What freight does a reefer actually move?
Reefer freight is produce, protein, dairy, frozen retail, and some pharma. As of early October 2026, national reefer spot linehaul (minus fuel) sat at $2.71–$2.74 per mile — still more than 30% higher than a year earlier, per DAT’s Reefer Report.
Produce is the high-pay, high-claim side of the board. Loading and unloading run long. Receivers reject for pulp temperature (the internal temperature of the product itself, not the air reading on the unit). Chicken plants are known for 8–12 hour dwell. Multistops on reefer turn a clean rate into unpaid hours fast.
We are open-deck first — flatbed, step deck, conestoga, hotshot — and we also book reefer, dry van, and box truck under the same terms. Across roughly 2,400–2,700 loads we have dispatched, most have been open deck, heaviest in Texas, then Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Alabama and Oklahoma. Reefer is secondary volume, not a reefer-only desk. If you need a pure produce specialist who lives on the California and Florida boards, say so up front and we will tell you straight.
What does a reefer dispatch service actually do?
A reefer dispatch service finds temperature-controlled loads under your MC, negotiates the rate, confirms set point and mode in writing on the rate con, vets the broker, coordinates the appointment, and chases detention, TONU (truck-ordered-not-used pay when a broker cancels after you are dispatched), and lumper after the fact. You stay the carrier. You approve every load.
We run the boards, pull credit and days-to-pay data before we present a broker we have not worked, and get the temperature language on the rate con before you roll. We do not force loads. If the set point or continuous/cycle instruction is missing or wrong, we do not book it.
Candor Trucking is an open-deck truck dispatch service for owner-operators and small fleets. We specialize in flatbed, step deck, conestoga and hotshot freight in Texas and the steel belt, for 7–11% of gross with no contract and no forced dispatch. Reefer sits inside that same model.
How do reefer claims happen and how does a good dispatcher cut them?
Most reefer claims start the same way: set point wrong on the rate con, continuous vs cycle never confirmed, product loaded hot with no pulp temp recorded, or the download never saved. The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Sanitary Transportation Rule is clear on the carrier side. 21 CFR 1.908(a)(3)(iii) requires “Taking effective measures to ensure that food that requires temperature control for safety is transported under adequate temperature control.”
Shippers must put the operating temperature in writing. 21 CFR 1.908(b)(2) says the shipper “must specify in writing to the carrier… an operating temperature for the transportation operation including, if necessary, the pre-cooling phase.” If that line is missing, we do not pull the load.
Before we present a reefer we confirm set point on the rate con, continuous or cycle mode, any pre-cool requirement, pulp-temp protocol at the dock, and broker credit and days to pay. If the unit fails or the receiver rejects, the download and the written rate-con language are what protect you. We keep both.
| Check | Why it matters | Who confirms |
|---|---|---|
| Set point on rate con | Matches BOL and shipper instruction | Dispatcher + you |
| Continuous or cycle | Continuous for most produce; cycle can open a claim | Dispatcher |
| Pre-cool required | Empty trailer must be at temp before loading | Shipper / rate con |
| Pulp temp protocol | Internal product temp, not just air reading | You at dock |
| Broker credit / days to pay | Produce bond claims often fail | Dispatcher |
How do you keep produce brokers from slow-paying or stiffing you?
Produce is often treated as an exempt commodity. Filing on a broker’s bond is frequently a formality that does not recover the money. Days to pay and actual payment history matter more than the bond alone.
Before we book a produce broker we have not used, we pull credit and recent payment behavior. Slow pay on a $3,000 load hurts worse than a lowball rate. We do not present brokers with a pattern of holding invoices after clean deliveries. You still see the rate con and decide.
What does FSMA actually require of a reefer carrier?
Carriers must keep equipment that can hold the required temperature, follow the shipper’s written operating temperature, and be able to show they held it if the shipper or receiver asks. 21 CFR 1.908(e)(2) states a carrier must, if requested, “demonstrate that it has maintained temperature conditions during the transportation operation consistent with the operating temperature specified by the shipper.”
Vehicles used for food that needs temperature control must be designed, maintained, and equipped to provide that control. Non-covered businesses under the $500,000 average annual revenue threshold (inflation-adjusted) are exempt. Most active reefer operators are not in that bucket.
We treat the rate-con temperature line as non-negotiable. That is the paper that matches the regulation.
How much does Candor charge for reefer dispatch?
Industry desks commonly charge 5–10% of gross or a flat weekly rate. Candor charges 7–11% of the carrier’s gross per load. No weekly fee. No setup fee. No termination fee. Multi-truck fleets can discuss the rate. Full breakdown is detailed in our fee overview below.
Percent looks higher on paper until a temperature claim or a 30-day slow pay hits. We earn when you get paid clean.
| Model | Typical range | Best when |
|---|---|---|
| Percent of gross (industry) | 5–10% | Low volume or trial weeks |
| Candor percent | 7–11% of gross | You want claim and broker work included |
| Flat weekly (market) | ~$250–$350/wk | High consistent miles, low claim risk |
Who is this reefer dispatch service for — and who should skip it?
Owner-operators and small fleets (1–10 trucks) with MC authority 6+ months old who want temperature language forced onto the rate con and produce brokers checked before the load is presented. Newer authorities are accepted but not the primary target.
Skip us if you already run strong dedicated reefer contracts, you enjoy running the boards yourself and have the afternoon hours to do it, or you need a pure reefer-only desk that lives on California and Florida produce. We are open-deck first. Results vary by lane, equipment, and market.
Sources
- 21 CFR Part 1 Subpart O — Sanitary Transportation of Human and Animal Food. eCFR / FDA (checked 2026-10-12).
- 21 CFR § 1.908 — What requirements apply to transportation operations?. Cornell LII (checked 2026-10-12).
- DAT Reefer Report: Rates ease as produce rush cools. DAT Freight & Analytics (checked 2026-10-12).
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. FMCSA (checked 2026-10-12).
Reefer dispatch FAQ
Is reefer dispatch worth it if I already self-dispatch?
Yes when board time, after-hours calls, or claim paperwork is costing you loaded miles. No when you already have solid shippers and free afternoon hours. Trial a few weeks and compare net after the fee.
Do you force loads?
No. Every load is presented for your approval. No weekly minimum. Cancel with written notice. No termination fee.
How do you handle detention, TONU and lumper on reefer?
We put the rates on the rate con when possible, document in/out times, and pursue the accessorial after delivery. TONU is the truck-ordered-not-used pay you are owed when a broker cancels after you are dispatched. Lumper is the paid unloader at the receiver — we try to get it authorized up front.
Can a new-authority reefer carrier work with you?
Yes, but some produce brokers still reject new MC numbers. We are built for 6+ month authority. Newer authorities are accepted; expect tighter broker options at the start.