Consumer-friendly terminology emphasizing the doorstep convenience of professionally temperature-controlled residential delivery service, distinguishing mechanical refrigeration delivery from ice pack or ambient transport with insulated packaging. True refrigerated home delivery maintains active cooling from pickup through customer handoff—not merely chilled packaging that gradually warms during transit.
The Refrigerated Distinction
“Refrigerated” specifically implies active mechanical cooling rather than passive thermal protection:
Mechanical Refrigeration: Transport refrigeration units actively removing heat regardless of ambient conditions, maintaining target temperatures indefinitely. Product arrives at the same temperature it was loaded—whether transit takes 2 hours or 8 hours, whether ambient is 15°C or 40°C.
Passive Cooling (NOT Refrigerated): Ice packs, gel packs, or dry ice providing temporary thermal protection that depletes over time. Product temperature drifts toward ambient, potentially exceeding safe thresholds on long routes or hot days.
Services claiming “refrigerated delivery” while using ice packs exploit customer assumptions. The term should mean active refrigeration—but lack of standardized definitions allows misleading marketing.
Why Terminology Matters
Customers ordering frozen products assume “refrigerated delivery” means their products stay frozen throughout transit. When ice-pack-cooled shipments arrive partially thawed, customer experience suffers regardless of technically-accurate service descriptions.
Professional frozen food couriers using actual refrigeration differentiate through:
- Vehicle specifications showing TRU capacity
- Temperature monitoring and documentation
- R638 compliance certification
- Transparent pricing reflecting real cold chain costs
Related Terms: Home Delivery, Temperature-Controlled Home Delivery, Last-Mile Cold Chain Delivery