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The logistics of shipping freight can be a difficult undertaking, and transporting temperature-sensitive freight is a lot more difficult. Refrigerated trucks facilitate the transport for a variety of perishable items like food, medicines, and plants. They also allow for perfume, electronics, chemicals, and much more.
Refrigerated shipping is an essential aspect of logistics which can assist companies such as pharmacies and supermarkets move items into or out of retail stores. 90% of what you consume is indeed delivered to your dining table via a refrigerated vehicle, also known as a “reefer.” There are around 500,000 active reefers operating in the United States working to ensure all consumers get the fresh food that they need. Although refrigerated trucks have become a norm within the modern supply chain, they’re an incredibly novel invention that has forever altered the logistics industry. You can talk to a renowned company like Freeze Boxes to know more about a Reefer Box Truck.
A Brief History of Reefers
In 1939, the American inventor named Fred Jones developed the first automatic cooling system to cool shipping trailers. Fred Jones was a successful engineer who had patents covering a variety of inventions ranging from technology for sound systems, to an automated ticket-dispensing system used in cinemas. However, Jones’s most influential invention is undoubtedly his refrigerated trailer. The creation of the Reefer Box Truck was essential in World War II for shipping blood donors and other supplies for soldiers.
Can you imagine only being able to access food that is grown or produced within 50 miles of the place you reside? In the 1930s, perishable items could only travel 50 miles before something went wrong. Fred Jones completely reinvented the method of getting medical and food items to its destination.
Meaning of a Reefer Truck
Refrigerated trucks, often referred to as reefer trailers, serve as a method for delivering freight with insulation to transport perishable items and temperature-sensitive goods. The majority of reefer trailers are 53-foot-long attachments for semi-trucks and operate on diesel engines. The cooling system of each trailer is comprised of a compressor, condenser, and an evaporator. All of these make sure to keep the temperatures cool. Refrigerated trailers can also be equipped with air delivery chutes in order to circulate cold air.
Three Kinds of Reefers
Refrigerated Trailers
Refrigerated trailers are equipped with refrigerators and freezers, which are able to keep temperatures between -20°F and 70°F.
Cryogenic Reefers
Cryogenic reefers are rare, and they are used chiefly for transporting medical and technical equipment that requires exceptionally frigid temperatures. The trailers are able to maintain temperatures ranging from 32°F to the range of 230°F.
Heated Reefer Trucks
It Can Be More Expensive
It is necessary to pay extra for shipping loads that require refrigeration in comparison to normal dry van loads. Reefer units need additional fuel in order to run and maintain a constant temperature, which is how they affect the price.
Additionally, fixed costs for utilizing a reefer are higher than those for dry vans. Refrigeration systems perform hard work and generally wear out within three to five years of hauling; therefore, refrigerated trailers need to be maintained regularly.
