Reefer Trucks 101: A Fleet Manager’s Guide

The world of transportation offers many vehicles designed to meet various fleet needs. In this mix, a particular type of vehicle has carved a niche for its unique capabilities: the reefer truck. But what exactly is a reefer truck?

 

Understanding What Reefer Trucks Are

Simply put, reefer is short for a refrigerated truck. These vehicles are equipped with refrigeration units and well-insulated cargo holds to transport perishable goods such as fresh produce, frozen food items, pharmaceuticals, and other temperature-sensitive products.

A well-maintained reefer truck can maintain the precise temperature necessary to ensure the safety and freshness of goods during their journey from point A to point B.

Reefer trucks are how fresh tuna, farm-fresh veggies, and critical pharmaceuticals maintain their freshness while en route from coast to coast. They’ve become an integral part of the global supply chain, ensuring consumers have access to a wide range of fresh goods, no matter where they live.

 

What a Reefer Truck Looks Like

Reefer trucks come in various shapes and sizes, designed to meet a variety of shipping needs. From the outside, they might seem like any other vehicle. But there’s more beneath the surface.

The signature feature of a reefer truck is the large refrigeration unit, typically mounted at the front of the cargo area. This unit isn’t just a regular cooling device; it’s meticulously engineered to ensure the truck’s interior stays at a set temperature, regardless of external conditions.

 

How a Reefer Unit Works

A reefer unit, or refrigeration unit, works similarly to your home refrigerator, rapidly heating and cooling refrigerant to transfer heat away from the cooler compartment. Instead of plugging into the wall, it’s powered by a diesel generator or cryogenic cooling system to maintain your cargo at a specific temperature.

The three main components that make up the reefer unit include:

• Compressor: The compressor is the most important part of the reefer unit and acts as the system’s engine. It pumps in refrigerant and compresses it into hot, pressurized gas that is then shot up to the condenser for cooling.
• Condenser: The condenser features tubes and fans located outside the trailer. The large, exposed surface area enables the refrigerant to quickly cool to a liquid, while the fans disperse the excess heat.
• Evaporator: The now liquid refrigerant is pumped into the evaporator, which is inside the truck. Here, the refrigerant absorbs any heat within the compartment, cooling the surrounding air. Then it goes back to the compressor to start again.

 

To help aid the refrigeration process, reefer trucks are built with thick layers of top-notch insulation materials. This helps reflect heat from outside the truck while keeping the cold inside.

 

The Difference Between a Reefer Truck and a Freezer Truck

Reefer truck and freezer truck are sometimes used interchangeably, but while both vehicles ensure the safe delivery of perishable goods by maintaining the desired temperature, they’re not the same.

Reefer trucks maintain temperatures between 32°F and 39.2°F and are best suited for keeping products fresh, but not frozen. Freezer trucks, however, can get much colder (as low as 0°F) and have thicker insulation that enables them to keep goods frozen. This makes them perfect for frozen foods or medical supplies.

More on the differences between the two here.

 

The Difference Between a Reefer Truck and a Refrigerated Van

Both reefer trucks and refrigerated vans serve the same purpose: to ensure the freshness of perishable goods during transit. What makes them different is their size, capacity and travel distance.

Reefer trucks typically come in various sizes, ranging from box trucks to 53-foot trailers. Their capacity and size make reefer trucks ideal for long-haul travel and high-volume loads.

 

In contrast, a refrigerated sprinter van is smaller and more compact, making it suitable for businesses that need to navigate urban landscapes to deliver groceries, flowers or meal kits.

 

The Different Types of Reefer Trucks

Now that we’ve covered the foundation, it’s time to explore the various types of reefer trucks available. Familiarizing yourself with these types of trucks, what they haul, and how they’re different is beneficial to determining the best reefer truck for your business.

Reefer Trailers (Semi-Trailers)

The standard length of a reefer trailer is between 48ft and 53 ft, making its capacity to haul an impressive amount of product ideal for large-scale and long-haul shipping. The refrigeration unit is typically mounted at the front, while thick insulation in the walls and tightly sealed doors ensure products and goods are kept at the desired temperature for extended periods. Grocery chains commonly use these larger reefer trucks.

 

Refrigerated Straight Trucks (Box Trucks)

Unlike reefer trailers, a refrigerated straight truck (also called a straight truck, box truck, or cube truck) is a medium-duty truck in which the cab and refrigerated cargo area form a single unit.

Straight truck lengths range between 10ft and 26ft and are mounted on a truck chassis. Despite a lower payload, straight trucks are easier to maneuver than reefer trailers. As a result, they’re often used for regional or local deliveries. We frequently see clients use this type of reefer truck for home delivery grocery services or regional delivery services.

