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Refrigerated Transport – Temperature-Controlled Transports from +2 °C to −20 °C

A refrigerated transport keeps temperature-sensitive goods within the climate window throughout the entire journey – fresh at +2 to +8 °C, frozen down to −20 °C – with ATP vehicles (FRC/FRA) and seamless temperature documentation. As a direct run without reloading, temperature breaks through transhipment are eliminated.

Wind farm in winter – refrigerated transport

A refrigerated transport keeps your temperature-sensitive goods within the specified climate window throughout the entire journey – whether fresh food at +2 to +8 °C, tempered goods at controlled room temperature or frozen goods at −20 °C. Decisive is a seamless cold chain from loading to the consignee's ramp, documented and audit-ready.

Speed Logistics dispatches refrigerated transports as a direct run without reloading: the goods stay in the same refrigerated vehicle, and temperature breaks through transhipment are eliminated. You receive the fixed-price quote within a few hours, and the personal dispatch team is reachable around the clock – including for short-notice fresh deliveries.

Scope of service in temperature-controlled transport

  • Fresh transports +2 to +8 °C: food, dairy products, beverages and other refrigeration-requiring goods.
  • Frozen transports down to −20 °C: frozen food and deep-freeze products with continuous frozen control.
  • Multi-climate zones: vehicles with a partition transport fresh and frozen goods in one vehicle – economical for mixed loads.
  • Temperature documentation: recording of the load-space climate over the entire route as proof for your quality assurance.

Vehicles and hygiene: ATP and HACCP

We deploy refrigerated vehicles with ATP classification (FRC/FRA) – from the refrigerated van for part quantities to the refrigerated articulated truck with 33 pallet spaces. The load spaces are cleaned in a HACCP-compliant manner, and the processes are documented in such a way that they withstand audits within the scope of HACCP and IFS audits by your quality department. Pre-cooling of the load space before loading is standard with us, not an option.

How your refrigerated transport works

You give us the type of goods, target climate, quantity and date. We check the appropriate vehicle class, confirm the fixed price and dispatch the direct run. The driver checks the core temperature requirements at takeover, and during the journey the temperature recording runs along. At delivery you receive, on request, the temperature protocol together with the proof of delivery.

Refrigerated transports to Europe and non-EU countries

Besides domestic fresh lanes, we run temperature-controlled direct transports throughout Europe as well as to non-EU countries such as Türkiye or North Africa – including customs clearance from EXW to DDP and veterinary or food-law accompanying papers in coordination with you. The higher energy costs of cooling we calculate transparently into the fixed price; depending on the lane, climate class and lead time, we give you a non-binding guide price already with the first quote.

Typical goods in refrigerated transport

The largest share is food: dairy products, meat and sausage products, baked goods, delicatessen, beverages and frozen food for manufacturers, wholesalers and catering suppliers. In addition, we regularly run non-food goods with a temperature requirement – such as cosmetics, temperature-sensitive chemical products, adhesives or flowers and plants that need a constant climate without frost.

For every group of goods we clarify the target values, permissible tolerances and the required accompanying documents before the first journey. For recurring lanes – such as the weekly supply of a central warehouse – we store these specifications permanently, so that every follow-up journey runs without renewed coordination according to the same checked scheme, and your quality assurance can rely on the protocols.

You can reach our dispatch team around the clock – including for short-notice fresh runs at the weekend. Give us the type of goods, target climate and date, and you receive a fixed-price quote within a few hours with a realistic transit time for your lane.

Temperature classes in refrigerated transport
Temperature classRangeTypical goods
Frozen (deep-freeze)down to −20 °Cfrozen food, frozen goods
Fresh+2 to +8 °Cdairy, meat, beverages
Multi-climate zonee.g. +4 °C and −20 °Cmixed food load

Frequently asked questions: Refrigerated Transport

Which temperature ranges does a refrigerated transport cover?

Three climate windows are common: fresh at +2 to +8 °C, tempered control in the plus range and frozen down to −20 °C. Speed Logistics deploys ATP-classified refrigerated vehicles (FRC/FRA) that hold and record the target climate over the entire route – on request also with several climate zones in one vehicle.

What does ATP approval mean for refrigerated vehicles?

ATP is the international agreement on the carriage of perishable foodstuffs. It classifies refrigerated vehicles by insulation and cooling capacity – FRC stands for reinforced insulated vehicles with a refrigeration unit down to −20 °C. For cross-border food transports, the ATP classification of the vehicle is the decisive technical basis.

How is the cold chain documented during transport?

The load-space temperature is recorded throughout the entire journey. At delivery we provide you with the temperature protocol together with the proof of delivery. This gives you seamless proof for your quality assurance – also as evidence in HACCP or IFS audits by your customers.

Can fresh and frozen goods be transported together?

Yes, with multi-climate-zone vehicles: a partition divides the load space into areas with different target temperatures, such as +4 °C at the front and −20 °C at the rear. This saves a second vehicle and is considerably more economical for mixed food loads than two separate transports. Both climate zones are controlled and documented separately, so that each group of goods receives its own temperature record.

Does Speed Logistics also run refrigerated transports to Türkiye?

Yes. Temperature-controlled direct runs to Türkiye and other non-EU countries are part of our core business – door to door including customs clearance from EXW to DDP. The cold chain remains closed even during border clearance, since the goods stay in the same ATP vehicle without reloading. The run-up, ferry connection or overland route via the Balkans as well as border clearance we plan so that the target temperature is held continuously.

Why is a refrigerated transport more expensive than a normal truck transport?

Refrigerated vehicles cause higher costs through the refrigeration unit, additional fuel or energy consumption, pre-cooling and HACCP-compliant cleaning. In return you receive guaranteed temperature control with documentation. Speed Logistics shows these costs transparently in the fixed price – depending on the lane and climate class as a clear guide value in advance.

Which mistakes break the cold chain most often?

Most temperature breaks arise not from defective units but at the transitions: long ramp times, an additional transhipment or a missing pre-cooling of the load space. Speed Logistics pre-cools the load space before loading as standard, runs reloading-free as a direct run and records the load-space temperature over the entire route.

Why is a direct run especially important for refrigerated goods?

Every transhipment via a hub means that the goods briefly leave the refrigerated vehicle – a temperature break that endangers the cold chain. As a direct run, the shipment stays in the same ATP vehicle from loading to the consignee's ramp, so that the target climate is held continuously and documented seamlessly.

Request refrigerated transport

Contact our dispatch team – fixed-price quote within hours, available 24/7.