RigCaptain
Apply

Reefer temperature guide by commodity

By Fernandez · Updated October 2026

Look up the typical setpoint and unit mode for common reefer loads.

Typical setpoint

30 to 32 F

Unit mode

Continuous

Pre-cool

Trailer to setpoint before loading

Many varieties; some are stored warmer. The setpoint on the bill of lading or the shipper's instructions always wins over this table.

Typical storage conditions from USDA Agriculture Handbook 66, The Commercial Storage of Fruits, Vegetables, and Florist and Nursery Stocks; USDA FSIS cold storage guidance. Pre-cooling the trailer does not cool warm product; check pulp temperatures at pickup and note them on the paperwork.

Reefer loads with clear setpoints and fair rates: our dispatchers check the paperwork before you say yes.

Our dispatchers find and negotiate the loads; you approve each one and sign the rate con. 5% of gross for one truck with an MC 6 months or older, no setup fee.

Start dispatch

Where the numbers come from

Typical storage conditions come from the USDA's Agriculture Handbook 66 on the commercial storage of fruits and vegetables, and USDA food safety guidance for meat and frozen food. These are ranges for good storage, not a contract. The shipper's setpoint governs the load.

Typical setpoints

CommodityTypical setpointMode
Apples30 to 32 FContinuous
Bananas56 to 58 FContinuous
Berries32 FContinuous
Lettuce and leafy greens32 FContinuous
Potatoes, table stock45 to 50 FContinuous
Tomatoes, mature green55 to 70 FContinuous
Fresh meat28 to 32 FContinuous
Frozen foods0 F or belowCycle often allowed
Ice cream-20 F or belowCycle often allowed

Protecting yourself on a reefer load

Read the setpoint and mode on the bill of lading before you leave the dock, and make sure the unit matches. Record pulp temperatures at pickup, keep the unit's download, and note any problem on the paperwork before you sign. A temperature claim is far easier to defend with a record.

Reefer units add maintenance and fuel; budget for them with the maintenance reserve calculator and see the tax side of equipment with the truck depreciation calculator. For market context, read the semi truck price index and forecast and semi truck depreciation by age and mileage. Our pricing page shows what reefer dispatch costs.

Reefer mistakes that cause claims

  • Running a different setpoint than the bill of lading, even by a degree. The paperwork is what a claim is judged against.
  • Cycle mode on produce. Many produce loads require continuous air flow; check the instructions.
  • Loading warm product without noting it. Record pulp temperatures at pickup and write them on the paperwork before you sign.
  • Skipping the pre-trip on the unit. Check fuel, alarms and the download function before you leave the yard.
BOOKED

Reefer loads with clear setpoints and fair rates

We check the paperwork before you say yes. A dispatcher calls you back.

Get reefer loads

Questions

What temperature should a reefer be for produce?
It depends on the produce. Apples, berries and leafy greens typically ship near 32 F, potatoes for the table around 45 to 50 F, and bananas and tomatoes much warmer because cold damages them. Always use the setpoint on the bill of lading; the shipper knows the product and its condition.
What is the Thermo King reefer temperature range?
Reefer units from Thermo King, Carrier and others are built to hold a wide range, from deep frozen to warm settings for produce. The exact range depends on the model, so check the unit's manual or spec sheet. The commodity, not the unit, decides the setpoint you run.
Should a reefer run continuous or cycle?
Fresh produce and other sensitive loads usually run continuous so air keeps moving and temperatures stay even. Frozen loads often allow cycle mode to save fuel. The shipper's instructions decide, and many produce shippers require continuous mode in writing on the bill of lading, so check before you leave the dock.
Does pre-cooling the trailer cool the product?
No. Pre-cooling brings the empty trailer to the setpoint so it does not warm the load. A reefer is built to hold temperature, not to pull down warm product. Check pulp temperatures at pickup and write them on the paperwork if the product is warmer than it should be.
What is the normal operating temperature for a semi truck engine?
That is a different question from reefer setpoints. Engine coolant temperature ranges come from the engine maker and appear in the operator's manual and on the dash gauge. If your engine runs hotter or cooler than its normal range, have it checked before a long trip.
Who is responsible if a reefer load arrives out of temperature?
It depends on the bill of lading, the broker contract and your cargo policy, which may exclude claims without a temperature record. Run the setpoint on the paperwork, keep the unit's download or a printout from pickup to delivery, and note any problem on the bill of lading before you leave the shipper. Those records decide most claims.
Apply for dispatch