Reefer Truck History

Refrigerated trucks, often referred to as reefer trucks, have revolutionized the transportation of perishable goods. Transporting things like meat and medical supplies without proper refrigeration has become far more viable with the advent of reefer trucks. For more information about reefer trucks and their history, this guide from RWC Group has the answers. 

Before Reefer Trucks

Mechanically refrigerated railcars were one of the earliest methods of transporting perishable goods. These railcars were invented in the 1880s. Though these train cars were effective, they proved expensive to operate and maintain. They were eventually replaced by specialized van trucks cooled by massive blocks of ice. A system of fans inside the truck circulated the cold air in order to keep all of the goods below a certain temperature. This system, while better than the railcars, wasn’t without its share of problems. Not only was precisely setting the temperature inside the truck next to impossible, but the blocks of ice themselves were an inconvenience. They took up a lot of space and weight that could otherwise be used for more goods. They also needed to be replaced every 200-300 miles. These ice cooled trucks weren’t much more efficient than the railcars they were replacing. 

The Invention of the First Reefer Trucks

The very first reefer truck was invented in 1925. These early mechanically refrigerated trucks quickly proved themselves to be far more efficient than the railcars or ice-cooled trucks. They were so successful that by 1930 they were being used to transport even the most temperature-sensitive goods, such as ice cream. Specialized reefer truck variants such as milk trucks and meat trucks were developed soon after. Today, reefer trucks are by far the most popular and common way to transport refrigerated goods. 

Shop reefer trucks at RWC Group. We operate dealerships in Arizona, Alaska, California, Oregon, and Washington. We also offer financing, trade-ins, promotions, servicing, parts, and mobile servicing. We hope to see you soon!