However, reefer trailer fuel, which can easily be identified by its distinct red color, is another form of diesel, and it’s considered an off-road fuel. Since off-road fuel isn’t taxed the same as on-road fuel, reefer fuel helps reduce the cost of operating a reefer trailer.
What fuel goes in a reefer?
A reefer trailer is a trailer that has a built-in cooling system, usually powered by diesel fuel, to keep freight cold.
How much fuel does a reefer use?
Modern reefer units use between 0.4 and 1.1 gallons of diesel per hour of engine run time. In automatic mode, the engine runs a fraction of the time that the unit is switched on and protecting cargo, so fuel consumption per hour most likely will be at the low end of the estimate.
Is reefer fuel cheaper than diesel?
Cost & Usage
Without road tax added, reefer fuel’s price is lower everywhere, especially in states like California with high road taxes. Reefer fuel costs about $2.97 to $2.99 per gallon as of June 2022. The retail price of standard number two diesel, by contrast, is now $5.57 per gallon.
Is reefer the same as diesel? – Related Questions
Can you put reefer diesel in a truck?
Reefer fuel is a type of diesel used in reefer trailers, which carry refrigerants. The particular red-colored diesel keeps the massive refrigerated trailers cold. Because of this use, reefer fuel is illegal in on-road vehicles and trucks.
How many hours will a reefer unit run on a tank of fuel?
How Long Does a Tank of Reefer Fuel Last? Reefer trucks burn around 3/4th of a gallon of reefer fuel per hour, and most tanks are 50 gallons. With that, reefer tanks usually need to be filled every 2 or 3 days, but again this also depends on freight requirements.
How long can full reefer fuel run?
If everything is running close to normal, a reefer’s 50-gallon tank could last up to 4-5 days. Simple habits, such as maintaining your reefer trailer can pay big dividends year after year.
How much does it cost to run a reefer?
To answer your question on what is the going rate per mile for trucking — current trucking rates per mile 2022 averages are: Van rates are at $2.76 per mile. Reefer rates are $3.19 per mile.
What is the average reefer rate per mile?
Reefer Freight Rates – November 15, 2022
Reefer rates are highest in the Midwest, averaging $3.28 per mile. The lowest rates are in the Southeast, with an average of $2.48 per mile. National reefer capacity is at 4.76 loads to truck, compared to the October 23rd average of 3.95 loads to truck.
What pays more dry van or reefer?
Refrigerated truck drivers typically average more per mile than dry van and flatbed drivers. At Knight Transportation, reefer drivers average 2-3 cents more per mile.
Why do reefer loads pay more?
Because reefer trailers are more expensive to run and maintain, reefer load rates are generally higher than dry vans. But reefer freight rates can vary greatly depending on your location, the cargo you need to ship, and many other factors.
Can you make money with a reefer truck?
While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $350,000 and as low as $25,500, the majority of Reefer Box Truck Owner Operator salaries currently range between $52,000 (25th percentile) to $137,000 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $251,000 annually across the United States.
What is the most profitable form of trucking?
Trucking can be a lucrative career.
Here are nine of the highest-paying jobs in trucking you may consider.
- Ice road trucking.
- Hazmat hauling.
- Tanker hauling.
- Oversized load hauling.
- Luxury car hauling.
- Team driving.
- Owner-operator jobs.
- Private fleets.
Who is the largest refrigerated trucking company?
Top Refrigerated (Truckload & LTL) Carriers
| Rank |
Company |
Revenue (000) |
| 1 |
Prime Inc. |
2,006,924 |
| 2 |
KLLM Transport Services |
936,000 |
| 3 |
C.R. England |
897,868 |
| 4 |
Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings |
755,000 est |
Is hauling reefer hard?
It’s most commonly known as reefer trucking, and this haul type is particularly good for drivers who have some experience already and pride themselves on their close attention to detail. Reefer trucking is hard work but is also compensated well.
What is a lot of hours for a reefer trailer?
A common rule of thumb is a reefer trailer should last for an average of 40,000 hours of use which equates to about 8 years on the open road. These values are based on an average of 4,000 to 5,000 hours of use per year. Keeping your hours under 4,000 annually will then extend the lifespan of your trailer considerably.
Is a reefer profitable?
Reefer loads can be very lucrative, especially sensitive loads.
How much can I make with a reefer trailer?
How much does an Owner Operator Reefer make? As of Nov 30, 2022, the average annual pay for an Owner Operator Reefer in the United States is $169,707 a year.
How many pallets do I need for a reefer?
Dependent on the type of freight, shippers can typically fit between 24 and 30 pallets in a full 53′ van or reefer trailer. It is important to note that weight will dictate how much freight can be transported in the trailer, along with whether or not the pallets are stackable.
Is reefer fuel tax deductible?
For diesel fuel that was purchased at the pump and was not used to propel the vehicle, such as in powering a reefer unit, the IRS allows a deduction for the tax paid on the company’s annual income tax filing. For large quantities purchased, credits can be claimed quarterly.
What is the max weight for a reefer?
Refrigerated or Reefer Trailers
A refrigerated or reefer trailer’s maximum freight weight is 44,000 pounds.