Also known as ‘fridge trucks’ and ‘reefers,’ new and used refrigerated box trucks deliver perishable goods that must be kept cool, cold, or frozen during transport.
Refrigerated box trucks keep perishable goods frozen or chilled at specific temperatures until they reach their destination. A truck such as this is sometimes called a ‘fridge truck’ or ‘reefer truck.’ Produce sellers, beverage distributors, butchers, fishmongers, caterers, medical supply companies, and many other businesses rely on them.
Early vehicles used cooler wagons, large chunks of ice, and dry ice to keep cargo chilled. In the early 1940s, the first vehicles with portable mechanical cooling units became common. Today, trucks have engine-powered refrigeration units. Drivers use a temperature management system to maintain specific temperatures for perishable items.
Refrigerated cargo examples include dairy, produce, eggs, meat, seafood, ice cream, and frozen foods. Shippers also use reefer trucks to transport medication, plasma, flowers, and even fine art.
Refrigerated trucks are typically medium- and heavy-duty rigids. They have a well-insulated box and a refrigeration unit. Common reefer unit manufacturers include Carrier and Thermo King.
The reefer unit is sometimes called a ‘cooling unit’ or ‘chiller unit.’ It’s usually mounted on the front of the box above the roof of the vehicle’s cab. These trucks are available in diesel, gas, and battery-electric models.
Manufacturers charge their reefer units with different refrigerants according to the desired temperature range, such as R-134a for cold and chilled items or R-404A for freezer trucks requiring lower temperatures.
Some reefer trucks have a separate small diesel engine to keep the reefer unit running when the motor is turned off. Others use electric standby power from an outlet to maintain the right temperatures overnight.
Cargo capacities for fridge box trucks are greater than refrigerated vans but less than reefer semitrailers. Boxes range up to 7.3 metres (24 feet) long, in contrast with light-duty refrigerated vans with 1.8- to 2.4-m (6- to 8-ft) cargo bays.
The longest refrigerated trucks often offer a payload capacity above 3,600 kilograms (8,000 pounds). The truck body is well-insulated and usually designed for easy cleaning. Its rear doors typically swing out barn-style and seal tightly when closed and secured.
Refrigerated trucks often feature multiple temperature control zones so that a single reefer truck can transport different types of refrigerated cargo. With fixed-in-place partitions or a modular configuration, one refrigerated truck can simultaneously transport ambient-temperature, refrigerated, and frozen items.
Side doors on the refrigerated box can provide quick access to the various temperature zones, reducing the loss of chilled air that can occur when the larger rear doors are opened and closed.
Tail lifts on many models allow for unloading pallets of chilled goods with a hand truck. Some refrigerated trucks are equipped with curtainside bodies for easier unloading from the side during short-range distribution.
Most temperature control systems include sensors that monitor the cargo box and can alert operators if the temperature rises due to a leak or refrigeration unit failure. This allows the transport company to move the cargo to an appropriate location or into another reefer truck before it spoils.
Modern refrigerated trucks also track and log internal temperature data to comply with regulations and ensure that products have been maintained at the appropriate temperatures throughout their time in the truck.
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