Illinois Reefer Carriers
As of this page's last data refresh, FMCSA lists 6,142 active, for-hire Reefer carriers based in Illinois, averaging around 16 power units per fleet, with the largest concentration around CHICAGO. This comes straight from FMCSA's public Company Census File, refreshed weekly — search or filter the table below to find and verify a specific carrier before you book or partner with them.
6,142
Active reefer carriers
16
Average power units per fleet
CHICAGO
Largest concentration
Illinois reefer carriers at a glance
Of the 6,141 reefer carriers in Illinois that report a fleet size, 42% run a single power unit and 71% run five or fewer. 992 carriers run 6 to 20 trucks, 646 carriers run 21 to 100, and 173 carriers run more than 100.
228 of the 6,142 Illinois reefer carriers (4%) were added to the FMCSA census in the last 12 months. Most names here are established, but check each one.
5,287 of the Illinois reefer carriers file as interstate carriers (86%), and 534 (9%) are registered to haul hazardous materials.
Only 504 of the 6,142 Illinois reefer carriers have an FMCSA safety rating: 420 satisfactory, 83 conditional and 1 unsatisfactory. The rest are unrated.
Chicago has the most reefer carriers in Illinois, with 659. The next largest are Plainfield (174), Schaumburg (147), Naperville (106), Elk Grove Village (95) and Des Plaines (92).
| Power units | Carriers | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 power unit | 2,587 | 42% |
| 2 to 5 | 1,743 | 28% |
| 6 to 20 | 992 | 16% |
| 21 to 100 | 646 | 11% |
| Over 100 | 173 | 3% |
Counts for active, for-hire reefer carriers based in Illinois, from FMCSA's Company Census File. Fleet sizes are self-reported on the MCS-150 form, and implausible entries are left out. Carriers that report no trucks, and bus and other passenger carriers, are not counted.
Browse Reefer Carriers in Illinois
Data for Illinois reefer carriers is pulled live from FMCSA's public Company Census File. Always verify a carrier's current authority and insurance directly — use our free Carrier & Broker Lookup tool for a real-time check by DOT or MC number.
Free tools for Reefer carriers in Illinois
Verify a Illinois reefer carrier's authority, check cargo coverage, and review your own FMCSA record.
- Carrier & Broker LookupLook up any Illinois carrier's live FMCSA authority and insurance.
- New Authority ChecklistGetting your own authority to haul reefer in Illinois? Step through the checklist.
- Authority Age and History CheckerSee how old a Illinois carrier's authority is and its revocation history.
- DOT Audit Readiness ChecklistReview your own FMCSA record the way an auditor would, before a Illinois inspection.
Other Equipment Types in Illinois
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Reefer carrier data for Illinois come from?+
It's pulled live from FMCSA's Company Census File — the same MCS-150 data FMCSA itself publishes as open data — filtered to active, for-hire carriers physically based in Illinois that report hauling reefer freight. A carrier must report at least one truck, so bus and other passenger-only companies are left out. The directory refreshes weekly, so counts reflect FMCSA's most recent published data, not a one-time snapshot.
How do I verify a reefer carrier in Illinois before booking or partnering with them?+
228 of the 6,142 Illinois reefer carriers were added to the FMCSA census in the last 12 months, so check each name before you book. Check that their authority is active. Check that cargo insurance and (for brokers) a bond are on file and meet the minimums. Check that there's no history of double-brokering or unresolved complaints. Use our free Carrier & Broker Lookup tool to pull a carrier's live FMCSA record by DOT or MC number. It shows authority status, insurance on file, and safety rating in real time.
What makes a reefer carrier different from other equipment types?+
A reefer (refrigerated trailer) keeps cargo at a set temperature in transit. This is required for produce, meat, dairy, and other perishables. Reefer freight typically pays more than dry van because of the added equipment cost and stricter delivery windows. In Illinois, FMCSA lists 6,142 carriers that report hauling reefer freight, most of them around CHICAGO.
Can I book reefer freight in Illinois directly with carriers from this list through Grow Trucking?+
The 6,142 Illinois reefer carriers listed here come from public FMCSA records. This directory is a free research and verification tool built on public FMCSA data. It isn't a load board or brokerage. Grow Trucking is a dispatch service. We work for owner-operators and small fleets, finding and booking freight for them. If you're a carrier looking to run more of this equipment type in this state, that's exactly what a dedicated dispatcher does.
More from Grow Trucking
Run Reefer Freight in Illinois?
If you're an owner-operator or small fleet hauling reefer in Illinois, a dedicated dispatcher finds and books the freight so you can focus on driving.