What is a Refrigerated Truck and What is it Used For

A refrigerated truck is a vehicle or semi-trailer equipped with its own refrigeration unit that actively maintains a set temperature inside the body throughout the entire route.

Temperature control plays a crucial role in the transportation of perishable goods or those requiring special storage conditions. Without adhering to temperature regimes, it is impossible to ensure the quality and safety of goods such as food products, pharmaceuticals, flowers, or cosmetics. That is why a refrigerated vehicle is an essential part of logistics.

What is a refrigerator truck?

This is a specialized truck equipped with an autonomous refrigeration unit that maintains the necessary temperature regime regardless of external conditions. The main principle of a refrigerator truck’s operation lies in using a cooling system that can work on various types of cooling, including compression, absorption, or with dry ice. The temperature range that such vehicles can maintain varies from room temperatures to deep freezing. Some models offer the ability to maintain several temperature zones simultaneously in different compartments.

A refrigerated truck is sometimes informally called a “reefer” or “reefer box.” 

Main types of refrigerators by temperature regime

Depending on the purpose and temperature range, a refrigerator is a vehicle divided into several categories. A van without active cooling maintains a constant temperature due to thermal insulation materials. Such vehicles are used for transporting goods requiring a temperature regime between +2°C and +8°C. Freezer refrigerators provide a temperature of -18°C and below, allowing the transportation of deep-frozen products. The most versatile are multi-temperature ones, which have several zones with different temperatures, allowing the simultaneous transportation of goods with different temperature requirements.

Refrigerator classes under the international ATP classification

Beyond the division by purpose, refrigerated vehicles are also classified by temperature class under the international ATP agreement:

• Class A — up to −10 °C
• Class B — up to −20 °C
• Class C — up to −20 °C with reinforced insulation
• Class D — up to +2 °C (chilled products)
• Class E — up to −10 °C
• Class F — up to −20 °C and below (deep freezing)

Reefer semi-trailer, truck and van — what’s the difference

• Reefer semi-trailer — a trailer without its own engine, coupled to a tractor unit; the highest load capacity (up to 20–22 tons), used for long-distance international transport.
• Reefer truck — a general term for a truck with a reefer semi-trailer attached.
• Reefer van — a single-unit construction (body and chassis combined), lower load capacity, convenient for urban and regional transport.

What goods are transported in refrigerators?

Refrigerated freight transport is widely used in the transportation of products requiring a controlled environment. The main categories of goods are:

• Food products: meat, fish, dairy products, fruits, and vegetables.
• Medicines and vaccines that require strict adherence to temperature regimes.
• Flowers and seedlings, for which stable freshness is key to preservation.
• Cosmetics that require special storage conditions.
• Certain chemical substances that may lose their properties if the permissible temperature is deviated from.

All refrigerated transport is regulated by international standards such as HACCP, GDP, and ISO, which guarantees safety and compliance with sanitary requirements.

Advantages of using refrigerators in logistics

The use of refrigerated vehicles offers several advantages. The main one is the guarantee of preserving the quality of the goods throughout transportation. They comply with international safety standards, which ensures an appropriate level of control. They also allow for transportation regardless of weather conditions and the season. Thanks to modern temperature monitoring technologies, a refrigerated container protects freight from sudden temperature fluctuations during transportation.

Features and operating requirements

The operation of refrigerator vans involves strict adherence to the rules of storage and transportation of goods. An important component is the constant monitoring of the temperature regime, which is ensured by automatic recorders and GPS monitoring. Drivers and personnel must comply with sanitary standards, namely regularly disinfecting the chamber. Refrigeration equipment requires professional maintenance, including timely inspection of insulation, tightness, and the overall technical condition of the vehicle.

Who and when orders a refrigerator truck?

Refrigerated delivery of goods is necessary in many areas of business. The main customers of such services include:

• Food producers who supply goods to retail chains or for export.
• Pharmacies and pharmaceutical companies that need to comply with medical transportation standards.
• Retail chains, supermarkets, and food depots.
• Delivery services specializing in the transportation of food or medicines.
• Catering companies, event organizers, and seasonal fairs.

Temperature-controlled cargo transport — general requirements

Temperature-controlled cargo transport is a general term for any transportation where the temperature inside the body must be controlled throughout the entire route. Depending on the cargo’s requirements, different types of vehicles are used: a refrigerator truck — when active cooling is needed over long distances; an isothermal van — when passive temperature retention is sufficient for a short time; or a thermal container — for multimodal transport. Regardless of the vehicle chosen, continuous temperature monitoring, intact insulation, and compliance with sanitary standards along the entire route are critical.

What to pay attention to when choosing refrigerated delivery

When choosing refrigerated transport, several important factors must be considered. Firstly, attention should be paid to the temperature range that the vehicle can maintain and its technical specifications. It is important to check for the presence of temperature recorders that allow monitoring of delivery conditions. The carrier’s experience in the relevant segment is also important – ETS company, with 14 years of experience, guarantees compliance with standards. In addition, it is necessary to ensure the availability of sanitary documents, cargo insurance, and compliance with international regulations.

Refrigerator truck or isothermal van — which to choose

If the cargo requires active maintenance of a low temperature over long routes, a refrigerator truck with its own refrigeration unit is needed. If the temperature only needs to be preserved for a short time over shorter distances, an isothermal van is sufficient. For more detail, see the article «Isothermal Van — When to Use and What Goods to Transport with Temperature Protection».

Conclusions

A refrigerated truck is an integral element of modern freight transport, providing controlled storage of products. Choosing the right type of transport and a reliable carrier affects the quality of delivery and the preservation of products. Temperature control is a mandatory condition for the transportation of many types of goods, and modern technologies ensure it at all stages of the logistics chain.

Need refrigerated cargo transportation? ETS provides international refrigerated freight transport with continuous temperature control along the entire route — Europe, Asia, USA, and Canada. Get a Quote →