A national cold chain, not just a Toronto one
Temperature-controlled freight isn't confined to any one region of Canada — it's a coast-to-coast network. Atlantic Canada moves seafood and produce west; the Prairies move agricultural and food products through hubs like Winnipeg; Ontario and Quebec run the country's densest food and pharma distribution; and BC handles both West Coast agriculture and port-connected reefer freight. Wherever your business is based, reliable reefer capacity depends on understanding how this network actually connects.
Shipmate Logistics arranges temperature-controlled FTL and LTL freight across every major Canadian corridor, matching your shipment to carriers already running the right lane rather than repositioning empty equipment to serve it — which keeps both pricing and transit times more predictable.
Equipment and temperature ranges, explained simply
Reefer trailers run a spectrum of temperature settings: deep-frozen around -18°C for frozen food and ice cream, chilled ranges for produce and dairy, controlled cool (2–8°C) for pharmaceuticals and some beverages, and protective heated service that simply keeps freight above freezing in winter. The right setting depends entirely on what you're shipping, and getting it wrong in either direction can mean a rejected or damaged shipment on arrival.
Most carriers now run continuous temperature logging, so you have a documented record of in-transit conditions — useful for food safety audits, pharma chain-of-custody requirements, or simply settling any dispute about product condition at delivery.
Regional considerations that affect your reefer shipment
Winter is the biggest variable nationally: heated reefer protects freeze-sensitive freight from November through April in most of the country, and the further west or north your lane runs, the more that matters. In the Maritimes, reefer demand runs in both directions — temperature-controlled freight heads east and seafood moves west, which helps keep round-trip pricing competitive. On the Prairies, agricultural and food processing volume out of Manitoba and Saskatchewan creates strong reefer capacity, but extreme cold snaps in January and February can add planning time.
Cross-border reefer freight into the US adds another layer — food and pharma shipments crossing the border need the same commercial documentation as any other freight, plus in some cases FDA prior notice for food products. Flag this at quoting time and we'll make sure it's handled before the truck reaches the crossing.
Getting a reefer quote for your lane
Whatever corridor you're shipping on, an accurate reefer quote needs your required temperature range, pickup and delivery locations, weight and skid count, and any regulatory or certification requirements. The earlier you can give us your ship date, the better we can secure the right equipment — reefer capacity is tighter than dry van on most lanes.
Shipmate Logistics quotes temperature-controlled freight on every major Canadian corridor and into the US, with a dedicated account manager coordinating your shipment from pickup to delivery.
Ready to price your next load? Request a free estimate and a Shipmate specialist will respond with exact rates during business hours, or call (905) 508-6632.
Frequently asked questions
Does reefer freight cost more everywhere in Canada, or just on some lanes?
Reefer carries a premium over dry van on every lane because of the equipment and fuel involved, but the size of that premium varies — lanes with deep reefer capacity (like the GTA–Montreal corridor) tend to price more competitively than thinner regional lanes. Request a quote for your specific route.
Can you arrange reefer freight into the US from anywhere in Canada?
Yes. We arrange cross-border temperature-controlled freight from origins across Canada into the US, handling the commercial documentation and, for food shipments, any additional regulatory requirements involved in the crossing.
How far in advance should I book reefer capacity?
As early as possible — reefer trailers are a smaller share of the overall truck pool than dry van, so capacity tightens faster, especially during produce season and the weeks around major holidays. A day or two of lead time meaningfully improves pricing and availability.