Refrigerated & Reefer Freight Services
Stryke Logistics arranges refrigerated (reefer) freight for produce, meat, seafood, dairy, frozen food and beverages across Canada, the United States and Mexico, plus heated protect-from-freeze service through the Canadian winter. Every load moves with its set-point in writing, through qualified refrigerated carriers.
At a glance
- Equipment
- 53-foot refrigerated trailers (reefers), running in cool or heat mode
- Temperature ranges
- Frozen at −18 °C (0 °F) or colder; chilled around 0–4 °C; produce at its own set-point; protect-from-freeze above 0 °C
- Unit settings
- Continuous or cycle, specified on the tender; pre-cooling confirmed at pickup
- Typical freight
- Fresh produce, meat and poultry, seafood, dairy, frozen food, bakery, beer, wine and other beverages
- Cross-border food rules
- FDA prior notice into the United States; CFIA requirements into Canada
- Coverage
- Canada, the United States and Mexico
What we arrange
Set-point and mode in writing
Every reefer tender states the required temperature and whether the unit runs continuous or cycle. Fresh produce and temperature-sensitive product generally runs continuous, and pre-cooling is confirmed at pickup.
Fresh, frozen and everything between
Produce, meat and poultry, seafood, dairy, frozen food, bakery and beverages, each planned around its own temperature range, mixing rules and handling.
Heated and protect-from-freeze (PFF)
From late fall to spring, freight that must not freeze moves in a reefer running in heat mode, set to hold the load above freezing: beer, wine, spirits, juice, soft drinks, bottled water, paint, adhesives, liquid and canned food, and other freeze-sensitive goods.
Temperature you can see
Our refrigerated carriers log temperature through the trip, and the record follows the load. For produce, that record is the evidence in any claim.
Food across the border
Food entering the United States needs FDA prior notice, and food entering Canada must meet CFIA requirements. Both are confirmed before the pickup appointment is set.
Choosing the right mode
Use a reefer whenever the product has a temperature range it must stay within, including winter freight that only needs protection from freezing.
A few pallets of chilled product
Ask about shared refrigerated capacity; standard LTL is not temperature-controlled.
Less than Truckload (LTL)Cold storage between moves
Refrigerated and frozen storage is arranged through warehousing partners.
WarehousingCoverage and lanes
Refrigerated freight moves on all four lane types, with the heaviest flows between produce regions in the U.S. and Mexico and markets in Ontario and Quebec.
Canada domestic
Within Ontario, Ontario–Quebec, and east–west across Canada to the Prairies, British Columbia and the Atlantic provinces.
U.S. domestic
Between U.S. markets, from the Northeast and Midwest to the Southeast, Texas and the West Coast.
Canada–U.S. cross-border
Northbound and southbound through the main crossings, including Windsor–Detroit, Sarnia–Port Huron, Fort Erie–Buffalo and Lacolle–Champlain.
Mexico cross-border
Freight to and from Mexico, coordinated through U.S.–Mexico gateways such as Laredo.
Examples of lanes we arrange
- California and Arizona produce to Ontario and Quebec
- Mexican produce through Texas and Arizona gateways into Canada
- Ontario greenhouse produce to the U.S. Midwest and Northeast
- Greater Toronto Area frozen food to the U.S. Northeast
- Protect-from-freeze beverages within Ontario, Quebec and Western Canada in winter
Examples only. We arrange lanes across Canada, the United States and Mexico.
How it works
- Send product and set-point. Commodity, required temperature, continuous or cycle, pallet count and lane.
- Confirm the rules. We check cross-border food requirements and any mixing restrictions.
- Pre-cool and load. The trailer is brought to temperature before loading, and pulp temperatures are checked on produce.
- Monitored in transit. Temperature is logged through the trip, including any wait at the border.
- Deliver with the record. Proof of delivery and the temperature record, available on request.
What to send for a quote
- Commodity and required set-point, in °C or °F
- Continuous or cycle mode
- Pallet count and weight
- Lane, pickup and delivery windows
- For cross-border food: importer, customs broker and any FDA or CFIA details
Related guides and tools
Frequently asked questions
What temperature do frozen loads run at?
Frozen food generally runs at −18 °C (0 °F) or colder. The exact set-point comes from the shipper and goes on the tender in writing.
What is protect-from-freeze (PFF) service?
Winter service for freight that must not freeze. A reefer runs in heat mode to hold the load above 0 °C, for beverages, paint, adhesives, liquid food and other freeze-sensitive goods.
Should a reefer run continuous or cycle?
Fresh produce and other temperature-sensitive product generally runs continuous so air keeps moving around the load. Some frozen product can run cycle. The shipper's instruction goes on the tender.
What paperwork does food need to cross the border?
Food entering the United States needs FDA prior notice. Food entering Canada must meet CFIA requirements, which vary by product. Both are confirmed before pickup.
Do you move produce from Mexico to Canada?
Yes. Mexican produce is coordinated through U.S.–Mexico gateways in Texas and Arizona and on to Canadian markets, with set-points and paperwork planned before pickup.
Can I get the temperature record for a load?
Yes. Our refrigerated carriers log temperature through the trip, and the record is available with the proof of delivery.
Get a Quote
Tell us about your lanes, volumes and timelines. You can expect a response within 12 hours.
Stryke Logistics
Vaughan, Ontario L4H 0S5