The United States is home to a massive network of factories, farms, and other production sites, but it is not enough to simply have all that manufacturing in place. It is also important to move all those good around, and this is where carrier companies can help. Trucks, ships, trains, and airplanes can move good around as needed, and these carrier companies are often on the smaller side. These smaller companies may have a modest but hardworking fleet of trucks, and while some trucks are generalist vehicles, others are specialized for certain types of cargo. For example, many carrier companies working with the food industry will offer carrier reefers. These refrigeration units are useful for transporting cold food items without letting them perish, and a company owner may look for new or used reefer trailers for sale. But how to choose a used reefer? Wholesale reefer units may be new or used and vary in condition and dimensions. A company owner looking to find out how to choose a used reefer may consider the industry as a whole before making a decision.
How to Choose a Used Reefer
There is more than one model of reefer trailer out there, and new reefer trailers may be more expensive but they will also be in perfect condition. As for how to choose a used reefer, this involves more caution, since some used units may be in better shape than others are.
Overall, the owner of a carrier company may benefit greatly from investing in reefer trailers, since the global market for them is quite robust. In fact, some 500,000 of them are in operation across the United States today, and that number may grow in the future. Experts have predicted that the worldwide refrigerated trailer market may hit a value of $7.6 billion by the year 2022, and it may grow at a CAGR of 4.8% between 2016 and 2022 or so. In January 2018 alone, some 40,000 reefer trailers were sold across the United States, and the number of fridge trailer orders grew 250% from January 2017 and January 2018.
What is there to know about these trailers? They have insulation in their walls so that the interior can stay cold, and they will have one or more air conditioning units attached to maintain that low internal temperature. The internal temperature can be adjusted as needed, and it may range from a low of -20 degrees Fahrenheit to a high of 70 degrees. How big do these trailers get? On average, a reefer trailer may be anywhere from 28 feet to 53 feet long, and they may be up to 13.5 feet tall. Some trailers are larger than others, with some being as heavy as 44,000 pounds (that is on the highest end of the scale).
The owner of a carrier company may consider their budget before making a purchase. A new reefer will cost the most, but it will have no maintenance or wear and tear issues, and it may have a factory warranty in place, too. Meanwhile, smaller companies may look for used reefers, and this may involve inspecting the trailers in person before making a purchase. The buyer may put a sample of frozen food inside and check back on it later, and they can look over the hardware for any frayed wires or rusted bolts, or any other issues. And when buying new or used reefer trailers or an entire truck, the carrier company may take out a secured loan on it with the truck itself serving as collateral. These loans are often easier to make than getting a bank loan approved.
Using These Trailers
A carrier company may expand its clientele when it acquires some reefers. Most often, a carrier may work for grocery stores, which need reefers to deliver frozen processed foods, meats, dairy, and the like. A reefer may arrive at a warehouse and get loaded with goods that were stored in an on-site freezer, and when a reefer arrives at a grocery store, dock associates there will transfer cold items from the reefer to on-site refrigeration and freezer units. Reefers can even carry wine bottles or dry ice, which are also quite sensitive to temperature.
