Reefer trailer (Frigo)
Also known as: Frigo · Reefer trailer · Refrigerated trailer · Frigorifik · Yakhchali
A reefer trailer is an insulated box trailer with its own cooling unit. It keeps chilled or frozen cargo at a set temperature for the whole road journey.
Names in other languages
- English
- Reefer trailer (Frigo)
- Türkçe
- Frigorifik dorse (Frigo)
- فارسی
- تریلی یخچالی
- Русский
- Рефрижераторный полуприцеп
- 简体中文
- 冷藏半挂车
- العربية
- مقطورة مبرّدة (فريغو)
Specifications
Typical figures — they vary by manufacturer and by country rules on weights and sizes.
| Internal length | 13,400 mm |
|---|---|
| Internal width | 2,460 mm |
| Internal height | 2,600 mm |
| Max payload | 22,000 kg |
| Capacity | 86 m³ |
| Euro pallets (1200 × 800 mm) | 33 |
| Temperature range | -25 – +25 °C |
| Loading method | Rear · Side |
Typical cargo
Fresh and frozen food: fruit and vegetables, meat, fish, dairy products, ice cream, flowers, and pharmaceuticals.
In plain words
The cooling unit sits at the front of the trailer and runs on its own diesel engine or on electric power. Most units can hold set points from about −25 °C to +25 °C, and many record the temperature during the trip. Some trailers have two or three compartments with different temperatures, and some have a side door for faster deliveries.
Insulated walls make the inside a little smaller than a tilt trailer, but most still take 33 Euro pallets. Like a reefer container, the trailer keeps the temperature — load the cargo already cooled to the right temperature. Many countries require a special certificate for vehicles that carry perishable food (in Europe, under the ATP agreement).
Advantages
- Exact temperature control from loading to delivery.
- Solid insulated box protects the cargo.
- Multi-temperature trailers can carry chilled and frozen goods together.
Limits
- Higher price than a tilt trailer, plus fuel for the cooling unit.
- Slightly less space and payload because of the insulation and unit.
- Usually loads from the rear only, which is slower.
Example from real shipping
A dairy company ships 33 pallets of cheese from western Turkey to Romania at +4 °C. The reefer trailer is pre-cooled before loading, the cheese is loaded at the right temperature, and the buyer receives a temperature print-out on delivery.
Related terms
- Reefer containerA reefer is a refrigerated container. It has its own cooling unit and keeps the cargo at a set temperature during the journey.
- 40' RHA 40' RH is a 40-foot high cube refrigerated container. It is the most common reefer in use today.
- Tilt trailer / CurtainsiderThe standard European semi-trailer: a 13.6 m loading area covered by a tarpaulin. It can be loaded from the rear, the sides, or the top.
- Road vehicle typesA side-by-side comparison of the trucks and trailers used in road freight: load space, payload, volume, pallet places, loading method, and typical cargo.
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Request a QuoteThis glossary is general information, not legal or customs advice. Rules, fees, and practice can differ by carrier, port, and country.