I ranked the top-rated reefer carriers in Columbus based on verified broker and shipper reviews from CarrierSource. Central Ohio sits at the crossroads of I-70 and I-71, which makes it one of the busiest refrigerated freight corridors in the Midwest, and it means shippers here have real choices when a load of produce, dairy, or pharma needs to move on a tight window.
When a shipper types "reefer carriers in Columbus" into Google, they usually aren't browsing. A cooler is loaded and waiting, a regular carrier just fell through, or a new account needs coverage on a lane that can't tolerate a temperature excursion. I built this list with that shipper in mind, pulling from real broker and shipper feedback rather than marketing copy.
Every carrier below cleared a minimum review threshold and operates within 50 miles of Columbus, and I ranked them by star rating and review volume. If you'd prefer to browse the full list and filter by your own criteria, you can do that directly on CarrierSource.
1. Hemphill & Son: Columbus's Multi-Year Broker Favorite
"This team has been running with us for years now and they do a great job with every load that they are booked on. The drivers make sure to stay on tracking and provide good updates when they are requested. Always a great experience!" — Verified Broker, OH
| ⭐ Star Rating |
5.00/5 (7 reviews) |
| 🚛 Fleet Size |
68 trucks |
| 📍 Headquarters |
Columbus, OH |
| 📋 DOT Number |
293587 |
| 🔗 Profile |
View on CarrierSource |
What stands out: A perfect 5.00 rating is one thing, but Hemphill & Son's reviews span multiple years and multiple states, from Florida to Georgia to Illinois, with brokers repeatedly naming individual dispatchers by name. That kind of recurring, specific praise is harder to fake than a generic five-star score.
Best for: Brokers who want a locally based carrier with a track record of repeat business rather than a one-off good review.
"So easy to work with! Easy communication and smooth transit. Will definitely be running more lanes with them again!! Mohamed is the man!!!" — Verified Broker, IL
| ⭐ Star Rating |
4.92/5 (12 reviews) |
| 🚛 Fleet Size |
79 trucks |
| 📍 Headquarters |
Columbus, OH |
| 📋 DOT Number |
2409347 |
| 🔗 Profile |
View on CarrierSource |
What stands out: Ohio Transit Company (OTC) built its business around temperature-controlled freight specifically, alongside produce, frozen goods, and other perishables. That focus shows up in the reviews, with multiple brokers calling out smooth reefer transits and strong back-office tracking support.
Best for: Shippers moving produce or perishables who want a carrier that treats reefer as a core specialty rather than a side offering.
"Smooth reefer load with FST Express. The driver was on time and a great help. The dispatch team was helpful with the necessary updates as well." — Verified Broker, OH
| ⭐ Star Rating |
4.75/5 (8 reviews) |
| 🚛 Fleet Size |
294 trucks |
| 📍 Headquarters |
Dublin, OH |
| 📋 DOT Number |
506489 |
| 🔗 Profile |
View on CarrierSource |
What stands out: FST is the largest fleet on this list by a wide margin, and its own positioning leans into temperature-controlled transportation alongside warehousing and e-commerce fulfillment. Reviewers cite consistent tracking and repeat business, which matters more at this scale than it does for a small fleet.
Best for: Shippers with recurring reefer volume out of the Columbus area who need a carrier with enough trucks to actually flex with demand.
4. Albania Trucking Inc: A Tight, Consistent Small Fleet
"On time for pick and delivery. Mixture of long and short miles for us. Always great on communication. Updates are given without asking and if any delays, they are on it right way to give us the update. Would highly recommend." — Verified Broker, OR
| ⭐ Star Rating |
4.71/5 (6 reviews) |
| 🚛 Fleet Size |
5 trucks |
| 📍 Headquarters |
Columbus, OH |
| 📋 DOT Number |
1477927 |
| 🔗 Profile |
View on CarrierSource |
What stands out: With just 5 trucks, Albania Trucking is the smallest fleet in the ranked list, but reviewers consistently mention proactive communication on both long and short hauls, which is exactly what a tight-knit operation should be able to deliver.
Best for: Shippers who value a direct relationship with a small carrier over the scale of a large fleet.
5. Batth Trucking Inc: A Perfect Score with Room to Grow
"This team made sure to check with us before arriving early and they were given the go ahead. They made delivery with more than enough time and the driver stayed on tracking the whole trip. Dispatch and drivers are easy to talk to and great to work with!" — Verified Broker, OH
| ⭐ Star Rating |
4.69/5 (5 reviews) |
| 🚛 Fleet Size |
50 trucks |
| 📍 Headquarters |
Columbus, OH |
| 📋 DOT Number |
2303245 |
| 🔗 Profile |
View on CarrierSource |
What stands out: Batth Trucking's feedback on file is strong across the board. With a 50-truck fleet already in place, there's clear capacity behind the rating.
Best for: Shippers willing to test a newer relationship with a carrier that already has the fleet size to support it.
"We booked Old City Express on a dry van load. Nick and Tarik were responsive to our requests for status updates. No issues making appointment times. They provided a 53' swing door trailer as requested and their equipment was reliable. Excellent job by a dependable carrier." — Verified Broker, FL
| ⭐ Star Rating |
4.44/5 (11 reviews) |
| 🚛 Fleet Size |
62 trucks |
| 📍 Headquarters |
Columbus, OH |
| 📋 DOT Number |
2984398 |
| 🔗 Profile |
View on CarrierSource |
What stands out: Old City Express has the second-highest review volume on this list, and most of that feedback is strongly positive, with brokers repeatedly praising responsive dispatch and reliable equipment.
Best for: Brokers who want a high-volume, established carrier.
