Perishable Goods Delivery With Reefer Trucks

When transporting large quantities of perishable goods, a reefer truck may be the best option. Reefer trucks have internal cooling systems that can maintain a specific temperature inside the trailer. These trucks can be set at a range of temperatures from freezing to room temperature. Reefer trucks were invented in the 1930s as a solution to the problem of transporting cold and frozen goods safely. Manufacturers and producers wrestled with this question for decades, employing the first attempt at a cold shipment method on trains in the mid-19th century. Railroad companies filled train cars with large blocks of ice in an effort to keep products cold as they traveled across the country.

After the invention of automobiles, drivers carried this method over to trucks and also used insulation to keep out heat. Fans in the vehicles also helped to move cold air around the container. This method was not sufficient, however, because drivers would still have to stop periodically to refresh the ice. In the 1930s, inventor Fred Jones created a portable cooling unit that relied on the truck’s motor for power, and drivers could add it to the outside of shipping containers. These first refrigerated trucks allowed critical perishable items — such as food, blood and medicine — to be shipped to soldiers during WWII.

Refrigeration technology for transporting goods has continued to develop, and reefer trucks are now available with a wide variety of capabilities. Modern refrigerated trucks are powered by diesel and can be adjusted to exact temperature specifications. For smaller shipping needs, refrigerated vans are also available.

In many refrigerated trucks, internal technology allows drivers to continuously monitor the temperature inside the truck to ensure products are stored properly during the entire shipping process. If temperature monitoring is not already built into a reefer truck, additional devices must be used for accurate temperature maintenance and recording.