Southern California–based, asset-owned carrier highlights decades of specialty food cold-chain experience as fuel costs and carrier instability pressure the industry
JURUPA VALLEY, CA — May 6, 2026 — As specialty food brands prepare for the Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City this June, many are arriving with the same question on their minds: who can I trust to move my product right now? With diesel up more than 40 percent since February, smaller carriers parking their rigs, and reliable refrigerated LTL capacity tightening across the country, the carrier conversation has moved from “what’s the rate” to “who will still be here next quarter.”
LandJet, an asset-based, temperature-controlled transportation and distribution company headquartered in Jurupa Valley, California, has been answering that question for the specialty food industry for more than 80 years. Through every freight cycle, recession, and fuel spike, LandJet has kept moving meats, cheeses, produce, and other premium refrigerated products across the country — for many of the same brands, decade after decade.
“Specialty food brands aren’t shipping commodities. They’re shipping their reputation,” said Chris Porter, Director of Business Development at LandJet. “When fuel is this expensive and margins are this tight, you can’t afford a load that shows up late, shows up warm, or doesn’t show up at all. Our customers have stayed with us for 20 years and longer because we treat their product like it’s our own.”
Built Around How Specialty Food Actually Moves
Most refrigerated freight networks are built around full truckloads. That’s a problem for specialty food brands — many of which ship partial loads, frequently, to multiple regions. LandJet’s LTL model is built specifically for those shipments, giving brands the ability to move smaller volumes more often without sacrificing reliability or product integrity.
The company operates dedicated lanes designed around the routes specialty food brands actually use, including East Coast to Southern California, Northern California, and Arizona; Southern California to the Northeast (NJ, PA, CT, VA) on a weekly LTL schedule; Southern California to Texas (Dallas and Houston); and daily LTL service throughout the Western U.S.
Southern California Cross-Dock and Distribution
LandJet’s SoCal facilities support both domestic and imported specialty food product flowing through the region, with chilled (34°F) and frozen (-10°F) cross-dock operations, rapid inbound-to-outbound transfers, order consolidation, and redistribution across the West Coast. Facilities are food-grade and audited, with third-party audit scores consistently above 90 percent.
Why It Matters Right Now
Diesel prices have climbed from roughly $3.76 a gallon before the conflict in the Middle East to nearly $5.50 today. Industry analysts have warned that the fuel shock is likely to push smaller and undercapitalized carriers out of the market, tightening capacity for shippers who are left scrambling to find replacements. Asset-based carriers — those who own their trucks rather than brokering loads — are positioned to weather the disruption with greater stability, fewer surprises, and more consistent service.
For specialty food brands, where a single warm load can mean a damaged retailer relationship and a recall risk, that stability isn’t a logistics preference. It’s a brand-protection strategy.
Connect with LandJet at the Summer Fancy Food Show
The LandJet team will be attending the Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City, June 28–30, 2026. Specialty food brands currently moving freight between the East Coast and Southern California — or evaluating their cold-chain partners in light of current market conditions — are invited to schedule a meeting with the team during the show.
About LandJet
LandJet is a Southern California–based, asset-owned transportation and distribution company specializing in temperature-controlled LTL freight and cross-dock services for the specialty food industry. With more than 80 years of experience moving meats, cheeses, produce, and other premium refrigerated products, LandJet partners with specialty food brands to deliver reliable, high-touch cold-chain solutions across the country. Learn more at [landjet.com].
Media Contact:
Chris Porter
Director of Business Development, LandJet
909-539-8536
[email protected]
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