How to Find an Affordable Reefer Trailer
The United States is home to an enormous manufacturing sector, as well as a large farming sector, but all those goods need to be transported from factories and warehouses somehow. That is where the transportation industry comes in, and large companies offer jets to make fast deliveries and ships that can export goods around the world. Meanwhile, the many small carrier companies in operation today cannot afford jets, freight trains, or cargo ships, but they can afford trucks. Countless semi trucks are in operation delivering goods across the American road network, and many shipper clients can easily afford to hire their services. And while some truck trailers are general-purpose, some are specialized, such as reefer trailers. Just what is a reefer trailer, anyway, and how can a carrier company owner find new reefer trailers for sale at a good price? In some cases, new reefer trailers for sale are the best option, but budget-oriented buyers might instead opt for gently used reefer trailers. This is also a fine idea.
About Reefers
Put simply, a reefer truck trailer is a semi trailer with air conditioning units installed on it to chill the interior, and these trailers also boast insulated walls to help regulate that temperature. Often, these refrigerated trailers are used to transport perishable food items, or certain medical supplies. Today’s reefer units vary in size, ranging from 28 to 53 feet long, and the largest may be up to 13.5 feet tall and weigh as much as 44,000 pounds. These reefer trailers can generate whatever temperature the cargo requires, within a range of 70 degrees to -20 degrees Fahrenheit.
The market for reefer trailers is a large one, and it is still growing. The United States alone is home to 500,000 such units, and more orders are placed every year. In January 2018, for a recent example, 40,000 refrigeration trailers were ordered wholesale. And around the world, experts say, the market will grow rapidly in the coming years, likely at a CAGR of 4.8% or so from 2016 to 2022. The reefer trailer market may reach a height of $7.76 billion in value in the year 2022. That is an increase of nearly $2 billion compared to 2015’s figures.
Most often, these reefers are used to transport delicate medical goods or perishable groceries, which would suffer in regular truck bays. In fact, such items are also stored in freezer and cooler units in warehouses, until they are loaded into reefer trailers and hauled away. Once a reefer truck arrives at a grocery store’s dock, the staff there will unload the cold items and place them into on-site freezers. Dry goods will arrive in conventional truck trailers.
Finding Used or New Reefer Trailers For Sale
A truck carrier company’s owner may choose to find used or new reefer trailers for sale on the wholesale market, so that they can expand their list of clients to grocery stores. To find such reefers, the company owner can look online and find units for sale in their area. New units will be the most expensive, but they are in excellent condition and come with factory warranties, and they may also come with the newest features and construction quality standards. Gently used trailers may be bought at a discount price from secondary sellers, though buyers are advised to look over those used units first. They can check a reefer trailer for wear and tear on its wheels and axles, brakes and brake lights, and the refrigeration units themselves.
How to finance these reefer trailers? A truck carrier company’s owner may turn to specialized truck lenders, since big banks may be unlikely to approve a loan for this. Those specialized lenders are much more lenient, though they will look into a client’s financial history and check for red flags, such as a history of delinquent loan payments or a previous bankruptcy. Even borrowers with mediocre or poor credit may get a trailer loan approved, though the loan may be modest and come with a high interest rate. With good credit, a lender may get as much as 100% of the trailer’s value in a loan, and at a low interest rate. Either way, the trailer will act as collateral, making this a secured loan.
