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.
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.
What happens if reefer runs out of fuel?
If you run out of fuel for the reefer, you run out of cold, so to speak – a problem that can put cargo at risk. Additionally, restarting the refrigeration unit may be problematic, because when the tank runs dry the engine can lose its prime. That can force a costly service callout.
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.
What kind of fuel does a reefer trailer use? – Related Questions
How much fuel does a reefer use in a day?
How Much Fuel Does a Reefer Use for a Day? At the low-end, a reefer truck will burn about . 4 gallons per hour, meaning 9.6 gallons of fuel in a regular 24-hour period. On the high-end, trucks can burn at about 1.1 gallons per hour, meaning 26.4 gallons over a day.
How long can a reefer be unplugged?
Therefore, it is expected that the reefer container’s insulation system can maintain internal cargo area temperatures within 1-2 degrees Celsius of the cargo protocol temperature, even with average power disconnection time periods of 1 to 6 hours during its trip.
What happens if semi runs out of gas?
Of course, your machine will shut down because it needs fuel in order to operate. But what happens after that is anyone’s guess. Sometimes, it’s as simple as adding more fuel to your tank and restarting the engine. If you have extra diesel nearby, the whole ordeal could only take a few minutes.
Can you run dry loads in a reefer?
The answer to that question is, yes, of course. Dry freight shippers don’t often remember that they can actually make good use of reefer trailers to ship their goods.
How do you prime fuel in a Thermo King reefer?
Can you put diesel in a reefer?
Can you run off-road diesel in a reefer trailer? You can use off-road diesel or reefer fuel in a reefer trailer, as long as the fuel is not used to propel the vehicle on the road. Reefer fuel or low emission diesel are often used to maintain temperature controls in reefer trailers.
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 do you fill a reefer tank?
How many hours will a reefer unit run?
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.
Do reefer trucks make more money?
Typically, reefer loads pay more money. Since fresh food and medicine is always in demand, there’s a consistent need for refrigerated trucking services. Many require long-haul transport, which also usually means more money.
How much can I make with a reefer truck?
How much does a Reefer Truck Driver make? As of Dec 4, 2022, the average annual pay for a Reefer Truck Driver in the United States is $61,215 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $29.43 an hour.
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.
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.
What makes more money 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. Combined with averaging 150-200 more miles per week, reefer drivers create the opportunity to increase pay in two ways, helping each trip earn more.
Why are truck loads so cheap 2022?
Carriers don’t have enough drivers to drive the trucks that they own, while there is too much capacity on the market to haul the amount of freight. Rates become depressed as carriers aggressively undercut one another hoping to move loads.
How much should I charge per mile for hauling?
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.Flatbed rates are at $3.14 per mile.