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The trucking industry ships all kinds of freight. Some cargo is more time-sensitive than others. This could be because the product is needed for an emergency or provides some other essential service. Or, the cargo might not have a long shelf life and needs to be kept at a certain temperature.
This is the purpose of reefer trucks. Reefer trucks haul refrigerated trailers, which allows them to carry goods at a consistent temperature for the entire passage, guaranteeing that that cargo will be shipped according to its temperature needs. Reefer trucks are important to many industries, including food services, pharmaceuticals, and manufacturing.
A reefer truck is a refrigerated trailer hauled by a semi-cab. The term “reefer” is slang for refrigeration. The refrigerated trailer runs on an active cooling system designed to carry perishable goods. This system requires its own power source and many reefer trucks are either run on diesel-powered generators or cryogenic cooling systems.
Reefer trucks are only meant to maintain the temperature in their trailers. It’s important to note that reefer trucks are not designed to cool down their cargo. When the products are loaded onto the trailer, the trailer and cargo should already be at their required temperatures.
This is an important part of the loading process, and it is monitored by both the driver and the shipping company. What makes reefer trucks unique is that once they are cool, they stay cool because they run on a closed cooling system, much like a building that uses central air HVAC.
Reefer trucks have extra components compared to normal dry-good trucks, thanks to their cooling systems. The lifespan of a refrigerated trailer depends on how they are taken care of during its use. Due to this, reefer truck drivers have to be more aware of the mechanics of their trailers. A smart reefer truck driver will consistently check up on their equipment.
Some of the most important parts of a reefer truck include:
The reefer unit. This is the cooling system that maintains the temperature inside the trailer. It is made up of a condenser, a compressor, and an evaporator.
An air chute. Air chutes provide ventilation for the trailer to ensure an even distribution of cool air. They are usually found along the top of the trailer.
The insulation. The trailer must be insulated so that the internal cool air is not lost to the outside warmer air.
Tire inflation systems. Tire inflation systems monitor tire pressure and inflate tires whenever they are low. A reefer truck cannot afford to have flare tires or experience accidents due to low tire pressure.
Air ride suspension. Vehicles with air ride suspension, which are powered by an air pump or compressor, tend to have smoother rides over bumps and other rough terrains. This is particularly important for reefer trucks because their perishable cargo can be fragile.
As reefer trucks ship their cargo, each one of these parts provides a critical role in ensuring the safe delivery of the products. The reefer unit especially is the most important and unique part of a reefer truck.
Reefer trucks work by using a closed cooling system that is powered by a generator. This generator requires its own fuel so that it can run even if the truck engine is turned off. The system extracts hot air and provides cold air in return.
Some of the machinery is located outside the container, while the cooling aspects are located inside. There are four main parts to this system, they are:
The compressor. The compressor is powered by its own independent engine and draws in the refrigerant of the refrigeration system. At this stage, the refrigerant is a gas, so the compressor exerts pressure on the refrigerant. This heats up the compressor and the refrigerant, so the refrigerant moves on to the condenser.
The condenser. The condenser is located outside the container. It performs the heat exchange to lower the temperature of the refrigerant to turn it into a liquid. It does this by passing the gas through the condenser coils. The condenser absorbs the heat through a fan-based cooling system. The refrigerant then moves on to inside the container.
The expansion valve. The expansion valve regulates the temperature of the container by controlling how much refrigerant moves onto the evaporator.
The evaporator. The evaporator is located inside the container. A fan system pulls in air from the container over coils that the refrigerant runs through. The refrigerant absorbs this heat and turns it back into a gas. Meanwhile, the air becomes cool and circulates back through the container.
The process of the refrigeration systems starts over again. The refrigerant, as a gas, returns to the compressor while the container air eventually absorbs heat and must be pulled back into the evaporator.
Each component here has been broken down by its role. They do not work one at a time. Instead, since the refrigerator unit is a closed system, the refrigerant is in constant flow, and all stages of the unit should be working simultaneously.
There are many industries that need reefer trucks. Agriculture, grocery, and food service industries need reefer trucks to ship foods that are perishable, such as produce, meat, and dairy products. Food safety training is usually required for reefer truck drivers. Spoiled food and beverages not only result in a financial loss but can also lead to serious health problems.
The pharmaceutical and healthcare industries also use reefer trucks. There are many drugs and vaccines that must be shipped at specific temperatures; otherwise, they will be useless or even dangerous. A recent example is the Pfizer Covid vaccine which needs to be shipped between -90°C and -60°C (-130°F and -76°F).
A reefer truck is helpful for any industry that needs its product shipped at a specific temperature. This means a bigger responsibility than found in normal dry goods shipping.
Reefer trucking is a serious business, so it must be taken seriously. Since reefer trucks are more specialized, they come with both benefits and challenges. Anyone interested in becoming a reefer truck driver must consider the pros and cons before they make a commitment.
Some of the benefits of reefer trucking include:
High demand. Reefer truck is a high-demand profession. The job requires specialized equipment and training, and it is always needed by certain industries like agriculture. This means that there will always be jobs available for reefer truck drivers.
High-priced cargo. Due to the special nature of reefer truck cargo, the cost of shipping is higher. Reefer truck drivers make more money than they do when shipping regular cargo.
Less wasted time. Reefer trucks usually drive along routes that are specific to their cargo. Reefer truck drivers do not usually have to bounce around between too many locations over long distances. Also, once their refrigerated truck is empty, the driver can always decide to ship dry goods if there are no refrigerated goods in the area.
Easier loading/unloading situations. Loading docks that handle refrigerated cargo are usually manned by people who are well trained and understand the procedures. This means confusion when the driver arrives.
Still, reefer trucks are not without their issues. Some of the challenges of reefer trucking include:
Pre-cooling requirements. Reefer trucks have to be at a certain temperature before they can take on their cargo. However, the drivers do not get paid for the time they have to spend waiting for their truck to reach that temperature.
Early and late time of day work hours. Refrigerated goods usually are loaded during times that avoid high traffic. This means reefer truck drivers have to be ready to work in the early mornings and late evenings.
Extra maintenance and expenses. Refrigerated trucks need to be meticulously maintained because when the equipment breaks, it will be a high extra cost for the driver. Reefer truck drivers must therefore spend more time on their machinery than normal dry good truck drivers.
What is the difference between a reefer truck and a cooling van?
A cooling van is an insulated motor carrier, while a reefer truck is insulated and also has the equipment to maintain temperature. It is like the difference between a cooler full of ice and a freezer full of ice.
What does “reefer” mean?
“Reefer” is slang for a refrigerated truck. It is more convenient to say, which helps in quick workplace conversation.
Can reefer trucks make more money?
Yes, reefer trucks can make more money because the cargo they ship costs more. Also, reefer trucks are in high demand, which gives their drivers more leverage and more opportunities to make money.