Reefer dispatch
Reefer dispatch for owner-operators
Reefer freight pays more per mile than dry van but costs more to run, mainly in fuel for the reefer unit and waiting time at docks. In the week of 4 to 10 October 2026 the national reefer spot rate was $3.68 per mile against $3.12 for van, according to DAT. Our dispatchers check what the load nets after those costs, not just the headline rate.
Reefer dispatch fee
Launch rateStandard rate 6%, launch rate 4% of each load's gross
Authority: 6+ months
Under six months of authority: Standard rate 7%, launch rate 5%
No setup fee. No monthly fee. No long-term contract. You approve every load.
See the full fee tableWhat the freight looks like
Produce from Nogales and Yuma through the winter window (roughly November to April), dairy and protein out of the Southwest, and pharma and frozen on shorter notice. Outbound from Phoenix, Los Angeles and the Inland Empire are the strong lanes; eastbound back into Phoenix is where reefers deadhead, so we price the return leg before booking the trip out.
What drivers get wrong
Comparing a reefer rate to a van rate without adding the reefer unit's fuel. Accepting a drop-and-hook that turns into a six-hour wait. Skipping the pre-cool and getting a rejection at the dock.
Rate picture
Reefer spot $3.68 per mile, linehaul $2.75 (DAT, 4 to 10 Oct 2026); load-to-truck ratio 16.8; DAT's 35-day forecast has reefer linehaul edging up to $2.77 by mid-November.
How we dispatch reefer
What we do on every load
- Search load boards and our broker contacts
- Vet the broker's credit and payment history before we call
- Negotiate the rate and accessorials
- Check the rate confirmation line by line
- Book it only after you say yes
- Check calls and updates
- Chase detention, layover and TONU
- Send paperwork to your factor
FAQ
Reefer dispatch questions
What does reefer dispatch cost?
4% of gross (standard 6%), or 5% of gross (standard 7%) under six months of authority. No setup fee, no monthly fee, no long-term contract, and you pay only on loads we book.
Do I have to take the loads you send?
No. You approve every load. If you pass, we keep looking.
Ready to see what your truck should be earning?
Book a free dispatch call, or run your own numbers first with the free trucker tools.