Refrigerated transport
Refrigerated transport by full truck load
Refrigerated transport means moving freight while keeping it inside a temperature range from end to end, in a vehicle able to prove it on paper. Here it is always done as a full truck load, with a certified ATP-FRC trailer and two probes recording the entire trip.
What refrigerated transport actually is
It is the carriage of goods that spoil outside their temperature range, in a vehicle with active refrigeration and certified insulation. Cooling is not enough: the ATP Agreement requires the vehicle to be certified in a specific class and to be able to prove it, and for food the Regulation (EC) 37/2005 also requires the temperature to be recorded during the journey and that record to be kept.
- Vehicle
- Tractor unit + ATP-FRC certified refrigerated trailer, the reinforced-insulation class. Owned fleet of 82+ rigs.
- Working range
- From -30 °C to +30 °C, with a single setpoint or two independent zones on multi-temperature equipment.
- Mode
- Full truck load (FTL). No groupage, no consolidated freight.
- Evidence
- Two independent probes with continuous recording and a temperature report issued at the end of the trip.
- Coverage
- 20 European countries, with daily departures from Catalonia.
Which vehicles may run refrigerated transport, and which may not
Only a vehicle holding a valid ATP certificate of the right class for the range requested. The class is set by the ATP Agreement according to the insulation of the body and the power of the refrigeration unit, and it is the first thing an inspection or a customer audit looks at. See what ATP-FRC is and which classes exist.
| Class | What it can hold | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|
| FNA | From +12 °C down to 0 °C | Less demanding fruit and vegetables |
| FRB | Down to −10 °C | Chilled and light frozen |
| FRC | Down to −20 °C with +30 °C outside | Deep-frozen, pharma and any range in between |
What is carried, and at what temperature
| Range | Typical product | Detailed in |
|---|---|---|
| −22 °C to −18 °C | Deep-frozen: fish, ice cream, ready meals | Frozen and chilled |
| 0 °C to +2 °C | Fresh meat and fish | Frozen and chilled |
| 0 °C to +4 °C | Dairy, prepared dishes, cured meats | Temperature-controlled |
| +2 °C to +12 °C | Fruit and vegetables, depending on variety | Temperature-controlled |
| +2 °C to +8 °C | Refrigerated medicines, vaccines, biologics | Pharmaceutical GDP |
| +15 °C to +25 °C | Non-refrigerated medicines, cosmetics | Pharmaceutical GDP |
What you get when the trip is over
A temperature report for the whole journey, not a statement that everything went fine. That is what separates auditable refrigerated transport from a lorry with a fridge on it. See what the temperature record looks like.
- Continuous chart from both probes, from before loading until unloading.
- A mark for every door opening, with time and duration.
- Route followed and actual loading and unloading times.
- Signed CMR consignment note.
- The record is kept for 5 years and retrievable by trip number.
Domestic and international refrigerated transport
The base is in Fogars de la Selva (Barcelona), on the Mediterranean corridor and some 50 km from the La Jonquera border crossing, the natural gateway for perishable freight between the peninsula and the rest of Europe. From there 20 countries are covered daily. See all corridors.
Why refrigerated transport is run as a full truck load
Because the cold chain breaks on the loading dock, not on the road. Every consolidation means opening the doors, dropping the pallet onto a bay that is almost never at product temperature and loading it onto another vehicle. That is why we work only as full truck load: one rig, one customer, one trip, one setpoint. See full truck load (FTL).
Frequently asked questions about refrigerated transport
What is the difference between refrigerated transport and temperature-controlled transport?
In practice the terms are used interchangeably, but they do not mean the same thing. "Refrigerated" describes the vehicle: it carries an active refrigeration unit. "Temperature-controlled" describes the commitment: the goods are kept within an agreed range and it can be proven with a record. A reefer with no probes and no report is doing refrigerated transport, but not temperature-controlled transport. Every CoolCargo service is both.
What is an ATP-FRC trailer?
It is an insulated trailer with a refrigeration unit certified in class FRC of the ATP Agreement: reinforced insulation (K coefficient of 0.40 W/m²·K or lower) and the ability to hold −20 °C inside with +30 °C outside. The certificate is issued by an authorised body, has an expiry date and is renewed by testing. The whole CoolCargo fleet is FRC.
Can frozen and chilled goods travel on the same truck?
Yes, with multi-temperature equipment: a movable bulkhead splits the body into two zones with independent setpoints, for example −20 °C at the front and +4 °C at the rear. It has to be stated when asking for a quote, because it determines the trailer assigned, how the load is distributed and the order of the drops.
Do you run refrigerated transport for just a few pallets?
We do, but always as a full truck load: there is no groupage. If the volume is small, the way to do it is to combine several loads from the same customer or the same corridor into one dedicated trip, not to consolidate with third-party freight. It is a deliberate decision: consolidation is exactly where temperature incidents appear.
How much does refrigerated transport cost?
It depends on the lane, the temperature range, the weight and the loading and unloading windows; refrigeration burns diesel and a demanding range makes the trip more expensive. The price is given fixed per trip, calculated on the actual route, the tolls of the countries crossed and legal driving times, with no surprises on the invoice. For a quote we need origin, destination, temperature, type and volume of goods: +34 972 863 031 or trafico@coolcargo.es.
Need a full truck for pharmaceutical or refrigerated freight?
Tell us origin, destination, temperature range, product type and volume. A dedicated account manager comes back with a firm quote within one working day. If it is urgent, call.