BLOGS

A shopper in Southern California might know Ralphs. In Arizona, Fry’s. In the Pacific Northwest, Fred Meyer. Those familiar regional names all belong to the Kroger family. For a food manufacturer planning Western distribution, understanding those connections is a useful starting point. It helps explain the retail market the product is entering and prompts the next set of questions about how orders will reach their destinations. That’s why Minuteman Transport created “Where th

Halloween surprises can be fun. Freight surprises? Those deserve a plan. For food shippers serving multiple West Coast customers, different receiving windows, appointment changes, and temporary storage needs can create a complicated delivery puzzle. Refrigerated pool distribution offers a way to connect those pieces. Multiple customer orders travel west together on a long-haul truckload, then separate at a regional refrigerated hub for final-mile delivery. Minuteman Transport

October 2026 | Anaheim, California Minuteman Transport was proud to sponsor and attend the Pacific Justice Institute's (PJI) 2026 Celebration of Justice, held October 17 in Anaheim, California. The annual celebration recognizes the organization's efforts in defending religious freedom, protecting civil liberties, and providing legal advocacy for individuals and families facing injustice. Throughout the evening, attendees heard inspiring stories of perseverance and celebrated

October 2026 | Newport Beach, California Minuteman Transport was honored to once again serve as a sponsor of the Crime Survivors annual gala, An Evening of Resilience, held October 15, 2026, in Newport Beach, California. The special evening brought together community leaders, advocates, supporters, and survivors to recognize individuals who have dedicated themselves to protecting and supporting victims of crime. The event also celebrated the extraordinary courage and resilien

For food manufacturers shipping multiple orders to the West Coast, the long haul is only part of the distribution plan. Each order still needs to reach its receiver—and sometimes appointments or receiving plans change. Refrigerated pool distribution brings those orders west together in a consolidated truckload. At Minuteman Transport, freight can be cross-docked and routed for regional refrigerated delivery across California, Arizona, and Nevada. Having a refrigerated partner

Food manufacturers serving multiple West Coast customers have several transportation options. The right approach depends on order volume, delivery locations, appointment requirements, and the support needed when plans change. A multi-stop truckload keeps orders on one truck, with deliveries following a sequence. That can work well for a few aligned stops, although delays at earlier receivers can affect later appointments. Cross-country refrigerated LTL offers shared capacity

A practical guide for Midwest food shippers planning refrigerated LTL, cross-docking, and cold storage for California, Arizona, and Nevada.

We are proud to show off our 94.44% Satisfaction score and the rest of our scoreboard from our Hubspot Customer Satisfaction Survey. We understand when you choose Minuteman Transport that its more then a choice, but rather a partnership. Thank you for your trust and confidence!

We’re excited about the road ahead at Minuteman Transport. Andrew Amundson, has been promoted to Executive Vice President of Operations, and Pete Amundson has stepped into the role of Executive Vice President of Business Development. The past four years in the trucking and cold chain industry have been a true journey, and they’ve strengthened our commitment to reliable, temperature-controlled transportation and warehousing. We’re optimistic about the future and focused on con

Memorial Day Weekend is widely recognized as the unofficial beginning of summer across America. Families gather, grills fire up, beaches fill, and travel increases nationwide. But in the refrigerated transportation industry, Memorial Day Weekend also marks something else — the official beginning of the busy season. As June approaches, freight activity across California and the West Coast begins to accelerate rapidly. Produce season ramps up, food distribution volumes increase

Honoring Those Who Gave Everything This Memorial Day, all of us at Minuteman Transport pause to remember and honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. 🇺🇸 Memorial Day is more than just the start of summer or a long weekend — it is a time to reflect on the courage, dedication, and sacrifice of those who gave everything to protect the freedoms we enjoy each day. As a company proudly built on values of service, integrity, commitme

In today’s supply chain environment, many food manufacturers, distributors and importers are searching for more than just warehouse space or trucking capacity. They’re searching for a dependable logistics partner. At Minuteman Transport, we continue expanding our Southern California cold chain solutions to help customers simplify their operations with one coordinated transportation and warehousing partner. Complete Cold Storage & Transportation Solutions Our Southern Californ

At Minuteman Transport Inc., we believe successful companies are built by strong people working together toward a shared purpose. While day-to-day operations, customer service, and performance matter greatly, building meaningful relationships within a team is equally important. A couple weeks ago, our management team took part of a Friday afternoon to step away from the office, share lunch together, and participate in an escape room challenge. What may have seemed like a simp

The timing of this SCOTUS ruling alongside Roadcheck Week says a lot about where the transportation industry is heading. I spoke with a broker the day the ruling came out who said, “This completely changes how we have to vet carriers.” My first thought was: "Why wasn’t that already the standard?" For years, too much freight has been pushed toward the cheapest option instead of the safest or most reliable option. This ruling is another reminder that carrier selection is not ju

The U.S. Supreme Court just issued a unanimous 9-0 ruling in the Montgomery case that could significantly impact brokers, 3PLs, carriers, shippers and the transportation industry as a whole. In simple terms: ⚖️ The Court ruled that freight brokers CAN potentially be sued under state negligence laws for hiring unsafe carriers. For years, many brokers relied on federal preemption protections under the F4A/FAAAA Act. However, the Supreme Court determined that the law’s “safety e

Refrigerated Partial Truckload (PTL) is a highly efficient transportation option designed for mid-sized shipments that do not require a full trailer but exceed the efficiency of LTL. Typically ranging from 8 to 18 pallets, PTL shipments are often priced as a full truckload with a negotiated discount. In this model, the shipper agrees to allow the carrier to utilize the remaining trailer space. Key Benefits of PTL Lower cost compared to full truckload shipments Fewer handling

Refrigerated Small Truckload (STL) is a highly flexible transportation option designed for mid-sized shipments that require faster transit and greater control than traditional LTL. Typically moving between 8 and 14 pallets (under 6 feet in height), STL shipments are commonly transported using 26-foot refrigerated straight trucks. Key Advantages of STL Faster, more direct transit compared to LTL Reduced handling, improving product integrity Greater flexibility for scheduling a

Refrigerated LTL (Less Than Truckload) is a transportation method designed for smaller shipments that do not require a full trailer. Typically ranging from 1 to 12 pallets and under 6 feet in height, LTL freight moves through a consolidated network alongside other shipments. This model allows shippers to share trailer space, making it a cost-effective solution for recurring or lower-volume freight. Key Benefits of Refrigerated LTL Reduced transportation costs by paying only f

In the refrigerated transportation industry, not all freight moves the same. Choosing the right mode of transportation—whether Less Than Truckload (LTL), Small Truckload (STL), Partial Truckload (PTL), or Full Truckload (FTL)—can significantly impact cost, transit time, and product integrity. Refrigerated LTL (Less Than Truckload) LTL shipments typically range from 1 to 8 pallets and must remain under 6 feet in height. These shipments move through a network and are consolidat

The U.S. trucking industry is finally seeing light at the end of a long, dark tunnel. After enduring what many have called the "Great Freight Recession"—a brutal downturn that stretched over three years—there are growing signs that the market is turning the corner. In my two decades in this business, I’ve never witnessed a slump as prolonged and painful as this one. Now, as we exit 2025 and head into 2026, optimism is cautiously returning. Understanding the Recession This do