which tightens availability and raises rates industry-wide during those windows.
How can I lower my reefer freight cost without risking my product?
Give flexible pickup and delivery windows where possible, book as early as you can, and be precise about your actual weight, pallet count, and temperature requirement so you're not paying for uncertainty.