Chilled loads are a hot commodity, whether it’s produce season in the Midwest, or fresh seafood on the coasts. And with frozen food being a convenient go-to, there are year-round refrigerated trucking opportunities nationwide. Reefer loads are currently available on Amazon Relay to all carriers based on performance score.
Want to haul something cool? Here’s what you need to know to be a part of refrigerated transport for Amazon’s grocery logistics.
What is a reefer truck?
Reefers, short for refrigerated trucks, haul shipments of temperature-controlled freight. The refrigeration unit in the back of the truck connects to the cargo area to circulate and sustain cooler temperatures. A reefer unit implies a refrigerated system (like a box truck) or a refrigerated trailer (like a semi). It usually involves a diesel-fueled generator or cryogenic cooling.
Types of freight in reefer trucking
Reefers are used for perishable goods that have the potential to spoil, like food or flowers. On Amazon Relay, you’ll find grocery shipments. Mixed loads are most common, but your company’s drivers may move goods like produce, meat, or ice cream. Reefer shipments are considered “mixed” based on the temperature setting of each shipment. At Amazon, we have chilled and frozen loads.
- Chilled loads: 33 degrees Fahrenheit
- Frozen loads: - 10 degrees Fahrenheit
Reefers can be single temp throughout the trailer or multi-temp with two different temperatures in one trailer. The temp requirement will vary with each load, but rain or shine, that temperature inside the trailer must remain constant during transit. Spoiled freight is costly.
Dry van vs. reefer freight
Every type of freight requires a driver to work quickly and monitor cargo closely, but there are key differences between a dry van and a reefer trailer. Here’s what to know before you haul.
- Back-ups: Cargo has to stay in a food-safe temperature range, start to finish. That’s why jumper cables are often a necessity for refrigerated hauls and drivers should make sure the reefer’s fuel tank is full for the distance of the trip (it’s separate from the truck’s fuel).
- Pre- and post-prep: At Amazon, reefer units must be turned on and pre-cooled to their load temps at least 1.5 hours before pick-up to receive cargo. At delivery, an associate will use an infrared thermometer to check a pallet’s temp and make sure the acceptable range was maintained in transit.
- Cost: The fuel to power a reefer unit throughout transit can be expensive, and the same goes for the maintenance and insurance to avoid breakdowns. But the good news is you can switch off a reefer’s cooling power to haul dry goods, avoiding deadhead miles and maximizing your load opportunities as needed.
- Rates: Because reefer freight is specialized work and has a growing surge in demand, the rates tend to be higher than dry van.
What reefer loads are available on Amazon?
Relay is looking for trusted carriers to haul refrigerated freight to Amazon grocery stores. Each trip will include multiple stops and drivers are required to unload freight using Amazon-provided equipment. Live loads and unloads are available for 53’ and 48’ reefer trailers (yours or ours). We’re also looking for 26’ reefer box trucks to handle small loads over quick distances.
There’s no extra training for Relay carriers to get into this type of trucking. Here’s how to book.
- Spot freight: Flexible frozen food hauls are available on Relay’s load board. Reefer carriers can filter by equipment type (e.g. “53’ Reefer”, “48’ Reefer”, “26’ Reefer”), and/or the temperature setting for the load, then book at one all-in price.
- Auctions: As part of our contracts marketplace, high-performing carriers can bid on consistent reefer work based on rate per mile. You won’t know the exact lanes while you’re bidding, but we’ll provide you a list of start and end locations.
How does my company get approved for Amazon reefer loads?
Reefer carriers are held to the same performance, safety, and insurance standards required for dry loads. Additionally:
- Carriers need cargo insurance with a limit of at least $100,000 (including reefer breakdown coverage).
- Carriers must meet all food safety and regulatory requirements under federal laws, including those under the FDA’s Sanitary Transportation Rule.
- Reefer trucks must be considered food grade, clean, dry, pest-free, allergen-free, chemical-free, and odor-free to meet Relay equipment standards.
Reefer is heating up at Amazon
More refrigerated hauls are added to Relay’s load board and auctions every day – and the demand for food isn’t going anywhere. Reefer trucking companies can apply to haul for Amazon on desktop and on mobile (iOS or Android).
Disclaimer: Amazon does not tender loads through any third-party load boards. Any Amazon loads posted on third-party load boards will only be tendered directly to approved and onboarded carriers via the Relay web portal or Relay mobile app. If you are interested in hauling loads for Amazon, sign up and book directly on relay.amazon.com.
