4 Mistakes to Avoid When Ordering a Custom Refrigerated Truck

A refrigerated truck is a major capital investment that requires careful consideration. A custom truck with cooling capabilities allows you to deliver temperature-sensitive goods in a way that meets your customers' expectations. To order a refrigerated truck body that will deliver value for money, pay attention to your specific business needs.

The following are a few mistakes to avoid when specifying refrigerated truck body requirements for your manufacturer.

Evaluate your current and future business needs when determining the right size for your truck body. Opt for a truck body that will serve your growing business over the long term.

Size is not just about business growth. The size of the truck body will also determine how efficiently you will be able to load the truck. A refrigerated truck that is too large can end up being sparsely loaded, which leads to energy and money wastage from cooling the extra space.

Specify a body size that lets you maximize the truck's volumetric and loading capacity to avoid packing products too tightly or wasting space, as this may have implications for the quality of the delivered products and your return on investment.

Consider the type of products you will be ferrying when determining the appropriate door style. Of all the exterior design considerations, door style is the most important when ordering a custom refrigerated truck body.

The door style has implications for the truck's insulation and loading logistics. Opt for roll-up doors if you plan to transport products with low to medium temperature requirements and few delivery stops.

Roll-up doors open up completely; therefore, the truck can rapidly lose cold air and let in warm air. This dynamic can easily alter the quality of the products in the truck.

Go for hinged doors if your delivery routine entails making multiple stops and opening the truck doors repetitively. Swing doors offer greater insulation as you do not have to pull these doors wide open to access the products inside.

Consider installing door switches to switch the refrigerator off automatically when you open the doors. This helps to retain the refrigerator's insulation capabilities.

A chassis that does not fit the truck body can slow down operations, increase maintenance costs, and pose a safety hazard, all of which can affect your bottom line.

Several factors determine the ideal chassis for your truck body. First, consider the gross vehicle weight, which is the amount of weight the truck can safely accommodate. If you are unsure about the gross weight requirements, ask a reputable body manufacturer to make recommendations.

Second, consider the length of the chassis needed to adequately support the truck. Lastly, select the tire size that suits the height requirement of the loads you are looking to ferry.

Proper insulation is crucial when transporting temperature-sensitive goods. Determine the ideal temperature range for the particular products you plan to transport. Even slight temperature variations inside the truck can adversely affect the quality of your products.

If you plan to transport products with different temperature requirements, consider a refrigerated truck body that can adapt to diverse temperature ranges or one with partitions for your various products.

Lastly, determine whether you need a self-powered or vehicle-powered refrigeration truck body. If the refrigerator needs to remain on even when the vehicle is off, consider a unit with a standby power source.

Cost should certainly be a consideration when you are in the market for a refrigerated truck body. However, do not overlook important factors such as sizing, capacity, and insulation in an effort to minimize overheads. This will only cost you more in the end.

If you are looking for a custom body for your truck, you can trust Diamond Truck Body MFG to get the job done to your exact specifications. Get in touch with us today to discuss your truck body customization needs.