Multi-Temp Reefers

From the outside, multi-temp reefers look like the first two vehicles we’ve covered. The difference is what’s on the inside. Equipped with internal partitions and advanced refrigeration systems, multi-temp reefer trucks can have several refrigeration zones in one vehicle, allowing suppliers and vendors to transport goods with varying temperature requirements effectively.

For example, a multi-temp reefer can be set at -15°C in one compartment and 25°C in another. This type of reefer is best suited for companies with multiple product lines, such as big-box grocers or pharmaceutical companies.

 

Diesel-Powered Reefers

Like multi-temp reefers, diesel-powered reefers come in varying sizes. The primary difference lies in the mechanism that powers the unit. Diesel-powered reefers have a separate small diesel engine that runs the compressor. It’s commonly found in big trailers, and the humming noise they make when not in motion gives them away.

The main benefit of a diesel-powered reefer is that the refrigeration system can continue running even when the truck’s main engine is off, like during refueling. Their reliability makes them great for long-haul travel without the risk of spoiling goods.

Vehicle-Powered (Direct-Drive) Reefer

Another type of reefer truck is a vehicle-powered or direct-drive reefer, which uses the vehicle’s engine to power the reefer unit’s compressor via an attachment. These types of reefers can be more cost-effective than diesel-powered reefers, since you don’t have to fuel a second engine. However, the downside is that when the truck’s engine is off, so is the reefer unit, which can potentially introduce temperature variabilities that can damage goods.

As such, vehicle-powered reefers are better suited for short-haul travel. You can enhance these with an electric standby system if you need it for long-haul transportation, but we generally don’t recommend it if you want to ensure regulatory compliance.

 

Electric or Hybrid Reefer

The push for more sustainable fuel practices and government regulations to curtail the emission of greenhouse gases has given rise to the electric reefer. While most of these reefers come in smaller sizes, recent innovations have made it possible for fleet managers to begin to access larger, electric trucks.

Some reefers are fully electric, while others are hybrid (a combination of electric and gas or diesel). For the moment, these reefers are best for regional or local deliveries, since limited access to charging stations can make long-haul travel challenging.

Common Uses of Reefer Trucks

Because food transportation is such a massive industry, refrigerated trucks are among the most common types of freight trucks on the road today. Reefers are also used to transport chemicals and pharmaceuticals, among other items that require refrigeration.

Yet in our line of business, the top two uses we’ve increasingly seen for reefer trucks include home and beverage delivery services.

Home Delivery: Keeping Groceries Garden-Fresh

The pandemic and the emergence of home delivery have transformed the shopping experience. Gone are the days of selecting items one by one in a crowded store; now your groceries come straight to you! According to Grand View Research, U.S. home grocery delivery is expected to maintain a compound annual growth rate of 9.6% from 2025 to 2030.

With this rise in home delivery, there has also been a huge demand for home delivery trucks, or straight trucks. Capable of maintaining temperatures at or just below freezing in a compact design that delivers high maneuverability, these trucks are ideal for meeting consumer expectations around freshness and convenience.

Beverage Delivery: Serving Up Refreshment

Like home delivery services, the pandemic also ushered in an increased demand for beverage delivery trucks. And in an ultra-competitive market like beverages, the ability to achieve last-mile delivery for consumers can be a substantial competitive advantage.

Beverage delivery trucks tend to be smaller straight truck reefers. The temperature range for vehicles modified for beverages is between 33°F and 38°F (0.5°C to 3.3°C) to ensure that every delivered beverage is icy cold and refreshing.

 

4 Benefits of Reefer Trucks

Reefer trucks are do more than just keep items cold, and knowing the full scope of their benefits can help you make the right decision in purchasing the truck that best fits your needs.

Compliance With Regulatory Standards

Every year, thousands of Americans get sick due to foodborne illnesses. Depending on the temperature, bacteria can multiply rapidly, putting consumers at risk. For this reason, regulations such as the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) have been established to provide temperature standards for various products.

However, food is not the only product that is sensitive to temperature fluctuations. For example, some medicines, such as vaccines, need to be stored at a specific temperature to remain effective. Certain chemicals, hazardous materials, and even fine art require temperature-controlled conditions.

Not only do reefer trucks make it easy to maintain regulatory compliance and cargo quality, but they also come equipped with advanced features like sensors and temperature monitoring systems to ensure optimal conditions are maintained during shipping.

Reduce Food Waste and Extend Shelf Life

All time-sensitive products have a set point for when they’re no longer usable, and when it comes to food products, that window is pretty short. Meat and poultry, for example, have a shelf life of 3 to 4 days. Milk is 12 to 14 days. Leafy greens are between 1 to 2 weeks. Keep in mind, shelf life also assumes products are kept in ideal conditions.

Using a refrigerated truck helps reduce food waste and extends shelf life by slowing down the decaying process. For example, freezing products to 0°F inactivates any bacteria, yeast, or mold present in food. Sub-zero freezing, on the other hand, can destroy parasites like trichina, which can infect meat products.

