How Do Refrigerated Trailers Work?

Refrigerated delivery trucks make sure that food and other goods are kept at the correct temperature during transit. This helps the perishable goods, such as seafood, vegetables, meat, and fruits, as well as pharmaceutical products, stay fresh till they reach their final destination. If you’re considering shipping your perishables with refrigerated trucks and you want to understand how it works, then this post is for you. In this article, we’ll enlighten you about refrigerator truck services and also take you through how refrigerated trucks work.

What Are Refrigerator Truck Services

These are a service that provides freight shipment of refrigerated goods from one location to another. These trucks are specifically designed to have an in-built refrigeration system powered by electric or battery generators, which help remove heat and maintain a cold temperature. Furthermore, these trailers can hold up to 40,000 pounds of cargo, and they’re typically loaded with pallets of food and other items. 

The drivers of these trucks are usually well-trained and abide by strict regulations to maintain the temperature inside the truck and provide quality shipments.

How Refrigerator Trucks Work

The refrigeration system in refrigerated trucks works in a closed system to help maintain a steady cool temperature. It does this with various components working together. Some of these components include;

• Compressor

The compressor is the device in the refrigerator system that reduces the volume of air or gas by changing its pressure. It draws our gaseous refrigerant and liquefies the gas by increasing its pressure. Thereafter, the liquid refrigerant gives off heat which is then passed to the condenser through an outlet valve.

• Condenser

A condenser is a heat-exchanging device that converts the heat from the refrigerant into the latent heat of vaporization. The purpose of a condenser is to cool down the warm refrigerant gas. It does this by releasing the heat from the liquid refrigerant through the tubing on the walls and into the fins attached outside. These fins have a wide surface which allows the outside air to cool with the help of a condenser fan.

The condenser is usually placed at an angle to allow for easy drainage of water or other liquids (such as brine) that may form in it during operation.

• Evaporator

The evaporator is another heat-exchanging device located in the refrigerator truck. Before the refrigerant is passed into the evaporator, the majority of its heat would have been released by the condenser. From the condenser, the refrigerant is passed through a metering valve into the evaporator. The metering valve helps to control the cooling in the evaporator.  When the refrigerant arrives at the evaporator, the remaining heat will be absorbed, and the liquid refrigerant will be changed to gas. During the conversion process, the heat in the coils will be absorbed. The process repeats until the desired cool temperature is achieved in the refrigerator truck.

Conditions Required for Shipping Perishables

Refrigerator Trucks have standard temperature settings that work for various types of perishables. Here are some shipping conditions and temperatures for different perishables.

• Frozen foods

To get the best result when moving frozen foods, it’s often shipped at a temperature ranging between -85ºF to 32ºF. Other products like insulins and vaccines that require extremely cold temperatures are best shipped with specially designed trucks.

• Sweet potatoes and potatoes

Sweet potatoes and potatoes can adapt to most temperatures, but they’ll survive for a longer period if transported at 40°F to 45°F.

• Plants, flowers, and greens

The temperature requirements of plants and flowers vary depending on their specific requirements. In general, the ideal temperature for transporting plants ranges between 33°F to 35°F. However, most flowers are best transported at about 33ºF. 

To transport greens such as broccoli, spinach, grapes, apples, lettuces, and apples, they’re best shipped at temperatures ranging between 32ºF to 36ºF.

• Water-rich produce

Water-rich fruits and veggies such as; watermelon, citrus, cucumbers, tomatoes, and others are often transported at temperatures ranging from 45ºF to 50ºF.

• Medical products

The temperatures suitable for transporting medical products such as blood, organs, vaccines, insulin, and medications are adjusted according to the specification of each product.

Refrigerator trucks have contributed immensely to the smooth running of groceries stores, pharmaceutical companies, and other sectors of the economy. The services of refrigerator trucks are reliable and efficient. That’s not all; when you ship with refrigerator truck services, you can track and monitor your goods while in transit.