Refrigerated Transport
Logisticoo runs refrigerated transport actively temperature-controlled — from the deep-frozen range at −18 °C, through fresh goods at +2 to +7 °C, to temperature-controlled runs at +15 to +25 °C for pharmaceuticals, cosmetics or chocolate. The vehicles are refrigerated box bodies with a refrigeration unit and ATP/FRC-certified insulation, from the refrigerated Sprinter van for an urgent single pallet to the semi-trailer with a multi-temperature bulkhead that carries two temperature zones in one vehicle. What matters is the unbroken cold chain: we load only pre-cooled goods into pre-cooled vehicles, record the temperature continuously via a data logger and, on request, hand over the record together with the proof of delivery — important for HACCP documentation in the food sector and GDP-related requirements for pharmaceutical products. You set the target value and tolerance band, and your personal dispatcher records both bindingly in the order. Typical goods: fresh and deep-frozen foods, beverages in summer, flowers, medicines, temperature-sensitive chemicals. Collection in 147 German cities, temperature-controlled runs to 55 countries — and, for time-critical fresh goods, also as a refrigerated direct transport without transhipment, calculated with a fixed-price quote in 30 minutes.
Service features
- Temperature ranges: deep-frozen −18 °C to −25 °C, fresh +2 °C to +7 °C, temperature-controlled +15 °C to +25 °C
- ATP/FRC-insulated refrigerated box bodies from Sprinter van to semi-trailer
- Multi-temperature vehicles with a bulkhead for two zones on one run
- Continuous temperature recording with proof provided at delivery
- Pre-cooling discipline: only pre-cooled goods into pre-cooled vehicles
- Refrigerated direct transports for time-critical fresh and pharmaceutical goods
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When refrigerated transport is required — the temperature ranges
As soon as goods remain transportable only within a defined temperature band, an actively refrigerated run becomes mandatory. In practice we distinguish three bands: deep-frozen from −18 °C to −25 °C for frozen foods, ice cream and some reagents; fresh from +2 °C to +7 °C for meat, dairy products, fish, flowers and many refrigerated medicines; and temperature-controlled from +15 °C to +25 °C for chocolate, cosmetics, wine and temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical products that must neither freeze nor overheat. In summer even beverages and electronics fall into the temperature-controlled band. You specify the target value and permitted tolerance; based on the type of goods, quantity and season, the dispatcher selects the vehicle and cooling capacity.
ATP/FRC, pre-cooling and complete documentation
Our refrigerated vehicles are classified under the ATP Agreement — the FRC class denotes a heavily insulated vehicle with a refrigeration unit that maintains −20 °C in the body even at +30 °C ambient temperature; FNA denotes the weaker fresh-goods class. The insulation and the refrigeration unit are inspected regularly. The heart of the quality is pre-cooling discipline: we load exclusively pre-cooled goods into already pre-cooled vehicles, because a refrigeration unit holds temperature — it does not chill warm goods down quickly enough. The internal body temperature is recorded throughout the entire journey; we hand over the record with the proof of delivery — the basis for HACCP in the food sector and GDP-related requirements for medicines. Multi-temperature vehicles with an insulated bulkhead run two independently controlled zones on one run.
Actively refrigerated, isothermal and dry ice — the distinction
Not every temperature-controlled transport is the same. An actively refrigerated run uses a vehicle with its own refrigeration unit that holds and regulates a target temperature for any length of time — the standard for fresh goods, frozen goods and pharmaceuticals. Isothermal transport uses only the insulation, without active cooling: it slows warming but does not maintain temperature — suitable at most for short distances or non-critical goods. Dry ice or cool packs in insulated boxes are a passive stopgap for small quantities and short periods, without regulation and without a continuous record; dry ice (CO₂, UN 1845) is also subject to its own labelling requirements. For a robust, documented cold chain there is no way around active refrigeration — which is exactly what we run.
What does refrigerated transport cost?
We calculate refrigerated runs on the basis of the per-kilometre rules of thumb (±15 %) with a surcharge for the refrigeration technology and the higher diesel consumption of the refrigeration unit: refrigerated Sprinter van ~€1.10/km from €89, refrigerated 7.5 t truck ~€1.45/km from €169, refrigerated semi-trailer ~€1.95/km from €379, in each case plus a refrigeration surcharge. Example: two pallets of fresh goods (+2 to +7 °C) from Hamburg to Frankfurt (around 490 km) in the refrigerated 7.5-tonner come to roughly €850–1,050. Cost drivers are deep-frozen operation (more energy than fresh), multi-temperature vehicles with two zones, and time-critical refrigerated direct transports without transhipment. Your dispatcher will give you the binding fixed price including the refrigeration surcharge in 30 minutes.
Temperature ranges, goods and vehicle
| Temperature band | Typical goods | Vehicle/class | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deep-frozen −18 to −25 °C | Frozen foods, ice cream | FRC refrigerated box body | Temperature record |
| Fresh +2 to +7 °C | Meat, dairy, fish, flowers | FRC/FNC refrigerated box body | Temperature record + HACCP |
| Temperature-controlled +15 to +25 °C | Chocolate, cosmetics, wine | Temperature-controlled box body | Temperature record |
| Pharma +2 to +8 / +15 to +25 °C | Medicines, vaccines | FRC box body, GDP-related | Complete proof |
| Two zones (e.g. −20 / +4 °C) | Frozen + fresh mixed | Multi-temperature vehicle | Documented per zone |
Frequently asked questions
Do I receive proof that the temperature was maintained?
Yes. The refrigeration units record the internal body temperature throughout the entire journey; we provide you with the temperature record together with the proof of delivery. You define the target value and permitted tolerance band at booking — any deviations would already be reported en route, not only in the log.
Can refrigerated and deep-frozen goods be transported together?
Yes, with multi-temperature vehicles: an insulated bulkhead divides the body into two independently controlled zones, for example −20 °C and +4 °C. This saves a second run when your consignee expects fresh and frozen ranges at the same time.
What does ATP/FRC mean on your refrigerated vehicles?
The ATP Agreement classifies temperature-controlled vehicles by insulation and cooling capacity. FRC denotes a heavily insulated vehicle with a refrigeration unit that maintains up to −20 °C in the body at +30 °C ambient temperature — the class for deep-frozen goods and demanding fresh goods. Insulation and unit are inspected regularly so that the classification remains valid.
Why must the goods already be pre-cooled?
Because a refrigeration unit holds temperature but does not chill warm goods down quickly enough. If we load already temperature-controlled goods into a pre-cooled vehicle, the cold chain stays unbroken. Adding warm goods would warm the entire load and jeopardise the target value — which is why pre-cooling discipline is a fixed part of our process.
What does refrigerated transport cost?
The basis is the per-kilometre rules of thumb (Sprinter van ~€1.10/km, 7.5 t ~€1.45/km, FTL ~€1.95/km, ±15 %) plus a refrigeration surcharge for technology and energy. Two pallets of fresh goods Hamburg–Frankfurt in the refrigerated 7.5-tonner come to roughly €850–1,050. Deep-frozen operation and multi-temperature vehicles cost more than simple fresh goods; we will give you the fixed price including the surcharge in 30 minutes.