Refrigerated van
An insulated body with a refrigeration unit on the nose, in two sizes: the 53 ft trailer for full loads, and the refrigerated box truck for smaller drops and addresses a semi cannot reach. Everything about both, including the payload, is a trade against holding a temperature.
Refrigerated van, side elevation
| Trailer length | 53 ft standard |
|---|---|
| Interior length | Roughly 50 ft to 52 ft, shorter than a dry van |
| Interior width | Roughly 98 in, narrower because of insulation |
| Interior height | Roughly 105 in to 108 in under the return air chute |
| Max payload | Roughly 42,000 to 44,000 lb, less than a dry van |
| Box truck body | Refrigerated straight truck, commonly 16 ft to 26 ft |
| Box truck payload | Roughly 6,000 to 12,000 lb depending on the chassis |
| Box truck access | Fits dock heights and street addresses a 53 ft unit cannot reach |
| Lift gate | Available on box truck work where there is no dock |
| Temperature range | Deep frozen through fresh, setpoint agreed per load |
| Operating modes | Continuous run or cycle sentry, specified at tender |
| Fuel | Reefer unit runs on its own diesel tank |
Figures are industry standard and vary by manufacturer and by carrier. Confirm exact dimensions against the specific trailer before you plan a load to the inch.
The download is the evidence
Every reefer records temperature over the trip. In a claim, that download is the only thing that matters, and it will be read against the setpoint written on the rate confirmation. This is why we insist on agreeing the setpoint, the tolerance and the mode in writing before the truck moves rather than accepting "keep it cold".
South Florida seasonality
Reefer capacity out of this market tightens sharply in produce season and prices move with it. See produce and perishables for what that means for your freight.
Typical commodities
Fresh produce, frozen food, dairy, protein, floral, beverages, restaurant and grocery resupply, and any commodity with a documented cold chain.
Operating notes
What actually goes wrong with this equipment
Pre-cool is not cooling
A reefer pulls down air temperature, it does not chill warm product. Freight must be loaded at temperature. Pre-cooling the trailer only stops it stealing cold from your load.
Continuous versus cycle
Continuous holds a tighter band and is standard for produce and pharma. Cycle sentry saves fuel and is acceptable for most frozen.
Air flow
Load must not block the return air chute or the floor channels. Freight stacked to the ceiling at the nose will run warm at the doors.
Picking the size
A box truck is not a lesser reefer, it is a different tool. Small drop counts, city centres, restaurants and any receiver without a dock are box truck work. Volume and full pallets belong on the trailer.
Other equipment
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