Specialized Services
Shipping with dry ice
When frozen or temperature-critical freight has to stay cold without a refrigerated trailer, dry ice does the work. We arrange dry-ice-packed shipments as part of our cold-chain and specialized freight services.
Dry ice is solid carbon dioxide. At −109.3°F (−78.5°C) it is far colder than water ice, and it sublimates straight from solid to gas, so it leaves no meltwater behind. That makes it a dependable way to keep frozen product frozen in insulated containers, in parcel and LTL shipments, and anywhere mechanical refrigeration is not available.
We treat it as one tool in a wider cold chain. For a full temperature-controlled load, a refrigerated trailer is usually the better fit. For smaller frozen shipments, samples, and mixed loads, dry ice in the right packaging keeps product at temperature from pickup to delivery.
Dry ice or a reefer?
Dry ice works best for frozen goods and smaller shipments: a few insulated containers, palletized coolers, or freight riding on a shared LTL trailer where no temperature-controlled equipment is available.
A reefer is the better choice for a full or partial load that needs a set temperature held for the whole trip, or for chilled product that must not freeze. Not sure which fits? Tell us the product, the quantity, and the transit time, and we will recommend the method.
How we ship it
Dry ice is regulated in transport because the carbon dioxide gas it gives off has to vent safely. Each carrier sets its own acceptance, packaging, and labeling rules, and air shipments are regulated as a hazardous material (UN 1845, Class 9).
We match dry-ice-packed freight to carriers that accept it, confirm the packaging and paperwork before pickup, and stay on the shipment until it is delivered.
Specialized Services
Who ships with dry ice
Food and perishables
Frozen product that has to stay frozen end to end, from producers and processors to distributors.
Pharmaceuticals and life sciences
Temperature-critical product, reagents, and samples that cannot break the cold chain.
Medical and lab specimens
Specimens and materials that must arrive frozen and on time.
Industrial materials
Materials and parts that require sub-zero handling in transit.
Forms of dry ice
Blocks, slices, or pellets
Dry ice is pressed into several forms, and the right one depends on the shipment.
Blocks
Solid blocks have the least surface area for their weight, so they sublimate slowest. They suit longer transits and larger insulated containers.
Slices
Thinner cuts that lie flat over product in a shipping container, cooling an even layer from above.
Pellets
Small extruded pellets pour into the gaps around product and cool it quickly, but their larger surface area means they sublimate faster than a block.
Tell us the product, the container, and the transit time, and we will help you size the quantity.
Packing it right
- Use an insulated container that is not airtight, so the gas can vent and pressure cannot build.
- Place dry ice on top of product that must stay frozen, and beneath product that only needs to stay cool: the cold carbon dioxide gas sinks.
- Label every package as containing dry ice (carbon dioxide, solid), with the marks your carrier requires.
- Handle it with insulated gloves and eye protection, and pack in a well-ventilated area.
- Size the quantity to the transit time: in a standard insulated container, dry ice sublimates at roughly 5 to 10 pounds a day.
- Never ship live animals, such as lobsters or shellfish, on dry ice.
FAQ
Dry ice questions, answered
What is dry ice made of?
Dry ice is solid carbon dioxide (CO2). Carbon dioxide gas is purified, pressurized, and cooled into a liquid, then allowed to expand rapidly so it freezes into a snow that is pressed into blocks, slices, or pellets.
How long does dry ice last in transit?
It depends on the quantity, the container, and the outside temperature. In a standard insulated container, dry ice typically sublimates at 5 to 10 pounds a day, so we size the amount to the transit time.
Is dry ice safe to touch?
Not with bare hands. At −109.3°F (−78.5°C) it causes frostbite-like burns on contact. Handle it with insulated gloves or tongs, and wear eye protection when breaking it up.
How should dry ice be stored before it ships?
In an insulated container, such as a cooler, to slow sublimation, but never an airtight one: the gas has to escape so pressure cannot build. Keep it in a well-ventilated area until the shipment is packed.
Is the gas from dry ice dangerous?
Carbon dioxide is not toxic, but in an enclosed or poorly ventilated space it can displace oxygen. Pack and store dry ice in a ventilated area and never in an airtight container.
Is shipping with dry ice regulated?
Yes. Dry ice must be packed so the gas can vent and labeled as dry ice, and each carrier sets its own acceptance rules. Air shipments are regulated as a hazardous material. We confirm the requirements for your shipment before it is booked.
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Ready to move your freight?
Tell us the origin, destination, and what you are shipping. We will quote it and get it on a truck.