Transport operations — May 2026
Where the cold chain actually breaks
The trailer's refrigeration unit is rarely the problem. More often it's loading delays at a dock with no pre-cooling, cargo that wasn't at the right temperature before it was loaded, or a multi-drop route where the trailer doors are opened repeatedly in warm conditions.
Each of these can cause a temperature excursion that the refrigeration unit then has to recover from — and depending on the cargo, that recovery might happen too late to matter.
Temperature ranges and what they're used for
Our refrigerated trailers run from −25°C to +25°C, covering the three broad categories shippers usually mean by 'temperature controlled': frozen (around −18°C to −25°C), chilled (typically 0°C to +4°C for fresh food and some pharma), and ambient-controlled (a set point above 0°C for goods that just need to avoid extremes).
More detail on the equipment itself is in our temperature controlled transport service page.
Monitoring and what to ask for
Modern refrigerated trailers log temperature continuously throughout the journey, which means there's a record if a question comes up later — whether that's a customer query or, for regulated goods, a compliance requirement. If temperature data matters for your cargo, it's worth confirming upfront what's recorded and how it's shared, rather than assuming it'll be available after the fact.
Border crossings and refrigerated freight
A refrigerated trailer sitting in a queue at a border crossing is still running its refrigeration unit, which means fuel consumption and engine hours continue even though the vehicle isn't moving. For most journeys this isn't a major factor, but on routes with longer or less predictable border waits, it's one more reason route planning matters for temperature controlled loads specifically — not just for transit time, but for the practical logistics of keeping the unit running.
How Alvora runs temperature controlled transport
Our refrigerated trailers are part of our own fleet — maintained and driven by our own teams, running the same European routes as our curtain-side and Walking Floor trailers. Because the same operation plans the route and runs the equipment, temperature requirements are built into the planning from the start rather than handled as an add-on.
See our fleet for more on the equipment, or get in touch with your temperature range and route and we'll confirm what's involved.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between frozen, chilled and ambient-controlled transport?
Frozen typically means around −18°C to −25°C, for goods that must stay solid-frozen. Chilled is usually 0°C to +4°C, for fresh food and many pharmaceutical products. Ambient-controlled means a set point above freezing, used for goods that don't need to be cold but must avoid temperature extremes.
Can one trailer carry both frozen and chilled goods on the same journey?
Some refrigerated trailers have multiple temperature zones, but a single-zone trailer runs at one set point for the whole load. If a shipment needs to mix frozen and chilled cargo, this needs to be planned in advance — it isn't something that can be adjusted mid-route.
Is temperature data provided for refrigerated shipments?
Refrigerated trailers log temperature continuously during transit. Whether and how this data is shared depends on the shipment — if it's important for your cargo (for example, for pharma or food safety records), confirm this when booking rather than assuming it's automatically provided.