What cooler logistics does

Cooler Logistics is a Chicago-based third-party logistics (3PL) provider that specializes in temperature-controlled freight for the food and beverage industry. The company manages refrigerated truckload, refrigerated LTL, just-in-time, power-only, and drop trailer services across the continental United States, serving food and beverage shippers, grocery and retail distributors, and transportation brokers. Only one named enterprise customer (W&W Dairy, since April 2025) and one mid-market broker are publicly referenced, indicating a small current book of business relative to the addressable market.

The product portfolio is organized around three core specialized services: Temp-Controlled Contract Freight (dedicated long-term capacity), Just-In-Time Precision Delivery (responsive refrigerated capacity for disruptions and last-minute orders), and Refrigerated LTL (cost-effective refrigerated less-than-truckload with truckload-like service). These are supplemented by four additional service lines: refrigerated and dry truckload, LTL and partial loads, power-only trucking, and drop trailer services. The technology stack is minimal: no proprietary platform is disclosed, and standard web tools (Google Analytics, Google Ads) are used for marketing and site analytics. The firm invests in a relationship-based carrier network built organically rather than via public load boards.

The business model is transaction-based freight brokerage revenue with custom quote-based pricing. The go-to-market is sales-led and inside-sales driven, with a quote request form, toll-free phone line ((833) COOLER1), and dedicated account teams managing customers from tender through invoicing. The company is private, bootstrapped, and founder-controlled, with no disclosed institutional investment. Leadership is anchored by Founder/President Jon Michelon (previously co-founded Load Delivered Logistics, sold to Capstone Logistics in 2018) and Co-Founder/CEO Michael Cherney, supported by a full executive team (COO, CFO, CPO, four Senior EVPs) largely drawn from Load Delivered Logistics alumni. The company is recognized as an Inc. Best Workplaces 2026 honoree and a Food Logistics Top 3PL & Cold Storage Provider for 2025.

Name

cooler logistics

Legal name

Cooler Logistics LLC

Website

https://coolerlogistics.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cooler Logistics is a Chicago-based temperature-controlled freight 3PL serving food and beverage shippers across the continental US with refrigerated truckload, LTL, just-in-time, power-only, and drop trailer services. The bootstrapped, founder-led firm emphasizes relationship-based carrier coverage over technology.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Refrigerated Freight & Logistics Services

NAICS

Freight Transportation Arrangement (48851), Specialized Freight Trucking (4842)

SIC

Trucking & Courier Services (No Air) (4210)

akta.pro primary industry

Cold Chain 3PL (Temperature-Controlled Logistics) (TLAIAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Food & Beverage Cold Chain Logistics (Fresh, Chilled, Frozen) (TLAIAIAE)

Keywords

• Temperature-controlled logistics
• Refrigerated freight brokerage
• Third-party logistics services
• Food and beverage shipping
• Less-than-truckload shipping

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. 3PL Freight Management Services: Third-party logistics services charging transaction-based fees for freight brokerage and management. Revenue generated through negotiated rates on temp-controlled contract freight, just-in-time shipments, and refrigerated LTL services. Carrier network built through organic relationships rather than public load boards.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cooler Logistics is a third-party logistics (3PL) provider that brokers and manages temperature-controlled freight shipments for food and beverage companies. Core offerings include Temp-Controlled Contract Freight, Just-In-Time Precision Delivery, Refrigerated LTL, Refrigerated and Dry Truckload, LTL and Partial Loads, Power Only Trucking, and Drop Trailer Services. The company serves shippers, brokers, and retailers across the continental United States through a quote-based, relationship-driven model.

Product overview

Cooler Logistics is a third-party logistics (3PL) company providing specialized temperature-controlled freight services. The company operates as a unified service portfolio organized around core logistics capabilities rather than distinct software products. The product suite centers on three primary specialized services: Temp-Controlled Contract Freight (dedicated long-term capacity), Just-In-Time Precision Delivery (responsive refrigerated shipping), and Refrigerated LTL (cost-effective less-than-truckload shipping). These are complemented by four additional service offerings: Refrigerated and Dry Truckload, LTL and Partial Loads, Power Only Trucking, and Drop Trailer Services. Together, these services provide comprehensive coverage across the freight transportation spectrum, with particular expertise in food and beverage logistics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Temp-Controlled Contract Freight Dedicated temperature-controlled shipping built for long-term success, with deep understanding of customer SOPs and a procurement strategy focused on building carrier relationships for food and beverage shippers requiring consistent refrigerated freight.
• Temp-Controlled Just-In-Time (Precision Delivery) Responsive refrigerated shipping built for changing delivery demands, providing reliable, cost-effective solutions for unforeseen changes like weather disruptions, downed warehouses, or last-minute orders.
• Refrigerated LTL Cost-effective refrigerated Less-Than-Truckload shipping with truckload-like service experience, featuring a robust network of refrigerated LTL carrier partners spanning the continental US with proactive communication from order tender to invoicing.
• Refrigerated and Dry Truckload Full truckload network with deep experience delivering to retailers, grocers, and distributors, supported by service-focused account teams that stay proactive and advocate for customer interests across refrigerated and dry freight.
• LTL and Partial Loads LTL freight management for both dry goods and temperature-sensitive products using a robust network of trusted carriers with deep roots in the food and beverage industry.
• Power Only Trucking Matches available drivers with customer trailers to keep freight moving during peak seasons or capacity crunches, handling carrier vetting, dispatch coordination, and real-time tracking.
• Drop Trailer Services Program allowing facilities to load and unload on their own schedule, with coordination of trailer pools, availability monitoring, and management of the swap process with the carrier network.

