What is Reefer Trucking?
Reefer trucking, short for refrigerated trucking, is moving temperature-sensitive freight in trailers that have their own refrigeration unit built in. These trailers maintain precise temperature ranges throughout the journey, ensuring perishable goods arrive at their destination in optimal condition.
Why reefer matters in Canada
Canada is big. Between major cities you're looking at 5,000 km or more, which makes holding the cold chain the hard part. It matters for:
- Food-safety compliance with Health Canada rules
- Keeping product quality across multi-day transits
- Delivering the fresh product shoppers expect
Temperature zones
Frozen (-20°C to -18°C)
For ice cream, frozen meat, frozen veg, and anything else that has to stay solid the whole trip.
Chilled (0°C to 4°C)
The most common zone. Fresh produce, dairy, fresh meat, seafood, and floral all run here.
Controlled Ambient (15°C to 25°C)
For chocolate, some pharma, wine, and other goods that don't need refrigeration but can't sit in a hot or freezing trailer either.
Choosing a reefer carrier
A few things to look at when you're picking a reefer carrier:
- Temperature monitoring. Live readings with alerts, not end-of-trip downloads.
- Food safety. Real procedures for loading, handling, and temperature control.
- Fleet age and maintenance. Newer trucks break down less often.
- Coverage. Make sure they actually run the lanes you need.
- Insurance. Check their cargo coverage before you commit.
Rules worth knowing
Reefer trucking in Canada falls under a few regulators:
- Transport Canada: vehicle safety standards
- Provincial authorities: weight limits and highway rules
- FMCSA: anything moving into the US
Wrapping up
Once you know the basics of how reefer works, your supply-chain choices get easier. Okanagan cherries heading to Vancouver or British Columbia dairy going out to retailers, the carrier you pick is what decides whether the load lands right.