Reefer Lease-On — Run Under Our MC Authority, Coast to Coast

Reefer lease-on pay runs 72–78% of linehaul plus 100% of the fuel surcharge — similar structure to dry van. The gross rate per mile is higher on reefer ($2.40–$3.10 typical, with specialized loads higher), so total revenue per mile to the driver nets out above dry van. Exact split depends on equipment, experience, and whether you carry your own cargo insurance.

Full-time reefer lease-on drivers running 2,400–2,800 miles per week typically gross $170,000–$230,000 annually. Specialized drivers running high-value pharma-adjacent or meat-hauling lanes push higher. Net take-home after fuel (including reefer-unit diesel), maintenance, insurance deductions, and tolls usually lands $60,000–$85,000.

A reefer unit burns roughly 0.5–1.0 gallon of diesel per hour depending on set point, ambient temp, and unit age. Running frozen (-10°F) in summer is the worst case. Weekly reefer fuel cost typically lands $100–$200 on top of your tractor fuel. Our fuel card covers both tanks, and the FSC calculation on every load accounts for reefer fuel where the shipper provides it.

Produce (fresh fruits and vegetables), frozen foods, dairy products, fresh meat and seafood, controlled-ambient beverages (typically 60–75°F), fresh flowers, eggs, and temperature-sensitive CPG. We do not run pharmaceuticals, biologics, or cold-chain vaccine freight — those require GDP certification and dedicated-unit protocols outside our program.

Standard frozen (-10°F to 0°F), standard refrigerated (32–40°F), and controlled-ambient (50–75°F). Multi-temp loads are possible on trailers equipped with bulkheads. Ultra-low (-20°F or below) pharma/biologic loads are not part of this program.

Reefer unit age matters more than tractor age. Units 2019 or newer are strongly preferred because they pass shipper equipment policies cleaner and hold temp better. Older units (2016–2018) can qualify with current PM records and a pre-lease trailer inspection. If your unit is older than that, send us maintenance history up front and we'll give a straight answer.

The Food Safety Modernization Act Sanitary Transportation rule — 21 CFR Part 1 Subpart O — requires carriers hauling human or animal food to maintain sanitary trailer conditions, temperature controls, and transport records. In practice that means pre-cooling before load, continuous temp monitoring during transit, washout records between incompatible loads, and document retention. We provide the framework; you follow it on every load.

Grocery DCs can detain a reefer for 4–12 hours on a bad day, especially at the big chains during peak receiving windows. Our detention-pay policy kicks in after the 2-hour free window at both pickup and delivery, and we pursue shipper/receiver detention pay aggressively. Reefer drivers who pick lanes with reasonable DCs avoid most of it — dispatcher input on DC quality matters.

Preferred. A driver who owns the reefer trailer gets the best economics — no trailer rent, more of your settlement stays with you, and your reefer unit's maintenance record translates to fewer breakdowns. We occasionally have company reefer trailers on weekly lease for drivers without one. Temperature-monitored company trailers rent for more than dry van because of the unit complexity.

Between incompatible products (raw meat to produce, for example), the trailer must be washed out and the washout documented. Our fuel-card network includes compatible truck-washes nationwide (Blue Beacon, Speedy Reefer Wash, regional reefer washes). Washout cost is typically $75–$150 per clean-out and is reimbursed on the settlement when required by the receiving shipper.

Before loading, you arrive at the shipper with the trailer pre-cooled to the load's target temp — usually 30–60 minutes of run time with the doors closed. Shippers verify trailer temp at the bulkhead sensor before they start loading. An improperly pre-cooled trailer gets rejected on the spot and sent back to idle longer. Pre-cool is table stakes; our dispatchers give you temp specs before pickup.

We carry $1,000,000 primary auto liability (exceeds the FMCSA minimum under 49 CFR Part 387) and $100,000 base cargo insurance, with higher cargo limits on produce, meat, and high-value refrigerated loads ($150,000–$200,000 typical). Our BMC-91 filing is active with FMCSA and BOC-3 process-agent filings are live in all 48 states.

If the reefer unit fails mid-load, you call dispatch immediately — we troubleshoot, arrange emergency repair through the manufacturer service network, or reroute to a repair shop that can service your unit. If a load has to be rejected, our cargo insurance handles the claim above the deductible. Driver responsibility on rejected loads is limited to clear-cut cases (driver shut off the unit, ignored alarms, etc.) and is disclosed in the lease.

Yes. Our lease includes a 30-day written-notice exit on both sides — required by FMCSA under 49 CFR 376.12. If your own authority reinstates and you want to go solo, you give notice, we reconcile settlements, return your driver file, and you're released. No exit fee as long as settlements are current.

24–48 hours for approval (MVR, PSP, Clearinghouse), 5–7 days to first load. The extra step vs dry van is a quick reefer trailer inspection — we verify the unit holds temp and the recording system is functional. Drivers with documented recent PM records roll faster.