For shippers moving pharmaceuticals, biologics and other high‑value temperature‑controlled products, cold chain transportation is often central to protecting product integrity and keeping shipments within required specifications. Even brief temperature excursions can create quality concerns and lead to costly delays. And because successful cold chain moves depend on validated equipment, consistent processes, and continuous monitoring, not every carrier is equipped to support them. That’s where Tracey Express Logistics — an independent Landstar agency — helps customers arrange temperature‑controlled transportation with a focus on safety, security, and service. 

How Landstar Cold Chain Services supports certification and equipment requirements 

Sean and his wife, co‑agent Mary Tracey, launched their Charleston, South Carolina agency just prior to the COVID‑19 pandemic, eventually introducing cold chain services to meet the needs of a pharmaceutical customer that required a variety of temperature ranges. 

Product and federal temperature compliance in cold chain transport are crucial to prevent degradation, loss of potency or breakdown of active ingredients in medicines and vaccines, and ultimately for ensuring products are delivered safe and effective for patients. At Landstar, trucks are calibrated to move temperature-controlled freight in three ranges: from 15°C to 25°C; 2°C to 8°C and -15°C to -25°C.  

“Not every carrier can provide cold chain services,” says Landstar Agent Sean Tracey. Inside each trailer used for cold chain, multiple calibrated sensors continuously monitor temperature ranges. “Each range requires a level of calibration, monitoring and certification that we, as an independent Landstar agency, provide.” 

If temperatures drift even briefly, alarms trigger real‑time alerts through a third‑party monitoring platform, allowing immediate coordination between the agent, the operator hauling the load and the customer. 

“You can compromise a million‑dollar shipment of vaccines or biologics in minutes,” says Sean.  

While temperature is critical, Sean says he and Mary understand that cold chain logistics is about more than refrigeration — it’s about building trust with customers and the operators who deliver their highly sensitive loads. 

“We select and support the best-trained cold chain truck owner-operators. Landstar business capacity owner‑operators (BCOs) are highly qualified, and both Hazmat and TSA certified,” says Sean. “That, is how we build trust with customers.” 

As he explains, Landstar leased or provided trucks undergo 120-day inspections exceeding Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration annual requirements, which emphasize proactive maintenance and a higher standard of service. “The trucks are cleaner, better maintained and operated by Landstar’s safe, professional BCOs.”

Sean notes that he and Mary have developed relationships with BCOs who can provide specialized equipment their customers need because they believe that benefits everyone involved. 

“When our agency sets rates, we’ve already spoken to BCOs in our cold chain network. We know we can move the freight for the quoted price; and our customers understand it’s not a paper bid that will change.” 

Beyond pricing, security is another customer critical element of cold chain logistics. Since the Drug Supply Chain Security Act was enacted, pharmaceutical freight and chain of custody has been regulated through electronic track and trace, and every handoff is documented from manufacturer to the dispenser to prevent counterfeit or contaminated products from reaching patients. Pallets are often tracked by GPS technology and every vial or pill is accounted for.  

“We are committed to consistently providing the highest level of security, safety and coverage for our customers,” Sean says. “One customer told me, ‘When we call on you, you tell us it’s covered and we never worry again.’ That’s the kind of trust we’ve built at Tracey Express Logistics.” 

How a single point of contact can support consistent service and communication in cold chain shipping 

The agency also offers shippers a single point of contact. “With other carriers, the customer might talk to a different dispatcher every time they pick up the phone,” he says. “When you call us, you’ll speak with me or Mary. We make it our business to know the history of our loads, and the needs of our customers. Because we have chosen to run our own business, and we don’t have a guaranteed paycheck every week, every little thing matters to us.”  

That, he says, includes the support of Landstar’s Cold Chain Services department, which confirms agents, BCOs, operators and equipment are certified to handle highly sensitive temperature-controlled freight. Landstar is audited regularly by customers for certification and equipment records and its quality management system. 

The Traceys’ elevated approach to cold chain services as more than refrigeration exemplifies what it means to deliver safety, security and service on every load, every time. 

Why Experience Counts in Cold Chain Shipping 

For many customers, temperature-controlled pharmaceutical moves can underscore the importance of experienced planning and communication. When shipments have narrow temperature specifications and additional documentation and chain-of-custody expectations, having the right processes and capacity in place may help reduce surprises and support on-time delivery.