Temperature-sensitive freight doesn’t forgive mistakes. A missed pickup window, an uncalibrated trailer, or the wrong carrier — and your product is spoiled, your customer is down, and your reputation takes the hit. When you’re moving food, produce, dairy, beverages, or pharmaceutical products, you need a refrigerated freight broker who treats your cargo like it matters — because it does.
Aries Freight Systems is a Chicago-based reefer freight broker with access to temperature-controlled capacity across every major US lane — from Sprinter vans for small pharma shipments to 53-ft refrigerated trailers for full truckload produce and cold chain distribution. Every carrier in our reefer network is FSMA and CARB compliant, fully vetted, and ready to move.
Whether you’re managing a single refrigerated shipment or running recurring cold chain lanes across multiple distribution points, our team coordinates the details — so your freight arrives at the right temperature, every time.
WHAT IS TEMPERATURE-CONTROLLED SHIPPING?
Temperature-controlled shipping — also called reefer freight or cold chain logistics — covers any shipment that must be kept within a specific temperature range from origin to delivery. This requires specialized refrigerated or insulated trailers, continuous monitoring, and carriers trained in cold chain compliance.
It’s the required solution for:
- Fresh produce, meat, seafood, and dairy
- Frozen food and ice cream distribution
- Beverages and nutritional products
- Pharmaceutical and biotech shipments
- Floral and perishable goods
- Any freight with strict temp requirements at origin, transit, or destination
Unlike dry van, reefer freight has a spoilage clock running from the moment it’s loaded. The difference between a reliable refrigerated freight broker and a generic one isn’t price — it’s execution.
→ Also moving non-temperature-sensitive freight? See our Dry Van services
Temperature-Controlled Services — Matched to Your Freight
At Aries, we match your shipment to the right refrigerated equipment before we ever touch a carrier. Here’s what we cover:
Sprinter Van & Straight Truck (LTL & Small Loads)
For smaller temperature-sensitive shipments — pharmaceutical samples, specialty food products, or time-critical medical deliveries — our Sprinter and straight truck reefer capacity covers short-haul and regional lanes with same-day and next-day options.
53-ft Refrigerated Trailer (FTL)
The workhorse of cold chain distribution. Full truckload reefer capacity for produce, dairy, frozen goods, and beverages across all 48 states. Continuous temperature monitoring and real-time GPS included on every load.
Multi-Temp & Partial Reefer
Need to move multiple SKUs at different temperature requirements on a single load? Our carriers support multi-temp trailer configurations — keeping frozen and fresh products on the same truck without compromising either.
Pharmaceutical & GDP-Compliant Transport
Pharmaceutical products require more than a cold trailer. Aries works with GDP-compliant carriers with validated temperature ranges, full chain-of-custody documentation, and the protocols required for biotech, clinical, and specialty pharma freight.
Shipping cross-border into Mexico or Canada? See our Cross-Border services →
INDUSTRIES WE SERVE
Our refrigerated freight solutions support the most temperature-sensitive industries in North America:
Food & Beverage Manufacturing
Produce & Fresh Distribution
Dairy & Frozen Foods
Pharmaceutical & Biotech
Grocery & Retail Distribution
Floral & Perishables
Nutraceuticals & Supplements
Healthcare & Medical Supplies
If it has a temperature requirement, we have the carrier for it.
Why Aries for Refrigerated Freight
Cold chain failures don’t just cost money — they cost product, customer relationships, and in pharma, compliance. At Aries, every reefer carrier in our network is vetted for equipment condition, calibration records, and regulatory compliance before they move your freight.
- ✓ 100,000+ vetted carriers including reefer and cold chain specialists across every US lane
- ✓ FSMA and CARB compliant carriers — verified before every dispatch
- ✓ GDP-compliant options for pharmaceutical and biotech shipments
- ✓ Real-time temperature and GPS tracking from pickup to delivery
- ✓ 24/7 dispatch — a real person monitors your load around the clock
- ✓ 99.9% claims-free delivery rate across all modes
- ✓ Chicago HQ — central to major Midwest food, dairy, and produce lanes
Need warehousing at the destination? See our Warehouse Solutions →
Refrigerated Freight — Frequently Asked Questions
A refrigerated freight broker connects shippers with vetted carriers that operate temperature-controlled trailers — reefers, Sprinters, and straight trucks — ensuring cold chain integrity from pickup to delivery. Unlike standard dry van brokers, reefer brokers specialize in compliance, monitoring, and carriers trained in temperature-sensitive handling.
Ready to Move Your Temperature-Sensitive Freight?
Get a quote from Aries Freight Systems — Chicago’s refrigerated freight specialists for reefer, cold chain, and pharmaceutical shipping across the US, Canada, and Mexico.
Get a Free QuoteOr call us 24/7 — a real person always answers.
