Reefer Trailers For Sale in Mississippi and Louisiana
When you’re moving temperature-sensitive goods, you can’t take chances. Southern States Utility is your reefer expert and offers a wide variety of refrigerated trailers in all shapes and sizes. Stop by our dealership and you'll see each reefer trailer has an insulated cargo body equipped with a refrigeration unit.
Refrigerated (“Reefer”) Trailers Buying Guide
Even though refrigerated (also known as “reefer”) trucks and trailers haven’t been around for very long, they are an essential part of freight transport in a number of industries, from agriculture to medicine. Southern States Utility, with Mississippi locations in Olive Branch and Richland, and Louisiana locations in Hammond and Monroe, is proud to be your Gulf Coast refrigerated trailer dealer. Here’s a little background on reefer trailers so you can better understand how useful they are.
History
Following the development of cars and trucks made specifically for shipping, refrigerated trailers arose as a means of answering the growing need for transporting perishable foods and other goods. During the 1920s, reefers were made to distribute and sell ice cream on a small scale. After the Federal Highway Act was instituted in 1956, refrigerated trailers had an easier means of getting around the United States, so they began to become more popular.
Reefer trucks and trailers can be used to transport frozen foods, produce, meat, blood, plasma, delicate electronics, wine and many other types of products. They have become an indispensable part of the national shipping network as a result of their versatility.
How Do They Work?
A reefer truck is generally about 2,000 pounds or more, with a large refrigeration unit installed inside it. The unit is cooled with liquid carbon dioxide and diesel generators. There are three parts to the closed system: a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator, with each part serving a unique purpose.
The compressor is designed to pull in and compress gaseous refrigerants before liquefying them to draw out heat. Then the condenser further cools down the liquid via a heat exchange using tubes connected to the outside of the truck. Finally, the evaporator inside the trailer takes the cooled liquid and releases it via a metering valve to maintain the right temperature.
In order to reflect sunlight and reduce heat absorption, refrigerated trucks are painted white and equipped with fiberglass roofs that have pigments to help prevent UV absorption. Inside the trailer, there are thermoplastic liners to keep in the cold. The unit is also insulated and proofed to prevent any water leaks. Reefer trucks have vastly improved in their ability to retain cold, as well as their fuel economy, so they’ve become more efficient to use.
Every year, a reefer truck loses anywhere from three to five percent of its insulating capacity, so they cannot carry frozen goods after the first few years of usage. The last few years of their useful life involve carrying cold goods that don’t need to be frozen.
Visit one of our dealerships in Mississippi or Louisiana to take a look at our full stock of new and used reefer trailers for sale. Southern States Utility proudly serves the entirety of Mississippi and Louisiana.