Refrigerated Trucking Services

Protecting Temperature-Sensitive Freight from Pickup to Delivery

Temperature-sensitive freight has zero tolerance for failure. The margin for error in cold chain logistics is essentially zero. MGA International Logistics manages refrigerated trucking and reefer freight across the United States and Canada through a vetted network of temperature-controlled carriers. We match your cargo’s specific temperature requirements — whether that’s 34°F fresh produce, -10°F frozen seafood, or 59°F pharmaceutical product — to the right trailer, the right carrier, and the right route.

From a single reefer LTL pallet crossing the border to a full 53-foot dedicated reefer load serving a national grocery chain, MGA International handles every cold chain shipment with the same standard of care: documented, monitored, and delivered intact.

Modern reefer trailers provide:

• Temperature range: typically -20°F to +70°F (-29°C to +21°C), covering frozen, fresh, and controlled-ambient freight
• Multi-temp (zone) capability: a single trailer can maintain two or three separate temperature zones for mixed-temperature loads
• Continuous temperature logging: onboard data recorders (Sensitech, Carrier DataLink, or equivalent) capture temperature readings at set intervals throughout transit
• Remote monitoring: many reefer units support real-time temperature alerts sent to dispatch and shipper if temperature deviates from setpoint
• Pre-cooling requirement: reefer trailers must be pre-cooled to target temperature before loading — loading warm product into a warm trailer extends pull-down time and risks temperature excursions

MGA International verifies pre-cooling protocols, temperature equipment certifications, and monitoring capability for every reefer carrier in our network before a load is tendered.

Temperature Requirements by Freight Type

Not all refrigerated freight ships at the same temperature. Knowing your cargo’s required temperature range — and verifying the carrier’s equipment can maintain it — is the most important first step in a cold chain shipment. Here is a reference guide for common refrigerated freight categories:

Reefer Trailer Equipment Options at MGA International

MGA International matches your cold chain shipment to the right reefer equipment — not just the nearest available truck. Our carrier network operates the full range of temperature-controlled equipment across North America:

Industries That Rely on MGA International Refrigerated Trucking

MGA International’s reefer trucking network serves every major temperature-sensitive freight sector across the US and Canada:

Cross-Border Refrigerated Trucking: Canada to USA and USA to Canada

Moving temperature-sensitive freight across the US-Canada border adds compliance layers that standard freight does not face. Food safety authorities on both sides of the border require specific documentation, and a paperwork error can mean a held trailer, spoiled product, and a damaged customer relationship.

MGA International manages every cross-border reefer shipment with in-house compliance expertise:

• FSMA compliance: FDA Prior Notice submission required for all food products entering the United States from Canada — filed before the truck crosses
• CFIA Safe Food for Canadians Act (SFCA) compliance for food imports into Canada — establishment registration, safe food plans, and import declarations
• Temperature documentation package for customs: commercial invoice, bill of lading, certificate of origin, CFIA/FDA import permits where required
• FAST lane carrier certification to minimize border crossing time for pre-cleared food shipments
• Cross-border winter routing: cold-weather lanes between Ontario-Michigan, Quebec-New York, and Alberta-Montana are actively managed for freeze-protection freight during winter months
• Pharmaceutical cold chain customs: DEA import permits, Health Canada import notifications, and GDP chain-of-custody documentation managed end-to-end

For importers and exporters of temperature-sensitive goods across the Canada-US border, MGA International functions as a single point of accountability — handling logistics, documentation, and compliance so your cold chain stays intact from origin to destination.

How MGA International’s Refrigerated Trucking Process Works

Cold chain integrity is maintained through process — not luck. MGA International follows a documented cold chain management process from the moment you request a quote to final delivery confirmation:

Why Temperature-Sensitive Shippers Choose MGA International

Pre-Qualified Reefer Carriers Only

MGA International does not tender reefer loads to general freight carriers with occasional reefer equipment. Every carrier in our cold chain network is pre-qualified based on equipment condition, temperature logging capability, and cold chain cargo experience.

Temperature-Specific Carrier Matching

Pharmaceutical cold chain requirements are different from frozen food requirements. Fresh produce is different from floral. We match your cargo’s exact temperature range and compliance standard to the right carrier — not just the nearest reefer truck.

Continuous Monitoring and Proactive Alerts

Cold chain failures happen at 2 AM when no one is watching. MGA’s dispatch team monitors active reefer shipments around the clock. If a temperature alarm fires, we act immediately — rerouting to a cold storage facility if necessary — before you even know there is a problem.

Cross-Border Cold Chain Compliance

US-Canada reefer moves involve FSMA, CFIA, and food safety documentation requirements that most 3PLs leave to the shipper. MGA handles all cross-border food and pharmaceutical compliance in-house.

Temperature Download Reports on Delivery

Every sensitive shipment is supported with a Continuous Temperature Report (CTR) from the data logger. This document proves cold chain integrity from pickup to delivery — essential for pharmaceutical GDP compliance and food safety audits.

25+ Years of Cold Chain Experience

MGA International has been managing temperature-sensitive freight across North America since the company’s founding. That experience means we have seen — and solved — every cold chain challenge: equipment failure, border delays, winter route emergencies, and pharmaceutical compliance audits.

Get a Refrigerated Trucking Quote Today

The shipping of perishable products will always remain in high demand, and refrigerated freight carriers enable the safe hauling of these goods across the continent. When either heating or cooling is a requirement, the experienced team at MGA International Logistics offers excellent refrigerated trucking services for all your cold chain logistics, whether it involves domestic or cross-border transit.

Refrigerated Trucking is just one of the many services we offer. We invite you to ask us for a free, no-obligation quote today.