Refrigerated road freight — cargo travels in its own temperature regime
Perishable cargo forgives no mistake with temperature. Refrigerated transport is not just "a truck with cooling" but control of the set regime from loading in Europe to unloading in Ukraine. We carry food, pharma, flowers and other temperature-sensitive cargo in reefers as part of road freight from Europe and the broader cargo delivery from Europe service.
We work with companies and sole proprietors; we deliver reefer cargo to Kyiv, Odesa, Kharkiv and Dnipro and across Ukraine.
How a reefer holds temperature
A reefer is an insulated body with reinforced insulation and a refrigeration unit. It maintains the set temperature regardless of the weather outside — a typical reefer euro-truck works in the range from −20 to +12 °C. Before loading, the body is washed and pre-cooled so the cargo is in the right regime from the first minute.
What cargo travels by reefer
- Food: meat, fish, dairy, frozen goods, ready meals.
- Fruit, vegetables, greens — sensitive to both over-cooling and over-heating.
- Pharmaceuticals and medicines — a strict range with a mandatory temperature log.
- Flowers, cosmetics, and cargo that must be protected from freezing in winter.
Temperature regimes
Each type of cargo has its own range. The regime is agreed before departure and fixed in the order.
| Regime | Temperature | Example cargo |
|---|---|---|
| Deep freeze | −18 °C and below | Frozen fish, ice cream |
| Frozen | −17…−7 °C | Meat, semi-finished products |
| Chilled | −6…+4 °C | Dairy, sausages |
| Fresh | 0…+12 °C | Fruit, vegetables, flowers |
ATP agreement and transport requirements
International reefer transport of perishables is governed by the ATP agreement — it sets requirements for insulated bodies and refrigeration units and divides transport into classes by their ability to hold temperature. For perishable food, sanitary requirements for the body also matter. We supply transport with the right class and a serviceable unit for your cargo.
Temperature control en route
The regime is tracked by a temperature recorder — it continuously logs the temperature inside the body. This data is proof that transport conditions were met at cargo acceptance and in disputed/insurance cases. Sensors are calibrated and body openings are logged, so the full picture of the trip is visible.
Timing and cost
Reefer transport costs more than a tilt: the price accounts for the refrigeration unit's operation, fuel for it, and stricter requirements for the transport. How the tariff is formed is explained on the cost of road delivery from Europe page. Perishables are more often carried as a full truck load (FTL) — without transloading or extra body openings.
Documents and customs
Perishables often need veterinary/phytosanitary documents and certificates in addition to the basic set. What exactly to prepare is covered in the guide to documents for international road freight. We handle transit and import clearance — see road cargo customs clearance.
How we organise a reefer shipment
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Regime agreementWe fix the temperature range for the specific cargo and record it in the order.
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Transport dispatchWe supply a clean reefer with a pre-cooled body.
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Loading and controlWe load, switch on the temperature recorder and monitor the temperature en route.
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Customs and deliveryWe handle transit and import and bring the cargo in-regime to the unloading point.
Frequently asked questions
Refrigerated freight with Trans-Hope
Trans-Hope carries temperature-controlled cargo from Europe with regime control along the whole route and takes on customs. Send a request with the cargo type, temperature regime and route — we will select the transport and calculate the shipment.
