A quieter week on the news front, so I thought I’d write about the thing we get asked about most once a van is on the road: how to keep temperatures steady between the first load and the last drop. Whether you’re moving dairy, bread, ice cream, veg, flowers or drinks, the same few habits make the difference, and they cost nothing.
First, the fridge unit is built to hold temperature, not to pull a warm load down. Start it before you load so the box is already cold and the walls and floor have had time to chill. Then only load stock that is already at the right temperature from your cold room or freezer. Put warm product in and the unit spends the whole run fighting it rather than holding it.
Second, the door. Every time it opens, cold air falls out and warm air walks in, and the unit has to recover before the next stop. Load in the order you’ll deliver, so the first drop is at the door and you’re not standing there digging. Shut the door between drops, even short ones, and don’t leave it propped while you chat on a doorstep.
Third, airflow. The evaporator at the front needs room to move air round the load. Don’t stack right up against it, don’t block it with a tall pallet or a stack of trays, and leave gaps between stacks and at the floor so cold air gets round and under everything. A tightly packed box with no gaps can be cold at the front and warm at the back.
Fourth, a quick walk round. Check the door seal is clean and closing flat, that the drain hole isn’t blocked with crumbs or leaves, and that the condenser on the outside isn’t clogged. A seal that’s split or a vent full of muck quietly makes the unit work harder every day. If you want a hand with any of that, or a set of strip curtains to cut the door losses, just ask.
Quick checklist
- Run the fridge before loading so the box is cold first
- Only load stock already at the right temperature
- Load in delivery order, last drop at the front
- Shut the door between every drop, even short ones
- Leave gaps round the load so cold air can circulate
If your box is working harder than it should because it’s too small, these three are worth a look, and two of them came in this week.
- 2023 (73 Reg) Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 315CDI L2H2 Refrigerated Chiller Van: £39,495 +VAT
- 2023 (73 Reg) Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 315CDI L2H2 Refrigerated Freezer Van: £41,995 +VAT
- 2026 Mercedes-Benz Citan 110CDI L2 Base Cancelled Order Refrigerated Chiller Van: £31,495 +VAT
Call us on 01444 245555 to talk it through.