As a fleet manager, the ability to extend the shelf life is beneficial for ensuring the freshness of goods during long-haul travel. Customers are happy because they have access to products in their peak condition, and businesses benefit from higher profitability due to reduced waste.

Business Growth and Competitive Advantage

The advent of the reefer truck has made it easier than ever for businesses to expand their market footprints, enabling consumers to enjoy a wider array of produce and products. Not only does the expanded geographic reach translate to increased revenue potential, but it can also give you a competitive edge.

Use of reefer trucks can be particularly advantageous for businesses like meal-kit delivery companies, where timely and safe deliveries have a direct impact on customer satisfaction and, consequently, the bottom line. After all, what customer wants to keep doing business with a company that can’t ensure that items like seafood arrive cold?

Versatile and Sustainable

You may think that the sole purpose of a reefer truck is to keep things cool, and it is, but it can also make your business a little greener. Many models of reefer trucks can pull double duty, shutting off the refrigerator unit to transport dry goods. Not only does this translate into long-term cost savings, but it also reduces your carbon footprint.

Multi-temp reefers can also help you save on costs. The ability to set multiple temperature zones in one vehicle makes it possible to send mixed-temperature shipments in one vehicle, saving time as well as money.

There aren’t the only ways refrigerated transport is going green. When combined with the latest innovations and customization options, such as real-time tracking mechanisms, fleet telematics, electric or hybrid trucks, chassis conversion options, solar reefer units, or insulation made from recycled plastic water bottles, running an eco-friendly and cost-effective fleet is within reach.

 

Key Considerations Before Buying a Refrigerated Truck

With varying sizes and limitless customization capabilities, selecting the right reefer for your fleet can be overwhelming. We covered this topic at length in our guide: Things You Need To Know Before Buying a Refrigerated Vehicle, but to give you a quick look, here are the top factors to consider:

• Use: Start by defining what you need it for today and tomorrow. This will ensure you get the most out of your investment in the long term.
• Budget: Having a range in mind is vital to ensuring you find the right vehicle for your operation. You may find in your research that customizing your truck with different accessories, such as a temperature monitoring system, can exceed your budget.
• Temperature requirements: As covered in this guide, there are several different types of reefers and configurations you can explore. Ensure that you map your product requirements to the corresponding vehicle type.
• Payload size: Your reefer truck should align with your shipping volume. If you purchase a smaller truck but run a grocery store, the long-term cost of maintaining the reefer will likely exceed the initial investment cost. The inverse is also true.
• Distance: The general rule of thumb when purchasing reefer trucks is to use the larger trailers for long-haul travel and the box trucks for shorter distances.
• Condition and age: Depending on your needs or budget, opting for an older reefer that you can spruce up can be more cost-effective and efficient. On the other end, they may not last as long, so you’ll need to factor in replacement costs down the road.
• Fuel efficiency: There’s a significant difference between purchasing a diesel or a gas vehicle. Diesel usually costs more but lasts longer; gas is cheaper but has a limited shelf life. This factor, in addition to the others, should be taken into account when making your decisions.

Where and How to Buy Reefer Trucks

The versatility of these specialized vehicles makes them an excellent investment for businesses dealing with temperature-sensitive products. It’s crucial, however, to ensure you’re purchasing from a reputable manufacturer that can provide post-sales support and services, including maintenance options.

A reputable supplier will work with you to match your specs to the appropriate size. They can even help you customize your reefers to the unique needs of your fleet, such as adding bulkheads and cooling compartments, or an electric standby and auxiliary power. Bonus if they provide warranty options as well.

You have several options when it comes to finding a supplier, including purchasing directly from the manufacturer, through a specialized truck dealer, or at a fleet auction if you’re feeling adventurous. In general, we believe that direct manufacturers are the best route, given that they usually know the vehicle best.

Once you have found a supplier to work with, make sure you request an inspection and test drive before signing on the dotted line. You should look for signs of damage and pay attention to the overall maneuverability of the vehicle as it relates to ensuring driver safety.

The hallmark of a great partner is one that will work with you throughout the lifecycle of your vehicle. Ask a supplier if they provide routine maintenance and training, in addition to access to parts and materials, should your reefer need repairs.

At Emerald Transportation Solutions, we offer a variety of reefer trucks, refrigerated vans, and freezer box trucks designed to meet your specific needs. We take pride in our all-in-one solution approach, eliminating intermediaries, maintaining transparent pricing, and providing exceptional customer service.

If you’re looking for a refrigerated truck, we invite you to explore our product catalogue or connect with one of our experts to discuss your options.

 

Editor’s Note: This blog was originally published in November 2023 and has been updated for comprehensiveness in July 2025.