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Guides · Ocean freight

Reefer and Specialized Ocean Freight: Questions to Answer Before Booking

Special cargo needs decisions before booking, not after the container is already assigned. Temperature, dimensions, power, packaging, permits, and delivery constraints all affect the freight plan.

What counts as specialized freight

Specialized ocean freight can include refrigerated cargo, temperature-sensitive goods, oversized machinery, heavy cargo, fragile equipment, high-value freight, or products that need unusual handling at origin or destination.

These shipments are not impossible, but they punish assumptions. The earlier the forwarder sees the details, the better the routing can be.

Questions for reefer cargo

For refrigerated shipments, the forwarder needs temperature range, commodity, packaging, ventilation requirements, pre-cooling expectations, power needs, transit tolerance, and what happens if cargo is delayed at origin or destination.

Reefer planning also affects drayage. The trucker, terminal, warehouse, and receiver must understand the temperature requirement, not just the ocean carrier.

Questions for oversized or heavy cargo

For oversized freight, dimensions, weight, lifting points, center of gravity, crating, permits, routing restrictions, and unloading equipment matter. A rate without those details is not a real plan.

Photos and technical drawings can prevent expensive surprises. If the receiver needs a crane, forklift, or special appointment, that should be known before the cargo ships.

How LJM approaches it

LJM handles general, specialized, and reefer ocean freight by starting with the cargo requirements instead of forcing the shipment into a standard box. The goal is to identify the constraints early and quote a route that can actually execute.

If your shipment is temperature-sensitive, oversized, fragile, or unusual, send the specs before booking.

Need help with this shipment?

If you want a second set of eyes on the lane, documents, timing, or delivery plan, send us the shipment details. We’ll help you understand the options before the freight is already in motion.

Ready to price the move?

Tell us your lane, cargo, ready date, and delivery target — we’ll come back with a practical freight plan.

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