Logistics isn’t a fair-weather industry. Trucks roll year-round to help manufacturers keep up with consumer demands – from families who want ice cream to beat the summer heat, to homeowners who need paint for winter renovation projects, to companies seeking newer and faster technologies.
Refrigerated trailers, known as reefers, are often associated with summer produce, but they’re essential for shipping temperature-sensitive commodities in every season. Shaker Logistics’ VP of Transportation, Bill Quinn, oversees a fleet of 20+ reefer trailers. Bill provides his insight into how well-maintained reefer trailers can be versatile tools for shippers in the food, chemical, and electronics industries.
When logistics meets thermodynamics
Reefer units are like super-powered window air conditioners, using diesel fuel or hybrid power to keep freight at a consistent temperature. Mounted at the nose of the trailer, the reefer unit pumps refrigerant through compressors, expansion valves, and evaporators to remove heat from inside the trailer and expel it outside. A powerful fan on the unit circulates air throughout the trailer to keep products at the required temperature from one end to the other.
Reefer fans have ten times the power of an AC fan and can remove heat from the air at 5 times the speed of a window unit. Shaker’s newest reefer units can cool a 53-foot trailer from 90°F to –4°F in just 2 hours. And because reefers also provide heat, they can keep sensitive cargo from freezing during harsh winter weather.
In tune with the transportation industry’s efforts to strive for greener operations, modern reefers use a stop-start feature to turn the unit off when the desired temperature is reached. If the temperature starts to drift towards the limits of a safe range, the unit will automatically turn back on. This saves fuel and reduces emissions, ensuring efficiency without compromising product integrity.
Maintaining reliable performance
Cargo like filet mignon, industrial adhesives, and semiconductor wafers can spoil or degrade if trailer temperatures fluctuate in transit. A truckload of valuable goods like these can be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, so a malfunctioning reefer can potentially lead to huge losses for shippers.
Healthy equipment is important, but an expert partner behind the fleet is what makes reefer transportation truly reliable. Bill believes in an aggressive maintenance schedule and state-of-the-art technology for reliable reefer performance.
“Anyone in logistics knows that breakdowns happen eventually,” Bill said. “But a proactive approach to maintenance and monitoring can stop an inconvenience from becoming a disaster.”
Bill tests Shaker’s reefer units weekly to ensure they’re in prime condition. Shaker’s fleet is also backed by a temperature monitoring telematics system that alerts our team and customers in real time if trailer temperatures unexpectedly slip out of safe range.
When these malfunctions occur, our team takes action to make sure the cargo stays at temp and delays stay minimal. Because we partner with one of the nation’s largest refrigeration unit suppliers, we have 24/7 access to an extensive nationwide repair network. A pair of reefer technicians at these locations can replace a malfunctioning unit in 45 minutes or less, so trucks can keep rolling to their destinations.
Reefers, transportation’s Jack of all trades
Food & beverage
Whether it’s exotic fruit, frozen pizza, or simple orange juice, reefers keep food from spoiling before they arrive at local grocery stores. Specialized reefers have multi-temperatures compartments, with ducts and insulated dividers to haul goods at frozen, chilled, and ambient temperatures all at once.
Chemicals (Hazmat)
Products like paints, adhesives, and industrial coatings need to be kept within specific temperature ranges so they don’t degrade. Many of these chemicals are hazardous and need to be handled by hazmat certified carriers. To prevent cross-contamination, most fleets designate trailers for reefer-hazmat freight only.
High-tech & electronics
Valuable electronic components like microchips, semiconductors, and batteries require tight temperature control to prevent warping and cracking. These high-value goods take huge amounts of time and money to produce, so they should only be carried on well-maintained reefers backed by an experienced logistics team.
Temperature-controlled storage
Reefer trailer rentals are an economical solution for manufacturers who need temperature-controlled storage at their facilities.
Manufacturers who have the right power output (460-volt 3 phase power) can plug the unit into the building rather than use diesel to fuel the unit. This hybrid reefer storage system is quieter, doesn’t require refueling, gives off less emissions, and can save up to 50% in costs to power the unit.
Reliable logistics providers will often monitor and maintain the rented equipment for the manufacturer. Shaker’s customers often pair these rental services with our transportation offering for a seamless storage and distribution solution.
Shelter from the storm
Sometimes, transporting sensitive freight is more about avoiding extreme temperatures and less to do with maintaining a specific thermometer reading. Many chemical and electrical goods are marked as PFH (Protect from Heat) or PFF (Protect from Freeze) and require the most robust reefer technology to maintain a safe environment during extreme weather.
For example, one of Shaker’s customers ships a truckload of electrical components from southern NY to Canada daily. During winter, our reefers run constantly to battle the external temperatures, which can creep down to a blistering -20°F. To keep these high-value products safe, Shaker’s team has dedicated a pair of brand-new reefer units to the daily run.
“In cases like these, the shipper has hundreds of thousands of dollars on the line. Our reefers work hardest in the winter months, so upgrading our equipment to match the task at hand is the only guaranteed way to get the job done safely,” Bill said.
Reliable reefers, reliable partners
Reefers are more than just produce haulers; they move and protect some of America’s most valuable cargo. But a reefer trailer is only as reliable as the team behind it.
Shaker Logistics has over 30 years of experience moving sensitive reefer freight for demanding shippers across many fast-paced industries. Reach out to our team today for a partner you can trust to make sure your freight is just right.