The company has a group of cooperation teams engaged in the Bulkhead For Refrigerated Trucks industry for many years, with dedication, innovation spirit and service awareness, and has established a sound quality control and management system to ensure product quality.
When transporting perishable cargo, you have a lot to think about. Whether its produce, meat, plants, frozen foods, or pharmaceuticals, operating a well-running refrigerated trailer is important for safety and FDA compliance.
Of course, temperature control is a primary concern in refrigerated trucking, but there are a number of ways to prepare and operate your rig to get the most out of a reefer trailer and have a safe, efficient journey. Proper reefer maintenance both before, during, and after hauling can help prolong the life of the trailer and avoid potential problems later.
To help you get the most of your reefer, we’ve put together these 6 refrigerated trucking tips that are an essential part of any fleet’s maintenance plan.
The purpose of refrigerated trucking is to safely transport perishable goods. Thus, it is essential that carriers be vigilant in maintaining proper trailer temperatures, not allowing them to go above or below a certain point. Here are a few key trucking tips for keeping goods safe:
The following is a general list of reefer trailer temperature ranges to help you get started on checking for proper temperatures:
Keeping a trailer clean and sanitized is highly important for the safe transport of goods, especially if you’re hauling meat, dairy, and livestock. But cleaning goes beyond a good sweep and spray down. Here a few refrigerated trucking tips for proper cleaning:
Many carriers follow a fleet asset management plan, which can make the process of managing a fleet simpler and more efficient. It’s important to conduct maintenance at regular intervals to ensure that equipment and vehicles abide by local, state, and national regulations, and for the overall health of the fleet. Of course, truck refrigeration is one area that carriers need to be constantly mindful of.
Creating a fleet asset management plan can offer the following benefits, especially when engaging in refrigerated trucking:
A few common reefer trailer troubleshooting issues may include:
Carriers are responsible for monitoring the loading and unloading process to make sure that goods are safely packed and moved, and can help to maintain proper temperatures.
Be sure to check the refrigerated truck’s maximum height and weight limits before loading and make sure that cargo and pallets are stacked with proper space to allow airflow.
As set forth by the FDA, maintenance of records are required and should include “written procedures, agreements and training.” The time for keeping these records depends on what’s contained within them, but generally does not exceed 12 months.
In addition to staying compliant, keeping accurate records of shipments and procedures can help with planning for trailer maintenance.
It’s also useful to keep record of driver history and certifications so that carriers are aware of any violations that could affect the safe transport of refrigerated freight.
Refrigerated truck units run off diesel so it’s important that fuel is always replenished.
Some loading docks may even require a refrigerated truck to be at least ¾ full of fuel before they load.
Additionally, low fuel may cause the cooling unit to take on residue from the fuel tank, which can cause mechanical problems that affect truck refrigeration.
Refrigerated trucking is an important part of the U.S. transportation system, whether it’s for food or other types of perishable goods. These trucking tips are an invaluable part of managing your fleet or vehicle and so is purchasing the right trailer for your needs.
At Hale Trailer Brake and Wheel, we pride ourselves on offering an extensive selection of new and used reefer trailers for sale. If investing in a trailer isn’t a part of your plan, we also have reefer trailers for rent available at several of our locations throughout the U.S.
We proudly offer parts and service for your trailers so that you can satisfy all your trailer needs in one place.
For more information Bulkhead For Refrigerated Trucks, please get in touch with us!