Common Refrigerated Trailer Issues to Look Out For

Refrigerated trucks and trailers are essential to the supply chain, helping deliver everything from food to pharmaceuticals—but they’re also equipped with complicated machinery that has to function perfectly to avoid issues. The best way to avoid malfunctions and other issues is to keep your fleet on a strict maintenance and repair schedule, whether you do it in-house or work with a refrigerated truck repair shop in Memphis, TN.

Here are the most common refrigerated trailer issues you should watch out for:

• Damaged door seals: Sealing in the cool refrigerated air is key to keeping your products at the correct temperature. If your door seals are old, damaged or falling off, they won’t prevent the heat transfer required to maintain the proper temperature. This can also occur if the door hinges are broken—it can put unnecessary stress on your seals.
• Broken belts or hoses: Belts and hoses should always be checked in your pre-trip inspections—broken belts can halt the refrigeration or cause the machinery to work overtime, while damaged hoses will hinder performance and let hot air in.
• Inaccurate calibration: This is one of the hardest conditions to spot without taking your truck in for service. Inaccurate calibration will cause your truck to cool too quickly or too slowly.
• Malfunctioning sensors: This is another hard-to-spot issue, so make sure your calibration is checked every time you get your fleet serviced. Malfunctioning sensors can affect your temperature reading—the temperature will register improperly and give you the wrong number on the display. It may appear that your system is operating properly, yet the ambient temperature is actually much different.
• Condenser problems: Your condenser is key for refrigeration, so when the coils are damaged or components fail, you’ll need to get that repaired immediately.
• Blocked bulkheads: Keeping the bulkheads clear and air passages clean will ensure that the refrigerated air flows freely around the refrigeration compartment. You should occasionally remove the forward bulkhead and check to make sure everything is in good working order.
• Broken air chute: Air chutes can be damaged when you’re loading products in and out of the truck, which results in uneven airflow. In turn, this will damage your product—especially fresh produce. Always check your air chutes to make sure they’re free of damage before setting off on a long trip.
• Leaking fluid: Finally, look for leaks before and after long trips. Fluid leaks are one of the most common issues for refrigerated trucks and trailers, and can include leaks of coolant, engine oil and more. If you see any leaks coming from your trailer, make sure to take it in for service as soon as possible.

Keeping your refrigerated trucks serviced on a regular basis is the best way to ensure safe, prompt delivery of your goods. Work with a reliable refrigerated truck repair shop in Memphis, TN like United Diesel Power to keep your fleet running well. Reach out to us today to schedule service or learn more about our fleet maintenance options.

Categorised in: Tractor Trailer Repair

This post was written by Writer