What Are the Standard Reefer Trailer Capacity and Dimensions?
January 16th, 2025
Transporting temperature-sensitive materials is a challenge for any trucking operator. Not only are you responsible for determining your operational range and reefer fuel requirements, but you also need to know how much you can safely transport inside a reefer trailer.
Knowing the standard reefer trailer capacity and dimensions is crucial when planning for hauling cold materials, including food and medicines. Here you’ll find everything you need to know about reefer trailer dimensions for the most common trailers available.
How Long Are Reefer Trailers?
The maximum length of a standard reefer trailer is between 48 feet and 53 feet, but most are 53 feet long. While shorter trailers, like pup reefers, are easier to transport and navigate in urban settings and use less reefer fuel, longer trailers are capable of handling more cargo from point to point.
How Tall Are Reefer Trailers?
As an enclosed trailer, the total height of a reefer trailer does not exceed 13.5 feet. This ensures that a reefer trailer does not become an oversized load, keeping you compliant with both Federal Highway Administration and state regulations for over-the-road commercial transportation.
How Wide Are Reefer Trailers?
Standard reefer trailers are usually 8.5 feet wide, with doors that create a sealed enclosure for your temperature-controlled goods. However, the inside of a reefer trailer is slightly more narrow, at 8 feet and 1.5 inches. This is due to the insulation built into the trailer, including four inches in the front wall, three inches in the rear doors, and two inches in the inside walls.
What Is the Tare Weight of Reefer Trailers?
Including tires and wheels, the tare weight of a standard reefer trailer is 12,455 pounds. This does not include the additional 2,000 pounds for the reefer cooling unit at the front of the trailer. Additional weight, including the amount of reefer fuel loaded onto the unit, could affect your total tare weight before taking on any load.
What Is the Total Capacity of Reefer Trailers?
The standard reefer trailer has an internal volume of around 3,000 cubic feet, with a total payload capacity of 55,000 pounds evenly distributed. With a total gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 65,000 pounds, standard reefer trailers are more than capable of hauling your next temperature-controlled load.
With this in mind, you will need to use these figures to calculate your total GVWR. Your GVWR consists of your truck weight (including driver and fuel weight), the weight of your trailer with reefer fuel and the cooling unit, and your total product weight. In order to avoid fines for being overweight, your total GVWR must be under 80,000 pounds. Some of the ways manufacturers make trailers as lightweight as possible include using aluminum construction for the trailer and switching to lightweight drum or disc brakes.
Get the Right Reefer Trailer with Hale Trailer
When you’re ready to find the right standard reefer trailer for your needs, visit the experts at Hale Trailer Brake & Wheel nearest you. With one call, we can help you find the right new reefer trailer for sale, used reefer trailer for sale, or reefer trailer for rent that will meet your requirements.
Whether it’s one trip or a regular route for your truck, we’ll make sure you’re fully satisfied with your next business investment. And with 15 locations across the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, South, and Midwest, you’re never too far away from a Hale Trailer for regular maintenance and repairs.
Trust the team at Hale Trailer to keep you and your reefer trailer on the road, providing a strong return on investment for years to come. Find your nearest location on our website.
All the information on this website – https://www.haletrailer.com – is published in good faith and for general information purposes only. Hale Trailer Brake and Wheel does not make any warranties about the completeness, reliability and accuracy of this information. Any action you take upon the information you find on this website, is strictly at your own risk. Hale Trailer Brake and Wheel will not be liable for any losses and/or damages in connection with the use of our website.