What Is a Reefer Trailer?
Since their introduction, refrigerated trailers (often called reefer trailers) have revolutionized the transportation of perishable goods. They allow things like meat and medical supplies to be shipped across the country without the risk of anything going bad. If you’re interested in learning more about the history and invention of reefer trailers, check out this guide from the experts at Utility Trailer of Washington.
Before Reefer Trailers
Before the invention of reefer trailers, most perishable goods were transported via mechanically refrigerated railcars. These railcars were first invented in the 1880s and were a fairly convenient way to transport goods that would otherwise go bad by the time they arrived. However, they were also fairly expensive to operate and maintain. This was partially solved by the invention of van trailers cooled via large ice blocks. These trailers were equipped with fans to circulate the cold air throughout the trailer. Unfortunately, these van trailers proved almost as expensive as the refrigerated boxcars since the driver had to stop every 200-300 miles to purchase a new 100 lb block of ice. These increased operational costs and slowed delivery times, especially on longer hauls.
Invention of Reefer Trailers
It wasn’t until 1925 that the very first reefer trailers were introduced. They quickly proved to be a more efficient and economical option than refrigerated rail cars or van trailers. By 1930, reefer trailers had become reliable enough to transport even the most temperature-sensitive goods, such as ice cream. Soon, specialized reefer trailer variants began to appear, such as milk trucks and meat trucks. The industry continued to grow from there, and today reefer trailers are by far the most popular methods of transporting perishable goods.
To view our selection of refrigerated semi-trailers for sale, visit Utility Trailer of Washington. We operate 4 dealership locations throughout the state of Washington, along with 20 mobile service trucks. We also offer servicing, parts ordering, rentals, and servicing. We hope you’ll come to visit us soon!