Published October 14, 2026 · 5 minute read · By the Logcon dispatch team
To ship temperature-controlled freight safely, confirm the required temperature range, make sure the trailer is pre-cooled and clean, load product already at temperature, and ask your carrier for a continuous temperature log for the whole trip. Keep that record with your shipping documents.
Why the record matters as much as the temperature
Food businesses in Canada work under the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR), which set expectations for preventive controls and traceability, including how food is protected during transport. For a shipper, the practical point is simple: if a customer, auditor or insurer asks whether the product stayed in range, you need a record that shows it.
Before the truck arrives
- Write down the required temperature range and any tolerance for the product.
- Make sure the product is already at temperature before loading. A reefer holds temperature, it does not reliably bring warm product down.
- Confirm the carrier will pre-cool the trailer and that it will arrive clean and odour-free.
- Agree the loading appointment so the doors are open as little as possible.
During loading
- Check the trailer temperature and condition before the first pallet goes on.
- Load so air can circulate: leave the space the product and the trailer manufacturer require.
- Seal the trailer and record the seal number on the bill of lading.
In transit and on delivery
- Ask for continuous temperature logging for the full trip, not a single reading at pickup and delivery.
- Make sure the carrier will notify you quickly if the unit alarms or the temperature drifts.
- On delivery, have the receiver check the seal and the temperature and note any exception on the paperwork.
Questions to ask any reefer carrier
- Do you provide a continuous temperature log for every load?
- How do you alert me if the unit alarms during the trip?
- Is the trailer pre-cooled and cleaned between loads?
- Is your fleet GPS-tracked, and can I see status myself?
Frequently asked
Does Logcon log temperature on reefer loads?
Yes. Logcon's reefer units maintain a set temperature and log it continuously, and every unit is GPS-tracked. See the reefer service page for details.
Can a reefer cool warm product down?
Refrigeration units are designed to maintain a temperature, not to rapidly cool product that was loaded warm. Load product at the required temperature.