Fuzrat:
Probably a stupid question, but having never dragged a fridge I assume they will heat up as well as keep chilled/keep frozen? For instance, in this situation ambient temps are not getting above freezing all day, will the “fridge” actually heat inside the trailer to keep the required 15 deg?
As already said, the answer to your question is ‘yes,’ as there are some products that need a constant temperature.
Other examples of products with the need ( = legal requirement) for constant controlled temperature are some ADR regulated dangerous goods.
Some self reactive / polymerising substances of UN Class 4.1, as well as some organic peroxides of UN Class 5.2 need constant temperature control and can ONLY be carried in 'fridge vehicles.
I used to load ice cream at -30 from Barcelona to run to the UK. The heat in Spain and up through France could be well in the +35 region, I’ve driven there when the temp gauge showed +40 on many occaisions. That means the fridge unit has to chill air from +35 to -30 and then blast it over the load. A temp swing of over 60 degrees.
FWIW I never use stop start mode, I’ve always run constant. The firm I drive for now wont use stop start either.
we do have a resident fridge specialist somewhere amongst us whos never actually driven a fridge trailer
Thanks guys, all you think of being inside a fridge trailer is food and flowers, never even crossed my mind that other stuff, especially ADR would need a fridge.
Another one (probably for Dave) if you carry an ADR load in a fridge, is that fridge now not allowed to carry foodstuffs? Bit like Tascc rules if a forbidden/excluded load is carried the tipper cant be used for wheat.
I used to load ice cream at -30 from Barcelona to run to the UK. The heat in Spain and up through France could be well in the +35 region, I’ve driven there when the temp gauge showed +40 on many occaisions. That means the fridge unit has to chill air from +35 to -30 and then blast it over the load. A temp swing of over 60 degrees.
FWIW I never use stop start mode, I’ve always run constant. The firm I drive for now wont use stop start either.
we do have a resident fridge specialist somewhere amongst us whos never actually driven a fridge trailer
I’m sure our resident fridge expert would be delighted to explain that the outside air isn’t chilled and then blown into the box, rather the already cold air inside is constantly recirculated.
Roymondo:
I’m sure our resident fridge expert would be delighted to explain that the outside air isn’t chilled and then blown into the box, rather the already cold air inside is constantly recirculated.
I used to load ice cream at -30 from Barcelona to run to the UK. The heat in Spain and up through France could be well in the +35 region, I’ve driven there when the temp gauge showed +40 on many occaisions. That means the fridge unit has to chill air from +35 to -30 and then blast it over the load. A temp swing of over 60 degrees.
FWIW I never use stop start mode, I’ve always run constant. The firm I drive for now wont use stop start either.
we do have a resident fridge specialist somewhere amongst us whos never actually driven a fridge trailer
I’m sure our resident fridge expert would be delighted to explain that the outside air isn’t chilled and then blown into the box, rather the already cold air inside is constantly recirculated.
Sent from my VOG-L09 using Tapatalk
Without being flippant, this is why there were deaths through suffocation in that fridge.
As an aside some fridges I’ve seen in the past (mainly Spanish) do have vents front and rear. I guess that’s for ambient fruits?
.
Going back a bit we used to carry oranges ex Sagunto pre Xmas every year in tilts. Just open the sheet corners front and back for airflow before TIR cord went through.
And other goods that “need*” climate control include art works and some wines.
Supermarket plonks will crack their bottles if below freezing for too long. Bottles are thinner lighter glass than before. Champagne bottles are much stronger to withstand the pressure but even they will crack in extreme temps.
Fine wines are temp regulated too, to protect their value. Paying a few extra quid to keep them about +14C in a fridge, is nowt when it’s four figures per bottle pricing. More secure that a taut too.
Export wines from France in containers crossing the equator are sometimes in reefer boxes, sometimes general boxes with extra insulation put inside by the exporter, sometimes just let go to take it’s chances.
Fuzrat:
Thanks guys, all you think of being inside a fridge trailer is food and flowers, never even crossed my mind that other stuff, especially ADR would need a fridge.
Another one (probably for Dave) if you carry an ADR load in a fridge, is that fridge now not allowed to carry foodstuffs?
Dangerous goods can be carried together with foodstuffs in a fridge or otherwise, but there are segregation (=separation) rules which may apply depending on exact circumstances. Bear in mind that the dangerous goods and the foodstuffs will all be in a packaged form.
Fuzrat:
Bit like Tascc rules if a forbidden/excluded load is carried the tipper cant be used for wheat.
I can’t really comment on TASCC, but my guess is that their rules exist separately because the tipper is the containment system (= loose loaded, so no packaging) for the goods being carried and there’s a wish to avoid any possible cross-contamination into the human food chain much like SCOPA.
Fuzrat:
Thanks guys, all you think of being inside a fridge trailer is food and flowers, never even crossed my mind that other stuff, especially ADR would need a fridge.
Another one (probably for Dave) if you carry an ADR load in a fridge, is that fridge now not allowed to carry foodstuffs?
Dangerous goods can be carried together with foodstuffs in a fridge or otherwise, but there are segregation (=separation) rules which may apply depending on exact circumstances. Bear in mind that the dangerous goods and the foodstuffs will all be in a packaged form.
Fuzrat:
Bit like Tascc rules if a forbidden/excluded load is carried the tipper cant be used for wheat.
I can’t really comment on TASCC, but my guess is that their rules exist separately because the tipper is the containment system (= loose loaded, so no packaging) for the goods being carried and there’s a wish to avoid any possible cross-contamination into the human food chain much like SCOPA.
And we’re getting close to an older thread about hazardous loads in food tankers.
Franglais:
.
As an aside some fridges I’ve seen in the past (mainly Spanish) do have vents front and rear. I guess that’s for ambient fruits?
.
One thing they are super good for is drying a just washed trailer out. And another top tip as still drivers don’t know it- when you’ve washed fridge out and want to dry floor, some companies won’t load a wet floor, put fridge on 0°c constant. Too many drivers put it on +30°c, understandably but that just creates dampness. Cold air I’d usually dry
+15 at this time of year is standard for Poinsettias. They need this warm temperature, in Winter, to stay red or they start to turn green and nobody wants green ones.
Truckerian99:
+15 at this time of year is standard for Poinsettias. They need this warm temperature, in Winter, to stay red or they start to turn green and nobody wants green ones.
Fuzrat:
Interesting, didn’t realise there was that much to dragging a fridge around, Just thought they made a bloody great racket I am well and truly informed
this is why fridge draggers are legends and at the very top of the food chain - our knowledge keeps you from a really bad dose of food poisoning . Have you not watched that episode of Eddie Stobart trucks and trailers ■■
Gods and Heros we are .
Fuzrat:
Interesting, didn’t realise there was that much to dragging a fridge around, Just thought they made a bloody great racket I am well and truly informed
this is why fridge draggers are legends and at the very top of the food chain - our knowledge keeps you from a really bad dose of food poisoning . Have you not watched that episode of Eddie Stobart trucks and trailers ■■
Gods and Heros we are .
I bow down to the obvious superiority of the fridge dragging heros, an engineer of such refrigeration units must be a hero and deity indeed. Where oh where is the one great refrigeration overlord when you least need him I’ll stick to dragging my ambient supermarket curtains for a while yet, I am so not worthy of wearing the Stobart colours
Bear in mind that the dangerous goods and the foodstuffs will all be in a packaged form.
