LTL Reefer Carriers - DAT

LTL Reefer Carriers

LTL Reefer Carriers

Get ahead of the competition with the best selection of loads for LTL reefer carriers.

The DAT Load Board offers a broad selection of reefer loads, including LTL reefer loads. Using the DAT network, LTL reefer carriers can find specialty loads, calculate market rates, and connect with brokers.

Find LTL reefer loads across the country

Search for specialty loads with the DAT load board and save money with flexible search and posting capabilities.

DAT offers a complete solution to refrigerated LTL trucking. For LTL reefer carriers looking for new loads, the DAT load board includes thousands of LTL loads annually — about 6% of DAT’s total listings. With exclusive access to more loads than any other load board, DAT helps you to get ahead of the competition.

Understand refrigerated LTL market trends and boost your earnings

Analyze spot market rates to find the best loads and the highest-paying routes.

LTL loads don’t take up as much space as standard truck loads, so they almost always pay less than a full truckload. However, any LTL carrier knows that if you mix and match multiple LTL loads, you can quickly make more than you could with a full truckload. The DAT load board helps LTL reefer carriers to find the best paying loads, and to optimize your revenue.

Access your load board with DAT One mobile app

Take DAT on the road, with complete access to the DAT load board using the DAT One mobile app.

The DAT One mobile app allows LTL reefer carriers to access TMS features as well as the complete DAT load board. When you take your DAT subscription on the road, you can find the best LTL loads wherever you are and understand the best-paying routes based on your location. Plus, you can discover new loads using powerful search and posting capabilities wherever you have cell service.

What is a refrigerated LTL load?

As the name suggests, less-than-truckload (LTL) loads take up less space than a standard truckload. Plenty of truckers specialize in LTL loads, either combining multiple LTL loads into a larger trailer, or transporting LTL loads with a smaller vehicle.

Refrigerated LTL loads are LTL loads that require temperature control, with a thermal-insulated trailer that usually requires continuous monitoring. For refrigerated LTL carriers, an effective load board will allow you to find specialty loads fast, with an understanding of what loads are most economical.

How do refrigerated LTL carriers find freight?

Just like other carriers, refrigerated LTL carriers find freight using load boards. With the right load board, LTL reefer carriers can use search filters to find freight that matches their specific demands. An effective LTL load board will offer a wide selection of refrigerated LTL loads, as well as spot market rates to help you understand fair pricing. The DAT load board also includes a “partial” load search, in case you’re looking for a new LTL load to economize unused space in your trailer.

Do frozen LTL carriers make money?

There is a consistent demand for temperature-controlled LTL carriers — both frozen LTL carriers and heat-insulated carriers. Practically any perishable food requires a refrigerated trailer, from frozen food, to vegetables, meat, and other refrigerated groceries. Heated trailers are necessary for any goods that might be damaged by the cold, including dry goods, paint, alcoholic beverages, and other liquids. With multiple loads and a strategic load board, LTL reefer carriers can make even more than standard reefer carriers by securing multiple loads and minimizing deadhead.

When are refrigerated LTL carriers in demand?

Temperature-controlled LTL carriers are in demand year-round, but LTL frozen freight carriers are usually in highest demand during the winter. Although there’s always a need to refrigerate perishable items during the summer, heat-controlled trailers are especially necessary in the winter to avoid freezing. As part of the broker contract, LTL reefer carriers are usually expected to monitor the temperature of the trailer to ensure there is no damage to the loads. To help to ensure temperature control during the winter months, many shippers pack their goods in protect-from-freeze (PFF) insulated bills of lading.

What is the difference between LTL and hotshot?

Like LTL loads, hotshot loads are smaller than standard truckloads. The difference is that hotshot loads are small loads that need to be delivered quickly. Because hot shot trucking is highly time-sensitive, they usually do not use a combination of multiple partial loads. Additionally, hot shot truckers often use a small vehicle, compared to LTL truckers who can combine many loads within one large trailer. As you might guess, there are some loads that fit in both of these definitions.

How can DAT help carriers save money?

With more than 722,500 new loads every business day, the DAT load board is the biggest and best load board in the industry. DAT also offers more specialty loads than any other load board, which means you can even find the perfect loads if you’re looking for top-refrigerated LTL carriers 40″.

The DAT load board comes with multiple subscription tiers, but all of our paid subscriptions include full access to the DAT load board. As cold weather kicks into gear, you can identify where to find the best average spot market rates for reefer LTL loads. With other market analytics on our TMS platform, the DAT load board helps the top refrigerated LTL carriers to optimize earnings, and to grow their business.

“The DAT Load Board is the only one I use, and I really don’t see any interest in trying any other one.”

- Brian Stone, Stone’s Trucking LLC

"DAT Load Board is awesome. They even teach you how to book a load and how to use it on your computer or cell phone app. Highly recommend DAT!"

- Francis Gatmaitan, Alpha Trucking

Get more out of your LTL reefer load board

The DAT load board includes more specialty listings than any other load board. In fact, about 6% of DAT’s loads are specifically LTL loads. With the DAT load board, refrigerated LTL carriers can eliminate deadhead, and find the best LTL load options for the best prices.