Also known as a refrigerated lorry, a refrigerated vehicle is a commercial vehicle whose main job is to carry perishable foodstuffs or temperature-controlled goods. That can mean frozen food, chilled food or food kept hot. It is professionals, of course, who use this particular means of transport. Are you a self-employed driver, or a company providing logistics services? Do you need a refrigerated lorry for your business? Then this complete guide is for you. We explain how this type of vehicle works, what it costs, how to maintain it and how to choose the right one.
How does a refrigerated lorry work?
Before you commit to buying your refrigerated lorry, you need to understand how it works. It is an important thing to check if you want complete control of the climate inside the vehicle. Whatever the model, the point of the vehicle is to hold a stable internal temperature. That is what protects the foodstuffs or products you carry. It is worth distinguishing 4 states in which goods travel in this kind of vehicle:
- frozen,
- chilled
- chilled for short distances
- kept hot
The types of box on a refrigerated vehicle
Each of the states above sets a storage temperature that has to be held. The boxes on refrigerated lorries are built accordingly, and refrigerated commercial vehicles come with 2 types of box: refrigerated boxes and insulated boxes.
What is the difference between a refrigerated box and an insulated box?
Telling the two apart matters. Depending on the type of goods you have to carry, you can go for whichever box suits them best.
The insulated box
An insulated box is made of inflatable pouches or expanded polystyrene covered with an insulating layer. This type of box holds the temperature of the goods and so limits heat exchange. Unlike a refrigerated box, it does not produce cold. If you are moving perishable foodstuffs over short distances, an insulated box does the job.
The refrigerated box
A refrigerated box has a refrigeration unit that generates cold. Thanks to the temperature control built into this type of box, you can adjust the setting. The unit can run off the vehicle battery or off mains electricity.
The essential parts of the cooling system
The cooling system on a refrigerated vehicle rests on three key parts: the thermostat, the air circuit and pre-cooling.
The thermostat
Refrigerated lorries are fitted with a thermostat. Its job is to control how the generator set runs. That set handles cold production through its refrigeration motor and the air conditioning. The task falls to the thermostat whatever its shape and technology. For reference, the temperature that can be held inside the vehicle is generally between -40 and +20 °C.
The air circuit
Then there is the way cold air moves through the vehicle. It is usually driven from the front and travels towards the rear. Warm air is then drawn in before being pushed outside. For that ventilation to work, the inside has to stay clear: the doors, the ceiling, the floor and the walls of the load area. The openings also have to stay properly sealed, so as to limit heat loss as far as possible.
Pre-cooling
Finally, always pre-cool the lorry before you load the goods. You will need to work out the right cooling time for the outside temperature.
What types of refrigerated vehicle are there?
By their characteristics, refrigerated lorries fall into three classes:
- single-temperature: one temperature zone and no more.
- double-deck: two separate storage levels.
- multi-temperature: fitted with partitions that split the box into several compartments, each with its own temperature zone.
So a single partition is enough to give you a refrigerated lorry that can carry different foodstuffs and products at the same time. In some cases you will even find vehicles fitted with shelves, or with hooks for hanging meat. In terms of volume, refrigerated vehicles come as:
- a lorry
- an HGV
- a semi-trailer
- a van
If you carry small quantities, there are more flexible refrigerated transport options such as
- a refrigerated trailer
- an insulated box
- or a refrigerated box
How much does a refrigerated lorry cost?
If you set out to buy a new refrigerated lorry, expect to pay between €20,000 and €50,000. You can also go for a used vehicle, where costs run between €5,000 and €30,000. The price of a refrigerated lorry varies with a number of things:
- the model of refrigerated lorry
- the make
- the mileage
- the year of the vehicle
- and so on
There are ways to avoid paying a fortune for one of these commercial vehicles, though. You can choose to rent a vehicle, or find a way to finance the purchase.
Buy or rent?
