How to choose your refrigerated or insulated truck?

15 Feb. 2023, by Lecapitaine

Depending on your needs, there are refrigerated trucks (with insulated body and refrigeration units) and insulated trucks (with body, without refrigeration unit). It is the nature of the goods transported that will guide your choice, taking into account the following main criteria: the transport temperature(s), the weight and volume of the goods transported, and the type of transport (long distance or urban distribution). Let's take a look at the various criteria you need to know before choosing your new vehicle.

Insulated or refrigerated trucks, what is the difference?

What is a refrigerated truck?

Equipped with an insulated box and a cold production system, refrigerated vans transport goods under a controlled temperature, such as frozen or refrigerated products. Depending on the nature of the load, it is possible to control the temperature(s) while maintaining the cold chain.

What is an insulated truck?

Unlike refrigerated trucks, insulated trucks do not include a refrigeration unit. Thanks to its insulating walls, the refrigerated body insulates the goods transported. This type of vehicle is ideal for last-mile deliveries (up to 80 km) and for transporting fresh produce such as fruit and vegetables, for example.

Choosing your refrigerated or insulated truck: how to choose?

To choose your vehicle, there are various criteria to take into consideration. Here are the main ones:

Temperature

The transport temperature is an important concept in the choice of your utility vehicle. It is essential to transport the goods at the right storage temperature. If you are transporting perishable goods at different temperatures, the loading area can be partitioned into several compartments; these are multi-temperature refrigerated vehicles.

Payload and volume

These are two very important criteria to take into account before buying your new vehicle. You must determine your needs in terms of the weight and volume of the goods you transport before requesting a proposal. Based on these criteria, our professionals will recommend a category of vehicle suited to your use (light commercial vehicle with an ordinary driving licence, or a heavy vehicle requiring a special driving licence).For the sake of safety and compliance with regulations, remember that it is forbidden to drive overloaded.

The type of transport

Your decision will depend on how you use the vehicle. It is important to know what type of transport you carry out most often (long distance, last-mile logistics, or a combination of both) and how your goods are packaged (boxes, pallets, etc.). Based on these criteria, we can determine what equipment you need for your activity (tail lift, type of opening, interior layout of the body, etc.). These various parameters will allow us to recommend the ideal vehicle, suited to your business. There are many types of vehicles, from vans to semi-trailers and carriers. Take a look at the wide range of vehicles offered by Lecapitaine.

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