Reefer trailer: A fleet manager’s guide to refrigerated trailers

For businesses that transport perishable goods across long distances, a reefer trailer (short for refrigerated trailer) is an essential asset. These specialized trailers are designed to maintain specific temperatures, ensuring the safe and efficient delivery of temperature-sensitive products. In this article, we’ll break down everything you need to know about reefer trailers, including their components, benefits, and how a modern trailer management solution can help you improve the efficiency of your trailer operations. 

What is a reefer trailer?

A reefer trailer is a temperature-controlled trailer used to transport goods that require a consistent climate, such as food, pharmaceuticals, and other perishable items. Reefer trailers are equipped with a refrigeration unit powered by a diesel engine, allowing operators to maintain precise temperatures throughout the delivery.

Key components of a reefer trailer

Reefer trailers are designed to maintain precise temperatures for transporting perishable and temperature-sensitive goods. Below are some of the key components of a reefer trailer that you should know:

• Refrigeration unit - The refrigeration unit, or reefer unit, is the heart of the reefer trailer. Some commercial trailers, such as dry vans, consist of a simple enclosed unit, while reefers include a trailer equipped with temperature control capabilities. A reefer unit comprises a compressor, evaporator, and condenser that work together to regulate and maintain the desired temperature, ensuring that temperature-sensitive goods remain within the required range during transit.

• Diesel engine - The diesel engine powers the refrigeration unit, ensuring continuous operation regardless of the trailer's location or external power availability.

• Air ride suspension - Many reefer trailers feature air ride suspension, which reduces vibrations and protects fragile or perishable cargo during transport.

• Tire inflation system - A tire inflation system automatically adjusts tire pressure to improve fuel efficiency, enhance safety, and prevent damage under heavy loads.

• Payload capacity - Reefer units are built with a strong structure to maximize payload capacity, allowing businesses to transport large quantities of goods in a single trip.

• Insulated walls - Insulation within the trailer walls helps maintain internal temperatures by minimizing the impact of external weather conditions.

Why do fleets use reefer trailers?

1. Preservation of perishable goods

Reefer trailers are built to maintain the freshness and integrity of perishable goods during transit. Items such as fresh produce, dairy products, meats, seafood, flowers, and pharmaceuticals rely on precise temperature control to avoid spoilage or degradation. Advanced refrigeration units regulate internal temperatures, ensuring the cargo arrives in unspoiled condition. Additionally, reefer trailers help maintain food safety standards, meeting the requirements for industries with strict quality control needs.

2. Temperature needs

Reefer trailers are designed to adapt to different temperatures to meet the specifications of a variety of different products. These reefer units can transport items such as:

• Frozen products: Maintaining sub-zero temperatures for items like ice cream or frozen seafood.

• Chilled goods: Providing a controlled cool environment for dairy, beverages, or fresh produce.

• Ambient cargo: Keeping products at consistent, non-refrigerated temperatures when required.

3. Enhanced durability

Built with rugged materials and high-quality insulation, reefer trailers are built to withstand demanding conditions during transportation. Reefer trailers often feature reinforced walls, heavy-duty flooring, and weather-resistant exteriors, making them capable of operating over long distances without temperature or performance issues. This durability protects the cargo and reduces maintenance costs, enabling fleets to minimize downtime and maximize profitability. 

4. Improved efficiency

Modern reefer trailers are equipped with advanced technologies that enhance operational efficiency while reducing costs. Some key functionality include:

• Tire inflation systems: These systems automatically maintain optimal tire pressure, improving fuel efficiency, extending tire life, and ensuring safe transport.

• Fuel-efficient diesel engines: The diesel engines powering the refrigeration systems are optimized for low fuel consumption, reducing operational expenses and improving fuel savings.

• Trailer management technology: Many reefer trailers can now be connected to advanced trailer management technology that provide real-time tracking of temperature, fuel levels, and system performance. Fleet managers can monitor these metrics remotely and proactively address any potential issues before they escalate, minimizing downtime and ensuring the protection of temperature-sensitive cargo.

Choosing the right reefer trailer for your fleet

Selecting the right reefer trailer is crucial for ensuring the safe and efficient transportation of your organization’s temperature-sensitive goods. When purchasing or leasing a refrigerated trailer, keep these factors in mind:

• Temperature control: Ensure the reefer trailer can maintain the specific temperature range required for your cargo, whether frozen, chilled, or ambient.

• Durability: Choose a reefer unit built with high-quality materials and long-lasting components, such as reinforced flooring and a reliable compressor.

• Payload Capacity: Confirm that the trailer can handle the weight and volume of your typical shipments without compromising performance or safety.

• Ease of maintenance: Consider reefer trailers with accessible parts for key components, such as the compressor or evaluator, to minimize downtime. 

• Trailer telematics capabilities: Consider implementing a trailer telematics system to help you better manage your reefer trailer fleet and run a safer, more efficient trailer operation.

Take your trailer operations to the next level with Samsara

Today, advancements in telematics and Internet of Things (IoT) technology make it possible to connect your trailer fleet with the cloud, transforming the efficiency, compliance, and safety of your reefer trailer operations. Trailer management solutions like Samsara Smart Trailers provide comprehensive visibility within a single, consolidated platform across your entire trailer fleet.

• Increase operating efficiency: A powerful combination of wireless sensors and instant alerts provide visibility and control of your entire reefer trailer operation.

• Ensure product quality: Samsara's affordable reefer management solution monitors temperatures in-transit to prevent product spoilage and rejected deliveries.

• Simplify FSMA compliance: Automated, continuous temperature logging eliminates manual recordkeeping and makes it easy to provide temperature records on-demand

• Enhance operational efficiency: Transform your trailer operations by leveraging real time visibility to streamline proactive maintenance, boost productivity, and improve driver safety.

Cash-Wa Distributing, a premier food service distributor in the United States, leveraged Samsara to reduce costs and improve the efficiency of their supply chain operations. Using Samsara’s Environmental Monitors, wireless temperature sensors ensure that Cash-Wa is in compliance with FSMA regulations and prevent human error within Cash-Wa’s busy 24-hour operation. This improves operational efficiency by reducing paperwork and manual probes, and providing proof of product quality. As a result, Cash-Wa is able to decrease its credits paid out to customers in response to improper-temperature claims by 30%.

“I’m tracking the produce every time it moves, and I have alarms in place to indicate temperature changes,” said Jim Hoss, VP of Operations. “So I know that we’re delivering wholesome quality products in every load—I know, for example, that my lettuce never goes below temperature. Samsara gives us that confidence in the integrity of our supply chain.”

To learn more about how you can optimize the efficiency of your trailer operations, explore Samsara’s Smart Trailers solution and reach out to our team today.