Refrigerated Freight Brokerage · Ithaca, NY
Refrigerated freight, brokered by a driver.
Reefer loads nationwide. Setpoint and pre-cool confirmed before the truck rolls, carriers vetted every load, and one point of contact from booking to delivery.
Why True Link
A warm load is an expensive load.
Calls that go to voicemail. A carrier who shows up with a trailer that was never pre-cooled. A rejected load and a claim that drags on for weeks. Shippers deal with this every day. We started True Link so you don't have to.
Founder and owner Hugh Wayne Muirhead spent six years driving Class A over the road before he started brokering. He has delivered to grocery warehouses at four in the morning and paid more lumper fees than he can count. When you call, you reach someone who knows your freight.
We check the things that actually cause claims: pre-cool, setpoint, continuous or cycle, and pulp temps at pickup. Every load, before the truck rolls.
Honest rates. Carriers vetted every load. Bad news delivered fast, with a fix attached. That's the whole job.
— Hugh Wayne Muirhead, Founder & Owner
What You Get
No chasing. No guessing.
Temps confirmed
Setpoint, mode, and pre-cool confirmed before pickup. Reefer downloads on request.
Vetted every load
Authority, safety record, insurance, and equipment checked before dispatch, not once a year.
Followed to the dock
We stay in touch with the carrier for the whole load. If something changes, you hear it from us.
Fast answers
Calls and emails returned quickly by a person who knows your load. No call centers.
What We Haul
Built for perishables
Every commodity has its own risks. We set up each load around what's actually on the trailer.
32–55°F
Fresh produce
Commodity-specific setpoints, pulp checks at pickup, tight appointment windows.
−20–0°F
Frozen foods
Meat, seafood, and prepared foods on continuous run.
33–40°F
Dairy & beverage
Steady cooling in clean, food-grade trailers.
33–50°F
Floral & plants
Consistent climate for cut flowers and live inventory.
Varies
Temp-sensitive goods
Candy, chemicals, and freight that can't get too hot or freeze.
How It Works
How a reefer load moves
Step 01
Quote
Send commodity, temp, lane, and dates. You get a real rate, fast.
Step 02
Cover
We vet the carrier and put your temp instructions in writing on the rate confirmation.
Step 03
Track
Location and temp check-ins to the dock. Problems reported with a plan attached.
Step 04
Close out
We chase the signed POD and BOL. You get the paperwork without asking.
The Difference
What we commit to
Not a list of what other brokers do wrong. A list of what you can hold us to.
Calls and emails returned the same business day
If we can't answer yet, we tell you when we will.
Every carrier screened before dispatch
Authority, safety record, active cargo insurance, and the right reefer unit.
Temp instructions in writing on the rate con
Setpoint and mode, so there is no argument about what was agreed.
Updates you didn't have to ask for
You hear about a delay from us, not from your receiver.
A small team, and the owner on your account
You get a named contact who knows your freight, and Hugh is on the account himself.
We chase the paperwork
Signed POD and BOL delivered to you without a reminder.
FAQ
Straight answers.
What do you haul?
Refrigerated and frozen freight: produce, meat and seafood, dairy, beverages, floral, and other temperature-sensitive goods.
How do you vet carriers?
On every load we check operating authority, safety record, insurance, and that the reefer unit fits your temperature needs. We pick the safest carriers for the job, not just the cheapest.
How do you protect temperature?
Your setpoint and mode go on the rate confirmation. We confirm pre-cool before loading, ask for pulp temps at pickup, and can request a reefer download after delivery.
Do you offer tracking?
Yes. We follow every load from pickup to delivery and keep you updated. We stay in contact with the carrier through the whole load.
How fast can you cover a load?
It depends on the lane, season, and equipment. Call us and we'll give you an honest answer right away.
What regions do you cover?
We cover the lower 48 states. We are based in Ithaca, New York, and East Coast lanes are a particular strength.
Are you bonded and insured?
Yes. True Link is an FMCSA authorized broker (MC 1735578) and carries the $75,000 surety bond required by federal law. Every carrier we use must carry active cargo insurance, $100,000 standard, and we verify it before dispatch.
You're a newer brokerage. Why should I trust you with my freight?
Fair question. The authority is new; the freight experience is not. Hugh spent six years driving Class A before brokering, which is more reefer time than most desks you will deal with. Start us on one load, watch how the temp confirmations and updates come in, and decide from there.
Got a load that has to stay cold?
Send the details. A real person gets back to you.
Get a Quote
Tell us what's shipping.
Commodity, temp, origin, destination. That's all we need to start.
Thanks, we've got it.
Someone from True Link will reach out shortly. Need an answer now? Call 607.228.2882.