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Specialized · Produce

Produce

Dedicated produce desk with USDA/PACA expertise, pulp-temp verification, and daily Mexico cross-border. Where the cold chain can’t break and the clock can’t stop.

Compliance
USDA / PACA / CFIA
Mexico desk
Daily Laredo / Otay
Temp verify
Pulp + air
Dispatch
24/7 produce desk
Overview

The most demanding reefer freight on the road. Treated like it.

Fresh produce is reefer freight on steroids — tight pickup windows at grower docks, pulp-temperature verification (not just air temp), strict PACA financial regulations, USDA inspection, and ~60% of US winter produce crosses the Mexico border by truck. Our dedicated produce desk runs the Texas and California crossings daily, with Mexican carrier transfer coordination, COOL labeling, and the speed that produce demands. Standard reefer is good enough for most freight. Produce is not most freight.

How it works

From quote to POD, step by step.

1

Pre-cool to set-point

Reefer pre-cooled to grower spec (typically 34-38°F for most produce) before arrival at dock. Confirmed via temp gun + photo.

2

Grower-dock pickup with pulp temp

Driver verifies pulp temperature of incoming cargo with a calibrated probe. Loads only at-spec pallets. Anything warm gets flagged before BOL signed.

3

Mexico cross-border (if applicable)

Mexican carrier delivers to US-side yard at Laredo/Otay/McAllen. USDA inspection. Nose-to-nose trailer transfer or US carrier picks up. COOL labels checked.

4

Continuous temp logging in transit

5-minute interval temp logs. Our produce dispatcher monitors live and intervenes on deviation. Avg deviation rate on Qeep produce lanes: <0.1%.

5

Receiver pulp-temp re-verified

Pulp temp re-checked at receiver dock. Discrepancies flagged before unloading. Complete temp log + POD pushed within 1 hour of delivery.

Pricing

What drives the rate?

Transparent inputs, not mystery margins. Here’s exactly what goes into a produce quote.

Get my rate
Season + commodity peak
California strawberry peak (Apr-Jun), Mexico avocado peak (Jan-Mar) double rates on key lanes
Lane (esp. cross-border)
Laredo lanes priced separately from El Paso/Otay due to volume and Mexican carrier mix
Trailer pre-cool + wash
Standard included for produce. Organic-certified wash adds ~$75-150
Multi-stop pickups
Common in produce (multi-grower loads). Each stop adds $50-100
USDA inspection delays
Random inspections at border can add 4-24 hours. Detention applies if grower is late at origin
Industries we serve with this

Verticals where produce is the right call.

Frequently asked

Produce questions, answered.

What is pulp temperature and why does it matter?
Pulp temperature is the internal temperature of the produce itself (measured by inserting a probe), not the air around it. Air temp lies. Pulp temp doesn&rsquo;t. We verify pulp temp at every pickup and delivery so you know what actually arrived.
Do I need a PACA license to ship produce?
If you&rsquo;re the shipper of record, you may. PACA (Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act) covers wholesale produce transactions over $230k/year. We can advise on whether your shipments require licensing.
How is produce trucking priced vs regular reefer?
Produce typically prices 10-25% above standard reefer on the same lane — tighter time windows, demanding pickup docks, multi-stop, and seasonal demand spikes.
What are the best lanes for Mexico-origin produce?
Laredo (>50% of all Mexico-US produce by volume), Otay Mesa CA, McAllen TX, and Pharr TX. Each has different commodity strengths and seasonal patterns.
What happens if produce arrives warm?
Annotated on the POD at delivery, photographed, and filed as a claim within 9 months. With full temp log + pulp temp verification at both ends, root cause is usually obvious — and the carrier&rsquo;s insurance pays.
Let’s move it

Have a shipment? Get rates in 10 min.

Tell us the origin, destination and mode. A Qeep specialist replies within the hour with live capacity, lane price, and a transit window you can actually plan around.