Things You Need To Know Before Buying a Refrigerated Vehicle

It is sometimes vital for you to have a high-quality, dependable refrigerated vehicle for your business. When you invest in adding a refrigerated truck or van into your delivery fleet, you will want to know that you are choosing the right vehicle for the job. It can help to learn the varied factors that go into buying a vehicle. Read on to learn the things you need to know before buying a refrigerated vehicle.

What Type of Vehicles Can You Choose?

The type and size of your business can dictate whether you go with a refrigerated van or truck. Depending on what your delivery and product needs are, you may want to consider one of the following types of refrigerated vehicles:

Chiller Conversion Van

Insulation vans with a refrigerated part are known as chiller conversion vans. The chiller conversion part efficiently keeps warm air out while drawing in frigid air to support cooler conditions. These frigid conditions enable businesses to deliver many perishable goods that do not require storage at below-zero temperatures.

Semi-Freezer Van

Semi-freezer vans have extensive insulation and refrigeration capabilities. Semi-freezer vans can transport frozen products that need to keep below zero degrees Fahrenheit. They are also capable of quickly defrosting products when required.

Full-Freezer Van

Full freezer vans have more robust, heat-resistant doors and sidewalls in addition to the features of a semi-freezer van. Heat-resistant doors reduce the amount of heat that enters the cabin because of the conductivity from the sun’s rays on metal.

Refrigerated Truck

Refrigerated trucks, also known as reefer trucks, are box trucks or semi-trucks with refrigerated trailers. These trucks keep products at the right temperature for long distances. They can also carry higher payloads than a typical van.

Factors To Consider

Several distinct factors will help you to figure out the right refrigerated vehicle for you and your business. It’s best practice to take some time before buying a vehicle and jot down what your business needs are and use those in conjunction with some of the following considerations:

Budget

You will want to have a price you’re willing to pay in mind before you shop. Research some of the typical costs for these types of vehicles to get an idea of what you’ll have to spend. You may see an unbelievably affordable refrigerated truck on the market. However, keep in mind that low prices don’t necessarily mean it’s reliable when you push it into your delivery fleet. Stick with reputable sellers with a range of pricing options that you can trust, even if your budget is on the lower end of the scale.

Temperature Requirements

You will need to assess the temperature requirements for the products you need to transport. Many items will deteriorate if left above a specific temperature. For example, suppose you are a pharmacy that needs to deliver medication. In that case, it is imperative that you have the right vehicle that will chill them. Once you’ve found the temperature range you need to keep your products safe and protected, you can find refrigerated vehicles that can keep to that same range.

Payload Size

How much product do you expect to ship daily, weekly, and monthly? For smaller businesses such as a pharmacy or floral shop, you’ll most likely only need the services of a refrigerated van. For larger businesses like grocery stores, you should consider a refrigerated truck with an extensive payload capacity to transport your products safely and efficiently. Larger-sized trucks are more likely to handle multiple temperature needs, so you can simultaneously deliver distinct types of products without worrying about any of them degrading over time.

Distance

You should consider how far you’ll typically go when moving goods around. If you are primarily moving products in your city, you will want to stick to a refrigerated van. Vans are more maneuverable around tight turns and easier to load and unload in any parking spot. However, if you plan on doing more long-distance deliveries, a refrigerated truck is better able to handle longer drives. It will reliably keep products cool over a prolonged period.

Condition and Age

If you plan on buying a new refrigerated vehicle, you won’t have to worry as much about what condition it is in when you drive it off the lot. However, you might want to investigate a used vehicle to fit your budget. In that case, you should pay special attention to the age and state of each vehicle you’re considering. Older trucks are not as efficient as newer ones, but they can still serve many of the same functions if they are well maintained. While you don’t need to find a brand new one, recent models will often have more advanced cooling features than their older counterparts, which may better suit your needs.

Fuel Efficiency

This factor may tie into the condition and age of the truck. Many refrigerated vehicles use gasoline to power the engine and the refrigerated components that cool the inside of the cabin. These power needs can result in the vehicle using up more fuel than a typical truck of its size. Newer ones will typically employ more fuel-efficient technologies if you are concerned about the price of fuel.

When looking at the things you need to know before buying a refrigerated vehicle, there are some critical factors you should know about beforehand. These factors include price, condition, size, and temperature range. Buying a refrigerated vehicle is a highly significant purchase. That investment is why you will want to ensure that every vehicle can meet your transportation requirements and perform reliably in the field.

The best way to ensure that you buy the right vehicle is to use a trusted supplier. Emerald Transportation Solutions has supplied high-quality refrigerated trucks and vans to meet everyone’s needs for over 55 years. When you’re ready to buy a vehicle, Emerald Transportation Solutions has refrigerated vans for sale that are dependable and will keep your products at the right temperature. Feel free to contact us with any questions about our products.