Temperature-sensitive goods depend on every step of the trip staying within range: the truck, the loading, the journey and the handover at the other end. A refrigerated truck, often called a chiller truck in the UAE, keeps the load cold, but it cannot recover goods that were loaded warm or left waiting on a dock. This guide helps you prepare a refrigerated transport request in Dubai or between the emirates, so the right truck arrives at the right time.
Take the temperature range from the product documents
Chilled goods such as fresh food and flowers usually travel above freezing, while frozen goods travel well below zero. Do not write a general description such as “cold”; send the exact range set by the product owner, its label or its documents. If the shipment mixes goods that need different temperatures, say so from the start, because they may need separating inside the truck or two trips.
An example of a clear request: “10 pallets of dairy, temperature as on the product label, about 6 tonnes, from a warehouse in Al Quoz to three shops in Dubai, delivery between 6 and 9 am.” With that, the Cargo team can choose the truck and plan the trip without an extra call.
Prepare the truck and the goods before loading
Ask for the truck’s cargo space to be brought to the required temperature before loading starts. Have the goods ready near the dock and already at their correct temperature, so the doors stay open for as short a time as possible. Refrigerated trucks are built to hold a temperature, not to pull a warm load down quickly.
Stack the load so cold air can circulate
Keep pallets and cartons stable and leave a path for cold air to move around the load. Do not push goods against the truck walls or block the air outlet at the front. With several drops, load so the first stop’s goods come out first, and the doors are not open longer than needed at each stop.
Delivery: do not leave the load waiting
Agree the delivery window with the receiver and make sure someone is ready to move the goods straight into cold storage. Many supermarkets and warehouses receive goods only at set times, and a refrigerated load waiting outside a closed warehouse is at risk.
Temperature records
If your customer or a regulator asks for a temperature record, say so when booking, and ask whether the truck can provide readings or whether you will place your own logger in the load. Note the temperature of the goods yourself at loading and at delivery.
Send your refrigerated transport request
- the goods and how they are packed;
- the required temperature range, as stated in the product documents;
- the number of pallets or cartons and the approximate weight;
- pickup and delivery locations, with loading and receiving times at each;
- any temperature record requirements.
Send them to Cargo & Transport Enquiries on +971 55 388 5075 by phone or WhatsApp, or use the cargo enquiry form. For all our transport services see cargo transport in Dubai, and for goods that do not need cooling see the road freight planning guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a refrigerated truck cool down warm goods?
No. The truck holds the temperature during the trip but does not pull a warm load down quickly, so the goods must be at their correct temperature when loaded.
Can chilled and frozen goods travel in one trip?
Say so when you enquire. Goods that need different temperatures have to be separated inside the truck or sent as separate loads, and the Cargo team confirms the arrangement before booking.
What details are needed for a refrigerated transport quote?
The goods and the required temperature range, the number of pallets or cartons and the weight, pickup and delivery locations with their times, and any temperature record requirements.