How to Choose a Refrigerated Truck
Quick answer
A refrigerated truck is an insulated box plus a refrigeration unit, and the box matters more than the unit. Buyers who start from "how many tons" usually end up with a truck that cannot hold temperature at the door, or one that burns fuel to compensate for thin panels.
Start from three answers: what cargo, what temperature and for how long, and how many door openings per day. The chassis is the last decision.
1. Decide the temperature class first
| Class | Box temperature | Typical cargo | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chilled | 0 °C to +4 °C | Fresh meat, dairy, produce, pharma (2–8 °C) | Needs airflow, not just cold — a fan kit is not optional |
| Frozen | −18 °C | Frozen meat, seafood, ice cream mixes | Most common export configuration |
| Deep frozen | −25 °C | Ice cream, specialised seafood | Needs a stronger unit and thicker panels |
| Dual zone | Two compartments | Mixed deliveries (frozen + chilled) | Two evaporators, a partition wall and separate controls |
| Heated / multi-temp | +12 °C to −18 °C | Pharma, chocolate, flowers | Look for "multi-temperature" units, not a heater add-on |
Ask the supplier for the pull-down test: with the box empty and the ambient temperature stated, how long to reach setpoint, and how long it holds it with the doors opened twice per hour. That number separates a real reefer body from an insulated box.
2. Insulation is where cheap trucks hide
| Panel | Typical use | Consequence |
|---|---|---|
| 80 mm PU | Small vans, city delivery, short cycles | Fine for 1–2 hours of door-open work; struggles on long runs |
| 100 mm PU | Standard 4.2 m – 9.6 m trucks | The usual choice for regional distribution |
| 120 mm+ PU | Long-haul, deep frozen, hot climates | Heavier, more expensive, holds temperature far better |
Check how the panels are made: foam-injected sandwich panels bonded under pressure hold temperature; hand-laid foam with gaps does not. Also check:
- Floor: insulated floor with aluminium or stainless tread plate, and a drain;
- Door seals: double-magnet gaskets, and a door that closes flush — run a paper test at the seal;
- Thermal bridges: metal through the panel (hinges, lamp mounts, tie rails) conducts heat; good bodies use isolation pads;
- Rear door type: full-opening vs side-door for pallet work — a side door turns a 2-hour delivery into 40 minutes, and it is much cheaper to order with the body than to add later.
3. The refrigeration unit: three architectures
| Type | How it works | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine-driven (belt or direct drive) | Compressor driven by the truck engine | Long-haul, high duty, hot climates | Only cools when the engine runs; fuel consumption |
| Engine-driven + electric standby | Same, plus a plug-in electric motor for docks | Distribution centres with shore power | Slightly higher price; needs 380 V or 220 V at the dock |
| Fully electric / battery | Separate electric compressor and battery pack | City delivery, low-emission zones | No engine idling, but range and duty cycle must be matched to the route |
Brand is a real decision: Thermo King, Carrier (Sutrak), KingClima, Hwasung and Chinese units differ in service network more than in cooling capacity. In our own catalogue (63 diesel refrigerated trucks and 23 electric ones), the named units are mostly Thermo King, Carrier and 冷王/凯利 (Chinese branded). Ask which unit is actually installed and where the nearest service partner is — a unit with no local parts is a liability.
4. Match the box to the job
| Job | Box length | Unit size | Insulation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City pharma / food delivery (EV) | 2.5–4.2 m | Electric, small | 80 mm | Door openings dominate; buy the side door |
| Regional distribution | 4.2–6.8 m | Engine-driven, medium | 100 mm | Most common configuration in our catalogue |
| Long-haul frozen | 7.6–9.6 m | Engine-driven, large | 100–120 mm | Check fuel tank size for the route |
| Semi-trailer reefer | 13.6 m | Trailer unit | 100 mm+ | Separate market; check ATP if you deliver in the EU |
Volume vs payload: an insulated box weighs 800–1,500 kg more than a dry box of the same size. On a 4.2 m light truck that can leave under 2 t of payload — verify the numbers before you choose the chassis.
5. Six checks before you order
- Pull-down test result in writing (ambient temperature stated);
- Panel thickness and construction (foam-injected vs hand-laid);
- Reefer unit model and service partner in your country;
- Door seals and floor drain — the two cheapest things to fix at the factory, the most expensive after shipping;
- ATP / FRC certificate if you deliver food in the EU or UK (required for many contracts, and impossible to add later without re-certification);
- Payload math — GVW minus curb weight minus body minus unit minus cargo.
6. Four common mistakes
| Mistake | What happens | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Choosing by tonnage only | Box too thin for the route; temperature drifts at the door | Start from cargo, temperature and door cycles |
| Single evaporator for dual-zone work | Frozen side warms when the chilled door opens | Two evaporators + partition, or two trucks |
| Buying an EV reefer without checking duty cycle | Battery flat mid-route with cargo on board | Ask for the kWh per hour at setpoint and the route length |
| Ignoring the local service network | A broken unit means a dead truck for weeks | Confirm the nearest authorised service point before ordering |
7. What to send a supplier (copy this)
1. Cargo type and required temperature: ______ °C, hold time ______ h
2. Door openings per day and typical delivery pattern: ______
3. Box length required: ______ m; side door needed: yes / no
4. Ambient temperature range at destination: ______
5. Chassis preference and emission standard: ______
6. Certification required (ATP / FRC / none): ______
7. Please attach: pull-down test result, panel construction, unit model, payload calculation8. Where to look next
- Refrigerated trucks in our marketplace — 63 listings
- Electric refrigerated trucks — 23 listings
- How to import a truck from China
Frequently asked questions
+How thick should the insulation be on a refrigerated truck?
For a standard 4.2 m to 9.6 m distribution truck, 100 mm polyurethane panels are the usual choice. Use 80 mm only for small vans and short cycles, and 120 mm or more for long-haul deep-frozen work or very hot climates. Thickness alone is not enough: foam-injected sandwich panels bonded under pressure hold temperature far better than hand-laid foam.
+Can a truck refrigerator reach -18 °C in a hot climate?
Yes, if the unit and the box are specified together. The limiting factors are panel thickness, door seal quality, the number of door openings and the ambient temperature. Ask for a pull-down test with the ambient temperature stated, and a hold test with doors opened a stated number of times per hour.
+What is the difference between an engine-driven and an electric refrigeration unit?
An engine-driven unit uses the truck engine to drive the compressor, so it only cools while the engine runs and suits long-haul work. A fully electric unit runs its own compressor and battery, which suits city delivery and low-emission zones but requires matching the battery duty cycle to the route. Many distribution trucks use engine-driven with electric standby for dock cooling.
+Do I need ATP certification for a refrigerated truck?
If you transport perishable food in the EU or UK under contract, ATP or FRC certification is often required, and it is much easier to obtain on a new body from a manufacturer who certifies than to retrofit. Confirm the requirement with your customer before ordering.
+How much payload does a refrigerated body take away?
An insulated box with a refrigeration unit typically weighs 800 to 1,500 kg more than a dry box of the same length, depending on panel thickness and unit size. On a light 4.2 m chassis this can leave under 2 tonnes of payload, so always calculate GVW minus curb weight minus body minus unit before choosing the chassis.
These listings are published by verified Chinese suppliers — ask each one for the plate photo, load chart and axle-load calculation mentioned above.
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