What You Will Learn

In this guide, you will find out:

• What makes freezer trucks different from refrigerator trucks
• The temperature ranges each truck type can handle
• How much these trucks cost to buy and run
• Which truck type is best for your needs
• Tips for choosing the right cold transport option

Introduction

Do you need to move cold stuff? You might need a freezer truck or a refrigerator truck. These special trucks keep things cold when moving them from one place to another. But they are not the same! Let’s look at how they are different.

Both trucks are big helpers for moving food, medicine, and other things that need to stay cold. But picking the wrong type could cost you money or harm your goods.

What is a Refrigerator Truck?

A refrigerator truck (also called a reefer truck) keeps things cool but not frozen. These trucks keep goods at temperatures between 0°C and 8°C (32°F to 46°F).

What Makes a Refrigerator Truck Special:

• Cooling Power: Has a unit that keeps things cool
• Insulation: Has some insulation, but not as much as a freezer truck
• Uses: Perfect for fresh food that should not freeze
• Size Options: Can be small vans for short trips or big trucks for longer drives

What Goes in Refrigerator Trucks:

• Fresh fruits and vegetables
• Dairy products like milk and cheese
• Flowers
• Some medicines and vaccines that need cold chain transport
• Fresh meat that’s not frozen

Refrigerator trucks are the top pick for fresh produce farmers who need to keep their goods cool but not frozen during trips to markets or stores.

What is a Freezer Truck?

A freezer truck is built to keep things frozen solid. These powerful trucks maintain very cold temperatures, usually -18°C to -20°C (-0.4°F to -4°F) or even colder.

What Makes a Freezer Truck Special:

• Strong Cooling: Has a much stronger cooling system than refrigerator trucks
• Heavy Insulation: Has thick walls to keep the cold in
• Power Needs: Uses more fuel to run its powerful cooling units
• Built Tough: Made to hold very low temperatures for long times

What Goes in Freezer Trucks:

• Frozen meats and seafood
• Ice cream and frozen desserts
• Frozen meals and vegetables
• Some medical supplies that must stay frozen
• Cold chain logistics items requiring deep freeze

Freezer trucks have robust insulation and more powerful refrigeration units to reach and keep these low temperatures.

Key Differences: Freezer Truck vs. Refrigerator Truck

Let’s compare these two trucks side by side:

Feature	Freezer Truck	Refrigerator Truck
Temperature Range	-18°C to -20°C (below freezing)	0°C to 8°C (above freezing)
Best For	Frozen foods, ice cream, frozen meat	Fresh produce, dairy, vaccines
Insulation	Very thick, heavy-duty	Standard, lighter
Purchase Cost	$50,000-$100,000+	Lower than freezer trucks
Yearly Upkeep	$10,000 or more	Less than freezer trucks
Power Use	High – needs constant power	Medium – more efficient
Cargo Space	Slightly less due to thick walls	More space for goods
Trip Length	Good for long trips	Often used for shorter trips

The main difference is the temperature they maintain. Refrigerator trucks keep things cool but not frozen, while freezer trucks keep everything frozen solid.

Cost Differences

Money matters! Here’s what you should know about costs:

Freezer Truck Costs:

• Purchase price: $50,000 to $100,000 or more
• Yearly maintenance: $10,000+
• Why so expensive? The strong cooling system costs more to buy and fix

Refrigerator Truck Costs:

• Purchase price: Less than freezer trucks
• Yearly maintenance: Lower than $10,000
• Fuel use: Less than freezer trucks

Freezer trucks cost more because they need constant power to run their strong cooling units. They also need more checkups and fixes to keep working right.

How to Choose Between Them: 5 Key Factors

Not sure which truck you need? Think about these five things:

1. What Are You Shipping?
   • Frozen goods = Freezer truck
   • Fresh items = Refrigerator truck
2. How Far Are You Going?
   • Long trips may need the staying power of a freezer truck
   • Short local trips might be fine with a refrigerator truck
3. How Much Can You Carry?
   • Refrigerator trucks can often carry more goods because they have thinner walls
4. What’s Your Budget?
   • Tight budget? A refrigerator truck costs less to buy and run
   • Need to keep things frozen? You’ll have to pay more for a freezer truck
5. What Rules Must You Follow?
   • Some goods have strict rules about temperature during shipping

Tips for Using Cold Transport Trucks

To get the most from your cold truck:

• Pre-cool your goods before loading them in the truck
• Check the temperature often during the trip
• Keep the doors closed as much as you can when loading
• Have your truck checked often by experts
• Make sure the cooling unit has backup power for stops

Common Uses in Different Industries

Cold trucks help many types of businesses:

Food Industry

• Refrigerator trucks: Move fresh produce, dairy, and eggs
• Freezer trucks: Transport ice cream, frozen meals, and meat

Medical Field

• Refrigerator trucks: Move vaccines and medicines that need cool temps
• Freezer trucks: Transport special medical items needing deep freeze

Flower and Plant Transport

• Refrigerator trucks: Keep flowers fresh during shipping

Common Questions About Cold Trucks

Making Your Choice

Picking between a refrigerated truck and a freezer truck comes down to:

• What you are shipping
• How cold it needs to be
• How much you can spend
• How far you are going

For fresh goods like fruits, vegetables, and dairy that need to stay cool but not frozen, a refrigerator truck is your best choice. These trucks keep temps between 0°C and 8°C, perfect for keeping things fresh.

For frozen goods like ice cream, frozen meats, or anything that must stay solid, you will need a freezer truck. These powerful vehicles maintain temperatures well below freezing at -18°C to -20°C.

Summary

Here are the key points to remember:

• Refrigerator trucks keep things cool (0°C to 8°C)
• Freezer trucks keep things frozen (-18°C to -20°C)
• Freezer trucks cost more to buy and run
• The right choice depends on what you’re shipping
• Both trucks are vital for moving cold goods safely

Now you know the key differences between freezer trucks and refrigerator trucks! This will help you pick the right one for your cold transport needs.