"Ease Expedited booked a dry van load with us in the Columbus area. Pickup and delivery went smoothly. Matt and Mike sent in a trailer that was in good condition. Electronic tracking was turned on throughout the trip. Professional crew. We look forward to working with them in the future." — Verified Broker, FL
| ⭐ Star Rating |
4.34/5 (5 reviews) |
| 🚛 Fleet Size |
32 trucks |
| 📍 Headquarters |
Marysville, OH |
| 📋 DOT Number |
2794751 |
| 🔗 Profile |
View on CarrierSource |
What stands out: Ease Expedited is the asset-owned arm of EASE Logistics, meaning the trucks reviewers are rating are the company's own equipment rather than outsourced capacity. That asset ownership shows up as consistent tracking and trailer condition across the reviews on file.
Best for: Shippers in the Marysville and northwest Columbus corridor who want an asset-based carrier with warehousing capability behind it.
"I'm glad I found this carrier... very good carrier to work with, will pick & deliver your freight on time with good/clean equipment. Would recommend for others." — Verified Broker, NH
| ⭐ Star Rating |
4.01/5 (6 reviews) |
| 🚛 Fleet Size |
7 trucks |
| 📍 Headquarters |
Columbus, OH |
| 📋 DOT Number |
3034018 |
| 🔗 Profile |
View on CarrierSource |
What stands out: Maisha Logistic rounds out this list with a smaller, 7-truck fleet and a mixed but net-positive review record. Most reviews describe clean equipment and on-time service, though a couple of brokers flagged slower communication and a late delivery on specific loads. With only 6 reviews on file, each one carries more weight, so I'd treat this as a carrier to test on a lower-stakes load first.
Best for: Shippers looking for a smaller Columbus-based operator and willing to start with a trial load before committing to a regular lane.
Additional Top-Rated Carriers with Terminals in Columbus
These carriers aren't headquartered in Columbus, but they operate terminal locations within 50 miles, giving them a strong local presence for pickups and deliveries in the area. They meet the same review and safety thresholds as the ranked carriers above.
| Carrier |
⭐ Rating (out of 5) |
🚛 Fleet Size |
Overview |
| ABF Freight System Inc |
4.88 (10 reviews) |
4604 |
A century-old, national LTL carrier with over 240 service centers across North America and a Columbus-area terminal for local pickups and deliveries. |
| ITF Group LLC |
4.86 (30 reviews) |
439 |
A St. Louis-based logistics provider built around a hub-and-spoke network, with the highest review volume of any carrier with a Columbus-area terminal. |
| West Motor Freight Of Pa |
4.44 (9 reviews) |
550 |
A Pennsylvania-based carrier running a mixed fleet of flatbeds, vans, and reefers for shippers who need equipment flexibility. |
| Werner Enterprises Inc |
4.2 (10 reviews) |
9863 |
One of the five largest truckload carriers in the country, offering asset-based capacity and technology for shippers who need national scale. |
| Cargo Solution Express Inc |
3.93 (12 reviews) |
270 |
A California-based carrier moving LTL and full truckload freight over the road and by rail, with a terminal footprint reaching into central Ohio. |
How I Picked These Carriers
I started with every carrier registered for reefer freight within 50 miles of Columbus, then filtered down to those with at least 5 verified broker or shipper reviews on CarrierSource. That threshold matters: a single glowing review doesn't tell you much, but 5 or more independent accounts start to reveal a real pattern.
From there, I ranked by star rating first and review volume second, since a 5.00 average built on 7 reviews and a 4.92 average built on 12 reviews both represent a meaningfully validated track record. I read through the underlying review text for every carrier on this list, not just the aggregate score, to check whether the feedback was specific and consistent or vague and generic.
I also pulled a separate list of carriers headquartered outside the Columbus area that still operate a terminal within 50 miles, since those carriers can offer real local pickup and delivery capability even though their home base is elsewhere. You'll find that group in its own section above, sorted by rating rather than ranked against the primary list.
FAQ
What should shippers check before booking a reefer carrier in Columbus?
Confirm the carrier holds active operating authority, ask about reefer unit maintenance and pre-trip inspection routines, and verify continuous temperature monitoring and recording capability. Clear communication practices for handling temperature excursions in transit matter just as much as the equipment itself.
What temperature ranges can reefer carriers in Columbus typically handle?
Standard reefer units generally run from around -20°F to 70°F, covering frozen, chilled, and produce-safe ranges. Confirm the specific trailer's calibration and ask whether multi-temp zones are available if a load requires more than one setpoint.
How far in advance should a reefer load out of Columbus be booked?
Columbus sits at the intersection of I-70 and I-71, giving reefer capacity broad reach into the Midwest, Northeast, and South. Booking 24 to 48 hours ahead is typical, though produce season and the November through December holiday stretch can tighten capacity and push lead times out several days.
What can and can't be shipped in a reefer trailer?
Produce, meat, dairy, pharmaceuticals, floral, and other temperature-sensitive goods are the most common reefer freight. Strong-odor items like onions or certain produce can taint other cargo and may need dedicated equipment, and non-perishable dry goods generally don't need reefer capacity at all.
How can a shipper vet a new reefer carrier before the first load?
Check FMCSA operating authority and insurance status, ask for reefer-specific references, and confirm the carrier can provide continuous tracking or temperature monitoring on the load. Reviewing verified broker and shipper feedback, like the ratings referenced above, is one of the fastest ways to validate a new carrier before committing to a lane.
Find the Right Carrier for Your Lane
These 8 carriers earned their spot through real broker and shipper feedback, not marketing copy. If your lane doesn't match any of them, or you need backup capacity for a Columbus reefer load fast, CarrierSource can help you find a vetted match in minutes.
