Maintenance Services For A Reefer Trailer Unit
One of the most important things for a refrigerated trucking fleet to do is regularly maintain their reefer trailer units. By adhering to the proper maintenance routine, drivers can avoid costly roadside repairs and damage.
Oil Change
When it comes to ensuring the safety of temperature-sensitive loads and the life of your reefer trailer unit, routine maintenance is critical. Whether you’re a truck owner or a fleet manager, putting together an effective maintenance strategy will pay for itself many times over during the lifespan of your equipment. In fact, reefers can go much longer between oil changes than other trucks and vans because of their fuel-efficient diesel engine. But for older reefers, the industry-standard recommendation is to change the oil every 1,000 hours. For the newer units, manufacturers recommend an oil change every 3,000 hours, but some can go up to 5,000 or even 6,000. That longer interval allows the use of a more fuel-efficient, low-viscosity engine oil.
Filter Change
Whether you haul meat, produce or dairy, your reefer trailer unit must maintain a temperature that prevents spoilage. This ensures the safety of freight and also meets the FSMA regulations implemented by the Food and Drug Administration. As a result, reefer units are extremely important to the transport of temperature sensitive goods all over the world. Failure of this equipment could cause millions of dollars in damage to the products being transported, as well as the reputation of the carrier and shipper. A filter change every 1,000 hours is required for older reefers, but newer ones can go much longer, depending on the type of vehicle and where it’s being driven. Synthetic oil can extend the time between changes to 4,000 hours. A filter change is an easy and inexpensive service that can save money over time. A clean filter removes impurities from fuel and prevents clogging of the injectors. Keeping the fuel system free of clogs and contaminants can increase a vehicle’s fuel efficiency, reduce emissions and improve its reliability.
Inspections
While reefers don’t require as many inspections as dry vans, a pre-trip should be performed at least once every 1,000 hours for older units. However, newer reefers can go much longer than this. As with dry vans, reefer trailers need to have a thorough check done by an authorized service center. They should be inspected for fluid leaks, broken seals, and other issues that can cause them to fail on the road. It’s also a good idea to check the refrigeration unit’s hours of operation. This will give you an idea of how heavily the unit was used, and how often it needed to be serviced. During the inspection, make sure all wiring is in place and that doors latch securely. You can also check the braking system for cracks or other problems. Lastly, inspect the refrigeration unit and look for leaks or other signs of damage.
Calibration
Temperature control is important in this type of transportation because it can affect the quality of the product and cause spoilage. That’s why a lot of attention is given to keeping the temperature in a reefer trailer at its proper level. Depending on the product being transported, there are different ways that a reefer trailer can maintain the temperature. Some operate with cycled air, while others use continuous cooling. If you ship ice cream or other products that require continuous cooling, be sure to set your reefer’s air-refrigeration system to continuously cool the trailer. This will ensure that the temperature stays constant and prevent rejections or off-temperature claims during transit.