You can't beat a reefer trailer when transporting temperature-sensitive goods like ice, frozen foods, and perishables. Reefer trailers are crucial freight transportation tools that allow carriers to move goods across America even if they have to remain refrigerated or at a specific temperature for the duration of transit.
Of course, reefer trailers are only effective if their drivers monitor them throughout the journey. Let’s break down reefer trailer temperature monitoring in detail now.
What Is a Reefer Trailer?
A reefer trailer, also sometimes just called a "reefer," is a refrigerated truck trailer attached to a semi-truck. Since they are refrigerated, reefer trailers are used to transport perishable foods and other temperature-sensitive goods.
Originally, reefer trailers were used for the ice cream industry as far back as 1925. Since then, reefer trailers have been used to transport other perishable goods and sensitive items, such as certain computer parts.
Furthermore, reefer trailers can now be used to keep items hot or cool enough depending on when freight is transported across the country.
All reefer trailers stay cool through cryogenic cooling, which melts frozen carbon dioxide ice to keep cargo contents cool, or diesel-powered generators. The latter method of cooling the reefer is more common, as the generators can be easily attached to a reefer container and run on replenishable fuel.
Reefer trailers come in different sizes and types, but all of them do the same job: keep perishable goods at a specific temperature and allow drivers to monitor those temperatures for the duration of a journey.
Why Is Temperature Monitoring Important?
Truck drivers and carriers are responsible for ensuring their perishable or temperature-sensitive goods are kept at a specific temperature for the duration of a journey. Without temperature monitoring, you won't know whether perishable foods or other goods are kept at low or hot enough temperatures for safety.
Imagine transporting a container full of ice cream to a grocery store; without temperature monitoring, you might not know that the ice cream has melted or frozen solid until you arrive at your destination!
In addition, temperature monitoring allows freight carriers to adjust temperatures when needed. If, for example, it is hotter in the middle part of the day during a long drive, a freight driver can adjust the temperature of their reefer trailer as necessary, increasing the fuel consumed and the power used by the refrigeration units to ensure that perishable goods stay cool even with the hot sun above.
Temperature monitoring is important so that carriers can deliver goods as intended and in good condition to their final destinations. That’s why all truck drivers, including owner-operators, need to know how to monitor reefer trailer temperature step by step.
As a side benefit, monitoring trailer temperatures allows carriers to determine when there’s a mechanical failure emergency at hand. For instance, if a reefer trailer refrigeration unit goes kaput, the carrier can monitor the situation and call for roadside assistance to replace or repair the refrigerator before the perishable goods are damaged or destroyed.
How Do You Monitor Trailer Temperature?
Fortunately, truck drivers can monitor reefer trailer temperatures by following a straightforward process.
Install a Monitoring System or Device
First, install a quality reefer temperature monitoring system or device. If you are a trucking owner-operator and you don’t yet have a reefer trailer, be aware that many reefers come with built-in monitoring systems. In this case, you won’t need to spend extra cash on this upgrade.
However, it's still a good idea to test out the temperature monitoring system before taking any temperature-controlled loads. A good monitoring system should be accurate, consistent, and connected to your front cabin via cables or a wireless communication system.
Many modern temperature monitoring systems even come with built-in apps. In this way, you can monitor the temperature of your reefer trailer from your phone, enabling you to check on things even when you are away from your truck cabin. For most, this is the most convenient and best way to run a reefer trailer.
Check the Temperature Twice a Day
Once you have installed a suitable monitoring system or device, you have to use it to get your money’s worth. It’s a good idea to check the temperature of a reefer trailer approximately twice daily, once when you begin driving and once when you stop.
However, if you know that you will be driving through a particularly hot area of the country, or if you know that you’ll be driving through noon, you should check the temperature around this time as well.
Because noon and early afternoon are generally the hottest times of the day, your reefer trailer temperature may need to be monitored more closely. More fuel might need to be consumed to maintain the ideal temperature for your transported goods.
Remember, there’s no such thing as checking the temperature too frequently. The more often you check the temperature of your reefer trailer, the more confident you can be that your cargo is safe and sound, just like your clients want it to be.
When To Use Continuous Mode
<pLastly, know when to use the continuous mode for your temperature monitoring system. Most reefer trailers can run in two different modes:
- Start-stop mode means that the refrigerator unit only burns fuel and decreases the temperature when it reaches a specific threshold.
- Continuous mode means the refrigerator unit continually burns fuel and keeps the temperature low 24/7.
Despite the obvious advantages, some truckers don’t run their reefer trailers and continuous mode because it takes more diesel fuel. However, it’s generally a good idea to use continuous mode in the middle of the day, when it is hottest, or if it is generally hot outside.
Start-stop mode is fuel-efficient, but it could let some perishable goods or foods melt or reach improper temperatures near the borders of your trailer, such as the exit or entrance. For context, most perishable foods should be kept at 40°F or lower temperatures.
In addition, if it’s hot outside, your refrigerator will constantly be starting and stopping, which will actually burn more fuel in aggregate than if you run your refrigerator on continuous mode.
In summary, you should always use continuous mode unless you are especially worried about fuel. If it’s cold outside and you don’t need to worry so much about your goods melting or getting hot, you can use the start-stop mode instead.
The Bottom Line
As a freight carrier, one of your most important duties is to monitor your reefer trailer for the duration of your journey with it. Fortunately, the more you drive with a reefer trailer, the more comfortable you’ll be monitoring the temperature of your transported goods, and the more easily you’ll remember to check temps from time to time.
Reefer trailer temperature monitoring is included among the shipping services offered by RPM, as well. Whether you're a business looking for temperature-controlled freight transit or a carrier looking to join a comprehensive network, we can help.
Contact us today to learn more.
Sources:
What Is A Reefer? | Trucker Terms & Simple Definitions
How Does a Refrigerator Work? | Real Simple
Are You Storing Food Safely? | FDA
