When a business books refrigerated freight, the terms chilled, frozen, and dry (or ambient) are used interchangeably in some contexts and with very precise meaning in others. Getting the classification right matters — for product integrity, cost, and compliance.
Chilled Freight: 0°C to +4°C
Chilled freight covers product that needs to be kept cold but not frozen. The typical range is 0 to 4 degrees Celsius, though some products are carried at up to 7–8°C depending on their requirements.
Common chilled products include:
- Fresh meat and smallgoods
- Dairy — milk, cream, butter, cheese
- Fresh produce — some fruit and vegetables
- Seafood (dependent on product and shelf life requirement)
- Ready-to-eat meals and deli products
- Some beverages
Chilled freight requires a vehicle capable of actively maintaining temperature within a narrow range throughout the run. The temperature should be monitored and recorded for compliance and food safety purposes.
Frozen Freight: -18°C and Below
Frozen freight is typically carried at -18°C or colder, with specialist requirements down to -30°C for some products such as ice cream, seafood, and some pharmaceutical products.
Common frozen products include:
- Frozen meat and poultry
- Frozen seafood
- Ice cream and frozen desserts
- Frozen meals and processed frozen food
- Some frozen produce
Frozen freight has less tolerance for temperature deviation than chilled. Product that partially thaws in transit and is refrozen is compromised in both quality and food safety terms. The vehicle, loading process, and transit time all need to be managed accordingly.
Dry / Ambient Freight
Dry or ambient freight doesn't require active temperature control but may still require protection from heat extremes, particularly in summer. Products like confectionery, oils, some beverages, and dry goods fall into this category.
CCS carries dry and ambient freight in temperature-controlled vehicles, which provides a stable environment even for products that don't have strict refrigeration requirements. This is useful for mixed loads where chilled or frozen product is being delivered alongside ambient items to the same customer.
Mixed Loads and Multi-Temperature Runs
Many South Coast deliveries involve a mix of product types going to the same customer — for example, fresh meat (chilled), frozen seafood (frozen), and pantry staples (dry). Managing a multi-temperature delivery requires a vehicle with a compartmentalised load area or separate temperature zones, or careful planning of what goes where.
CCS handles mixed freight requirements across its fleet. If your delivery includes product at different temperature requirements, this should be specified when booking so the right vehicle configuration is allocated.
Cold Chain Documentation
For food businesses operating under HACCP or other food safety frameworks, temperature records for freight are increasingly required. CCS maintains temperature records for every consignment. If your business needs documentation of temperature during transit for food safety or customer compliance purposes, this is available on request.
For freight enquiries along the South Coast corridor, submit a quote request or call 0432 554 263.