When your cargo needs to be kept under temperature control, you need a refrigerated truck to help you get from A to B. These sectors cannot leave things to chance and need to be confident that the temperature in the back of their van or truck will stay the same no matter the weather.
Temperature control helps to strengthen the supply chain by making it possible to keep items fresher and safer for longer. It also allows us to transport items further without worrying about them perishing along the way. This is great news for small businesses that might not have the resources to ship their items otherwise.
Fridge and freezer trucks are put to work in a wide range of sectors. From food and drink to medical transportation, here are just some of the ways that our refrigerated vans are put to work up and down the country.
We’ve also outlined some of the niche factors we need to consider when adapting a chiller or freezer truck for these sectors. Not all refrigerated trucks are created equal, and there are many variables to consider when choosing a van or truck for your specific needs.
Meat, Fish & Dairy
Perhaps the best known use for a refrigerated truck is in the meat, fish and dairy sector. These items need to be kept at a specific temperature to help the items fresh for as long as possible. Without a temperature controlled environment, suppliers would be restricted on how far they could transport their produce.
Food suppliers also need to abide by The Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013, The Food Hygiene (Wales) Regulations 2006 and The Food Hygiene Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006. This is particularly important for high risk foods, where there is a risk of the items becoming toxic if they are not stored at the correct temperature.
Drinks Suppliers
Drinks suppliers often need to keep items cold during delivering. This will allow them to deliver drinks that are ready to serve, rather than risking delivering warm drinks. Most drinks suppliers will need to keep their payload between 0°C to 8°C. This will allow companies to transport drinks further, which gives suppliers more options when it comes to sourcing buyers.
Another key factor to consider when choosing a chiller van for a drinks supply company is the overall payload weight. The van needs to be able to safely transport a fully loaded van with very heavy liquids on board. To strike a balance between temperature control and maximising the space for on board, we would recommend a chiller van with chiller van conversion with 50mm of insulation.
Catering & Food Service
Working in the catering sector means navigating food hygiene standards to ensure that any food served is delivered at the correct temperature. To help keep food prepared off-site fresh for longer, refrigerated trucks are commonly used by catering companies.
Food can be prepared in the company’s kitchen and then transported to an event while keeping it at a steady temperature the whole time. This will eliminate the stress of the driver stuck in traffic in hot weather worrying about the contents of the van. With a refrigerated truck or a freezer truck, the food will be safe and ready to consume when it arrives at the destination.
Many catering companies will actually choose a dual temperature van which enables them to have a chilled section and an ambient section. An adjustable bulkhead will ensure the storage requirements remain flexible.
Flowers
An unexpected use for temperature controlled trucks is for the transport of flowers. Delivering flowers to an event or wedding in hot weather puts the flowers at risk of wilting, but keeping the flowers cold and moist will help to keep them looking fresh for longer.
Flower wholesale companies will also need to control the internal temperature of their truck when they are transporting large quantities of flowers. This can help to keep the flowers looking fresh for longer, which means they can be transported further.
Ice Cream
A popular use for refrigerated trucks is for the sale of ice cream. We all know the distinct sound of the ice cream van in the summer months, but it is only thanks to the onboard freezers that these businesses can operate. But what about the companies that only need to transport ice cream and other frozen goods?
In this instance, a truck capable of achieving deep freeze temperatures is recommended. A GRV freezer van conversion would be ideal in this instance, as it would allow us to achieve temperatures as low as -25°C. This is perfect for ice cream manufacturers that need to keep their suppliers topped up throughout the summer months.
Pharmaceuticals
Another unexpected use for refrigerated vans is in the medical sector. Items like blood, organs and medications will often need to be stored under specific conditions. A great example of this would be the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, which needs to be stored between 2°C and 8°C. Without a refrigerated vehicle, it would be impossible to transport this vaccine.
Temperature control is essential for transporting things like blood and human tissue. This is known as the cold supply chain and is essential for moving life-saving goods including insulin, vaccines and asthma inhalers. Multi-temperature vans may be required to help transport different goods at different temperatures.
Conclusion
Refrigerated trucks have a wide range of applications across a number of industries. Any time there is a need to control the temperature of items being transported, a fridge or freezer truck can help. With a wide range of insulation options available, you can adapt any van to your needs, taking control of the temperature in different zones to offer more versatility.
If you’re starting a business and require a specialist type of refrigerated truck, we can help meet your specifications. We help companies to source niche trucks that will enable them to run their businesses with ease. Don’t make allowances for the trucks available to you, make your truck work for you.
