Ever thought about how you get the stuff like medicines, chemicals, vegetables, or fruits delivered in a fit-to-consume state? Well, it’s with the help of reefer trucks or reefer vans! You might wonder, “What is a reefer truck?” It means a refrigerated truck.
It facilitates transporting perishable goods by maintaining a specific temperature. Depending on their size, these trucks are categorized as full truckload, partial, or less than truckload.
If you’re stepping into or expanding your reefer business, you may have many questions on your mind. In this blog post, we have given you detailed knowledge on this subject. It will help you gain clarity about it. So, read on!
5 Benefits of Reefer Trucks
Before expanding or diving into the reefer trucking business, it is wise to analyze its pros and cons. Firstly, we will discuss the benefits you get from it. Let’s dive in!
1. Always in Demand
What separates a reefer freight from other types of supplies is that it always remains in high demand. So, it’s self-explanatory that its recovery from economic slowdowns is faster.
Think about it: Who doesn’t need food, beverage, or medicine in a daily routine?
You might have experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic that the demand for services related to food, vegetables, and medicines didn’t cease at all. Also, the highlighting part is that reefer trucks easily get regular back haul loads due to high demand. Moreover, since they can also operate as dry vans, they experience fewer deadhead miles in their run.
2. Expanded Reefer Markets
You must know that the refrigerated transport market is growing at a very good pace. At least, it is what the Markets and Markets report highlights.
According to the report, this market had a valuation of $113.4 billion in 2022 and it is expected to witness an estimated CAGR of 7.2% during 2022-2027 to reach the mark of $160.7 billion.
It will present many new earning opportunities for reefer semi-trucks in multiple areas. Hence, you can expect consistent work and growth in this domain.
3. Better Earning Potential
Now, you know that the reefer trucking market has plenty of employment and growth opportunities for truckers. The cargo prices for this type of freight are higher than those of dry vans.
It’s due to the expertise and specialized training required to manage its operations and keep cargo safe.
Since the cargo is temperature-sensitive, it requires advanced equipment and more care to transfer this cargo safely and without damaging it at all.
Only expert professionals with good experience can operate it effectively. As a result, shippers pay more money for this kind of cargo transfer.
4. Easy Loading & Unloading
Thanks to loading docks at distribution centers, it is quite easy to load or unload cargo. These docks help keep any cargo organized and contribute to the seamless as well as timely delivery.
5. Flexible Delivery Routes
Another advantage of reefer trucking is that drivers get to explore new delivery routes. They can make adjustments to their driving journeys as per their individual preferences. It gives them more operational flexibility and independence in their work routine.
5 Disadvantages of Refrigerated Trucks
Let’s shed light on the disadvantages you face while operating reefer trailers.
1. Unconventional Schedule
Reefer cargo gets transferred when the temperature is not too high. Usually, it happens at the start or the end of the day, but not in the middle of the day. It facilitates maintaining the right temperature required for the smooth & secure transit of perishable supplies.
2. Time Consuming & Stringent Requirements
A major challenge in the reefer trucking operations is maintaining the right temperature before and during transit. Hence, it is noteworthy for truckers to pre-cool their trailer before they arrive at a pick-up location.
However, if they fail to do so, they will have to wait until a reefer has maintained the appropriate temperature. Then only, the dock managers will allow the loading of the cargo onto the reefer trailer.
Usually, grocery loading takes a lot of time as they are shipped on smaller containers. Also, since some cargo items are harmful (chemicals) or sensitive to handling, they require more time to load.
3. Frequent Maintenance
Running a refrigeration unit requires special care and you need to pay heed to its regular maintenance to keep it functioning properly. Complex as it sounds, you must keep your rig’s temperature (both for cooling & heating purposes) maintained.
It is not the case with dry vans, as their maintenance is not that messy. That’s why reefer truckers must have good training to keep their reefer vans running smoothly.
4. Possibility of Spoiled Cargo
As you know, maintenance of the right temperature is of the utmost importance in reefers. Without it, you can’t keep the cargo fresh during the delivery. Even a little breakdown, if not taken care of in time, can cost you a large amount of money.
All this would result in a piling up of frustration both at the truckers’ and receivers’ ends. Moreover, the spoiled cargo would surely get rejected after it reached its destination.
5. Overhead Costs
In addition to the significant amount of costs for vehicle maintenance, reefer operations also incur overhead costs. For instance, you must invest in reefer breakdown insurance as it would come in handy in saving a huge amount of costs when the time comes.
4 Important Things to Keep in Mind While Using Reefers
Operating a reefer successfully involves a lot of complexities and effort, but it isn’t impossible to do so. Here, we have jotted down a list of the best practices you must incorporate to build your market reputation and earn a big profit.
1. Pre-Cool & Maintain the Right Temperature
You must keep in mind the temperature requirements for your cargo. Whether you need to keep your cargo refrigerated, frozen, or heated varies every time, as per the cargo requirements.
When you reach the pick-up location, it is necessary to pre-cool the reefer trailer to achieve operational time efficiency. This way, you could easily prevent your cargo from getting rejected at the destination stores.
Remember that receivers could reject your cargo if they don’t get it at a special time before the expiry date.
Tip: See the lading instructions issued by a shipper to review the temperature requirements.
2. Proper Inspection Before Loading
Cleanliness must not be compromised while transferring load via reefer vans. Failure to do so would attract hefty and unbearable losses. You must ensure that your reefer is properly clean and free of any odor to deliver the cargo safely.
3. Monitor Shipments During Transportation
Monitoring shipments before pick-up and during transit must be up to the mark. You could use a temperature gauge and climate monitoring tools to ensure the safety of your cargo. Believe it or not, this simple practice could save you from huge losses.
4. Frequent Fuel Up & Load Security
Always maintain the right levels of fuel in your reefer to keep it running smoothly without shutting down. Also, avoid keeping the load secure during transit to prevent cargo damage.
FAQs
1. Who invented the refrigerated truck?
Frederick McKinley Jones invented the portable air-cooling system for trucks in 1938. He received the patent for it by 1940 and established his company by 1949. This was the first-ever refrigerated truck and it played an important role during World War II.
2. What are the standard reefer truck dimensions?
A reefer trailer’s length ranges from 48 to 53 feet. Its width is usually 8 feet and 6 inches long, whereas the internal width is 8 feet and 1.5 inches. Speaking of height, it is commonly 13 feet and 7 inches high, with its internal height lying at 8 feet and 7 inches.
3. What is a reefer truck price?
The price of a reefer truck ranges from $30,000 to $200,000, as it depends on factors such as size, features, and whether it’s an old or a new truck.
4. What do reefer trucks carry?
Reefer trucks are mainly used to carry temperature-sensitive goods to keep them fresh and safe during transportation. Such goods include medicines, chemicals, flowers, frozen foods, and other temperature-controlled items.
5. What is the difference between a reefer and a dry van trailer?
A major difference between a reefer and a dry van trailer is that the former is used to store perishable goods in a temperature-controlled environment. On the other hand, the latter is preferred for transporting daily use goods that don’t require temperature maintenance.
Conclusion
Now, we hope you get an answer to the question: What does reefer run mean in trucking? This piece of information will help you decide whether to run a reefer trucking business or not. Running reefer trucking operations requires expertise and the right techniques. It is possible to achieve with the help of a professional dispatch training program. At Dispatch It Now, we provide you with an expert truck dispatcher training program to master reefer dispatch from your home. Also, we provide a reliable reefer trucking dispatch service to help you get profitable loads easily.
