Reefer container drayage with gensets

How reefer drayage works

A reefer container has its own refrigeration unit. At the terminal and on the ship, it's plugged into power. On the road, it needs a genset, a diesel generator mounted on the container or the chassis, to keep the unit running.

We pull reefers with gensets, so your cargo stays at its set point between the terminal and the dock.

What we check

• The set point on the unit matches the temperature on the delivery order or booking.
• The unit is running before the container leaves the terminal.
• The genset has fuel for the trip.

If something doesn't look right at pickup, dispatch hears about it before the truck leaves, and you hear about it from us.

Import reefers

Import reefers are often time-sensitive. Food, flowers and pharmaceuticals don't wait well. We track availability, holds and last free day on every container, and plan the pickup so the box goes straight to your dock when it's ready. GPS on every tractor gives a live ETA, and arrival is logged when the truck reaches your gate.

If the receiver can't take the box right away, tell us early. A reefer that has to wait needs power, so plan it before the last free day rather than after.

Export reefers

For exports, we pick up the empty reefer and deliver it to your dock. Many shippers want the unit pre-cooled before loading. Tell us the set point and loading time, and whether you'll load live or need the box dropped. After loading, we deliver the container to the terminal inside the receiving window and before the cutoff. See export drayage for the timing.

Oakland moves a lot of refrigerated agricultural exports. See Oakland drayage.

What to include in your quote request

• Import or export.
• Set point temperature, and any vent or humidity settings.
• Container size, usually 20' or 40' high cube.
• Pickup terminal and delivery ZIP.
• Live unload or drop, and how long the box may sit.
• Cargo weight. Heavy reefers may need a tri-axle chassis.

Proof that matters

With temperature-controlled cargo, a clear record helps if a claim comes up. Drivers take POD and EIR photos in our driver app at the dock and the gate, and they're on file the same day.

We pull reefers at Houston, Oakland and LA/Long Beach. See Houston drayage for the Gulf side.