Quantifiable outcome

• Proactive communication from order tender to invoicing

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• International Dairy Deli Bakery Association (IDDBA)minorOthers · 1 January 2026Member organization that connects a global community inspiring innovation, fostering collaboration, and shaping the future of dairy, deli, and bakery across the entire food industry ecosystem.
• Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA)minorOthers · 1 January 2026Non-profit organization founded in 1979 to promote store brands worldwide. Provides networking and resources for private label manufacturers.
• SmartWay Transport PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026EPA program partner that helps the freight transportation sector improve supply chain efficiency. Demonstrates commitment to environmental sustainability in logistics operations.
• Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA)minorOthers · 1 January 2026Premier organization for third-party transportation professionals in North America and abroad with focus of adding value to their business and providing resources for growth.
• American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI)minorOthers · 1 January 2026Member-driven national trade association that advances the interest of all segments of the frozen food and beverage industry.
• International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA)minorOthers · 1 January 2026The largest and most diverse international association serving the entire fresh produce and floral supply chain.
• Make-A-WishminorOthers · 1 January 2026Bronze Sponsor of annual Walk For Wishes race, helping grant life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.
• Wounded Warrior ProjectminorOthers · 1 January 2026Annual donor supporting programs that empower injured veterans and their families. Donations made every Veterans Day.
• Breastcancer.orgminorOthers · 1 January 2026Annual contributor during Breast Cancer Awareness Month to support research, education, and resources for those affected by breast cancer.
• Move For HungercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Transportation partner ensuring that food ends up in the hands of those who need it and not in a landfill. Part of Cooler Cares initiative.
• Special Olympics IllinoisminorOthers · 1 January 2026Team participates annually in Chicago Polar Plunge, raising funds and awareness. Company's largest boots-on-the-ground philanthropy event. Part of Cooler Cares initiative.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Flock Freight: Tech-enabled freight platform focused on pooled shipping. Cooler's CPO previously led carrier sales at Flock, and Flock represents the digital-native brokerage model that contrasts with Cooler's relationship-led approach.

Broad incumbents

• Landstar System: Asset-light freight network using independent agents and owner-operators. Competes for similar refrigerated and dry truckload freight with a similarly relationship-driven, decentralized model.
• C.H. Robinson: Largest North American 3PL/broker with a dedicated refrigerated and food-services practice. Serves the same F&B and grocery shipper base as Cooler but at vastly greater scale and with proprietary Navisphere technology.
• AmeriCold Logistics: Major temperature-controlled warehousing and logistics provider with significant F&B and food-service exposure. Adjacent peer serving overlapping cold-chain shippers via storage and value-added services rather than brokerage.
• RXO: Major North American freight brokerage spun out of XPO, offering truckload, LTL, and managed transportation. Competes for the same reefer and dry freight that Cooler brokers and is investing heavily in brokerage technology.
• Lineage Logistics: World's largest temperature-controlled warehouse and logistics company. Adjacent rather than direct competitor, but operates in the same cold-chain ecosystem that Cooler's shipper customers depend on for storage and drayage.
• Echo Global Logistics: Technology-enabled 3PL providing truckload, LTL, and managed transportation across multiple verticals including food and beverage. Comparable broad-line brokerage model with overlapping F&B and grocery shipper accounts.
• Uber Freight: Digital freight marketplace and managed transportation provider. Represents the platform-based brokerage model that competes with traditional brokers like Cooler on shipper pricing transparency and carrier procurement automation.

Direct peers

• Surge Transportation: Mid-market freight brokerage with reefer and dry van capabilities. Cooler's Senior EVP of Procurement previously managed sales at Surge, and the firms share a comparable sales-led, relationship-driven GTM in the same mid-market shipper segment.
• Load Delivered Logistics (Capstone Logistics): Founded by Cooler's president Jon Michelon and sold to Jordan Group/Capstone Logistics in 2018. Same asset-light brokerage DNA with food/beverable exposure and overlapping leadership alumni; the most direct comp for Cooler's model and exit trajectory.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cooler-logistics

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about cooler logistics