In short
Refrigerated meat freight moves chilled and frozen product under continuous temperature control from the supplier's site to the buyer's door. Chilled meat needs to stay at 5°C or colder and frozen meat frozen hard, the vehicle and operator may need a state licence, and everyone in the transport chain has safety duties under the Heavy Vehicle National Law. Freight is usually priced by pallet space and booked ahead of a cut-off before the transport date.
Temperature control in transit
FSANZ guidance on transporting food is that potentially hazardous food, including meat, must be kept at 5°C or colder when cold, frozen food should stay frozen hard, and food must be protected from contamination. AS 4696:2023, the Australian Standard for the hygienic production and transportation of meat and meat products, also covers transport.
Licensing of meat transport
States regulate meat transport. Safe Food Production Queensland accredits businesses that transport meat. The NSW Food Authority requires businesses that distribute or transport meat wholesale to hold a licence, and licensed vehicles display a label. In Victoria, PrimeSafe licenses meat and seafood transport vehicles and publishes a register of licensed businesses. Check the rules for every state the freight passes through.
Chain of Responsibility
Under the Heavy Vehicle National Law, the NHVR explains that each party in the chain of responsibility has a primary duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety of its transport activities. Parties include the consignor that sends goods, the consignee that receives them, packers, loaders and unloaders, as well as operators and schedulers. A supplier sending pallets and a buyer receiving them both have a role.
How freight is priced
Refrigerated carriers commonly charge per pallet space rather than per pallet or per kilogram. The dimensions and gross weight of the freight determine how many spaces it occupies, and oversized or overweight freight can take extra spaces. Our guide to cartons, pallets and freight spaces explains the counting in more detail.
Booking cut-offs and timing
Carriers set booking cut-offs ahead of the transport date. Miss the cut-off and the load moves to the next available run. Build the cut-off into your order timing, especially for chilled product with a short window.
What to confirm before booking
- Pickup and delivery addresses, and access for the vehicle
- Storage state and the temperature setting required
- Number of pallets, their dimensions and gross weight
- Pickup and delivery dates, and the booking cut-off
- Who is consignor and consignee, and who loads and unloads
- What happens if the delivery cannot be received
Receiving the delivery
Check temperature and packaging on arrival, as FSANZ receiving guidance recommends, and note any problem on the delivery paperwork before the driver leaves.
Freight on Protein Link
Protein Link coordinates refrigerated freight through its carrier partner. Freight is quoted for each shipment once a supplier accepts an order request, and confirmed before the buyer pays. Paid trading opens alongside refrigerated freight, and availability for your lanes is confirmed during onboarding. Freight is the buyer's cost, shown separately from the product price.
Sources
- Transporting food safely · Food Standards Australia New Zealand
- AS 4696:2023 Hygienic production and transportation of meat and meat products for human consumption · Standards Australia
- Chain of Responsibility (CoR) · National Heavy Vehicle Regulator
- Parties in the CoR · National Heavy Vehicle Regulator
- Food transport vehicles · NSW Food Authority
- Meat Food Safety Scheme · Safe Food Production Queensland
General information only, not legal, food-safety or tax advice. Check current requirements with the relevant regulator for your state and product.
Frequently asked questions
Does a meat transport vehicle need a licence?
In several states, yes. For example, the NSW Food Authority licenses wholesale meat transport and PrimeSafe licenses meat transport vehicles in Victoria. Check the rules in each state the freight passes through.
What is the Chain of Responsibility?
It is the framework under the Heavy Vehicle National Law that gives every party in the transport chain, including consignors and consignees, a duty to ensure the safety of their transport activities so far as is reasonably practicable.
Why is freight charged per pallet space?
Refrigerated trailers have a fixed floor area, so carriers price the space your freight takes up. Dimensions and gross weight decide how many spaces that is.
What happens if I miss a freight booking cut-off?
The load usually moves to the next available run, which can push out the delivery date. Plan order timing around the cut-off.
Trade wholesale protein on better terms
Request access as a buyer or a supplier. Every business is reviewed before trading, and verification is free.