Whether it's ice cream from Italy, fresh salmon from Norway or dairy products from the Alps — refrigerated food has become a natural part of our everyday lives in a globalized world. But behind the supermarket shelf is a highly sensitive, complex logistics chain: transport by refrigerated container, also known as “refrigerated container”. For companies like FR8, this special form of transport is a crucial component in the logistics chain — with special requirements in terms of technology, coordination and care.

What is a reefer container?

A reefer container is a temperature-controlled freight container with an integrated chiller that makes it possible to transport temperature-critical goods over long distances. Depending on the product, the temperature can be set precisely — from constant positive temperatures for dairy products to -30 °C for frozen food. The external dimensions correspond to those of a standard container (20 or 40 feet), so that they can be easily integrated into the intermodal transport chain.

Applications — from dairy products to pharmaceuticals

Reefer containers are primarily used in the following areas:

• Frozen products: Pizza, ice cream, frozen vegetables and meat.
• Dairy products: Milk, yogurt, cheese and butter require stable cooling conditions to prevent spoilage.
• Fresh food: Fruits and vegetables that last longer under Controlled Atmosphere (CA).
• pharmaceuticals: Drugs or vaccines that are sensitive to changes in temperature.

Complete compliance with the cold chain — i.e. continuous temperature control from loading to final removal at the destination — is particularly important.

Technology and temperature management

Reefer containers have sensors, cooling units, air circulation systems and often additional heating functions — because when outside temperatures are cold, heating is even required in certain cases to prevent spoilage. Energy is supplied either via the power grid in the port, special generators (gensets) on trucks or, during the voyage, via the cargo ship's on-board network.

Modern reefer models are often equipped with Internet of Things (IoT) technologies equipped, which enable real-time monitoring. In this way, temperature patterns, door openings or faults can be controlled remotely. At FR8, we rely on cutting-edge systems that make it possible to guarantee precise traceability and product safety even during long sea voyages.

Challenges in refrigeration logistics

The transportation of frozen food and dairy products has special requirements:

• Precise time planning: Delays can be expensive — because temperature deviations are often synonymous with loss of goods.
• Ports with cooling capacity: Not every port can connect and supply large numbers of reefer containers.
• Power supply on the go: Mobile generators (gensets) must work reliably, particularly when transporting by road over long distances.
• Documentation and customs: Certain goods are subject to strict import regulations, particularly in the area of animal products.

It is therefore crucial that all parties involved along the transport chain — from producers to freight forwarders to port operators — work in close coordination.

Sustainability: efficiency and CO₂ reduction

Reefer transport is also increasingly the focus of the climate debate. Energy consumption is higher than with standard containers, but there are technological advances: new insulation materials, more efficient cooling units and the use of alternative energy sources such as solar backup systems or green electricity in ports contribute to CO₂ reduction.

Another trend is “Green Reefer Corridors” — specially optimized transport routes with climate-friendly means of transport and digital control. FR8 is constantly reviewing the integration of such projects in order to operate more sustainably, even in temperature-controlled transport.

Outlook: Digitalization and Automation

The future of reefer logistics lies in even greater digitization. Automated warehouse systems, AI-based route planning and predictive maintenance (predictive maintenance) are just a few of the developments that help prevent failures and optimize the use of resources. For companies that rely on sensitive foods, this means greater safety, better predictability and cost efficiency.