You have a wide choice of refrigerated lorries. To help you decide, take stock of your company’s needs and of the constraints you work under. That is also how you will see whether renting suits you better. It is worth thinking about if your business is not centred on refrigerated transport, as is the case for most SMEs. Rates are often between €100 and €200 a day. There is no need to worry about the model or the size of the refrigerated lorry, because the choice is just as wide.
How do you finance a refrigerated vehicle?
Planning to buy a refrigerated lorry? You have several ways to finance it:
- buying outright: no risk of extra costs, but it ties up part of your cash
- buying on credit: easier on your cash flow, but you repay monthly instalments with interest
You can also buy a refrigerated lorry on a lease. The options there are:
- hire purchase: you rent the vehicle for a set period and can then choose whether to buy it
- long-term rental: you cannot buy the lorry once the rental period ends, but one of your employees can.
ALSO READ: Long-term rental or hire purchase: which van lease should you choose?
What rules govern refrigerated lorries?
Refrigerated lorries do have to meet specific standards. On one side are the rules on carrying perishable foodstuffs. On the other are the standards covering roadworthiness testing for these vehicles. They have to meet hygiene and safety rules in line with HACCP standards, particularly where the vehicle carries food. They must also hold a technical certificate of conformity, or ACT, whatever their classification:
- Standard insulated equipment
- Class A: standard refrigerated equipment (0 to 12 °C)
- Class B: reinforced refrigerated equipment (-10 to +12 °C)
- Class C: reinforced refrigerating equipment (-20 to +12 °C)
Whichever it is, European rules set out various points to check. For example:
- the thermostat and the thermometer
- the insulated box
- the condition of the refrigeration unit
- the dehydrator
- the fan
ALSO READ: Refrigerated vehicle maintenance: what are the essentials?
What matters most when choosing a refrigerated lorry?
1. Temperature and the type of product
The first thing to weigh up is temperature. Depending on the nature of the goods and the load you carry, you need to be able to set the temperature to match. Every product has its own storage temperature. Delivering food is not the same as carrying pharmaceuticals, for instance. So it is essential that you know how to set the temperature for what you are carrying.
2. The volume and payload of the lorry
Next, check the volume and the payload before you buy your refrigerated vehicle. Find out what dimensions are offered for this kind of commercial vehicle. Both the height and the shape of the space you load into matter.
How do you load a refrigerated lorry properly?
A refrigerated vehicle needs particular care, and that includes how you fill it. Here are our 5 tips for loading it well:
- Spread the load across the whole of the refrigerated box.
- Do not stack the cargo in an unstable way.
- Always load the heaviest, least fragile parcels first, so they sit on the floor of the lorry. That gives you a stable, solid base for the rest of the cargo.
- Arrange your goods according to when and in what order you will need to unload them.
- Position the cargo so cold air can circulate freely. Keep it off the walls of the vehicle and make sure it does not block the airflow from the refrigeration unit.
3. The vehicle’s engine power
Engine power is a third factor to weigh up. Depending on the load you are moving and the kind of deliveries you make, you can work out how much engine power your commercial vehicle needs.
💡 WORTH REMEMBERING The heavier the load you carry, the more powerful the refrigerated lorry has to be.
4. Equipment
The equipment offered on some refrigerated vehicle models can sway your choice. It includes:
- built-in satellite navigation (GPS)
- power steering
- cruise control
- electric windows
- a tracking system for your vehicle (fuel use, servicing and so on)
Some kit also lets you monitor the temperature in your refrigerated vehicle in real time. If something goes wrong, it has an alarm and notification system so you can react quickly.
ALSO READ: How do you fit out a refrigerated vehicle?
5. Budget
Finally, the budget you have for buying a refrigerated vehicle is a deciding factor. What you can spend determines which categories of vehicle are open to you. And you can always rent a refrigerated lorry, as mentioned above. The used market offers plenty of opportunities.
Once you have chosen your refrigerated vehicle, it is time to get into refrigerated transport. To find customers without spending your time on it, you can become a Shippr partner driver. You get access to our app, which offers you recurring routes and lets you invoice in a few clicks straight from it. Find refrigerated delivery jobs by filling in the form.
