Refrigerated vans and rail cars keep perishable items fresh during transportation. They are used for food, flowers, and medicines. Refrigerated vans can be modified or rented, and some companies share resources. Badges and vents indicate refrigeration, and alarms alert engineers to any issues.
The term “refrigerated van” can refer to a van equipped with refrigeration equipment or to a special type of rail car. Both keep perishable items at a controlled temperature for the duration of a trip to make sure they stay fresh. This can include food, flowers, medicines and other goods that cannot be transported at room temperature or in hot conditions like those found in many regions of the world during the summer months. Numerous companies make refrigerated vans and also offer modifications to existing vehicles or wagons into refrigerated units.
In the case of a railway carriage, the concept is almost as old as the railways themselves. Shippers originally packed blocks of ice with perishable items in a refrigerated car to ensure that those items survived transportation. The development of refrigeration systems led to the creation of refrigerated vans to move perishable products. Their numbers are dwindling as a result of an increasing reliance on planes and trucks to move goods, but it is still possible to ship goods in a refrigerated wagon.
Badges on the side of the train car will indicate that it is refrigerated and it is often possible to see vents from the cooling equipment. Some companies paint their refrigerated vans white to reflect heat and reduce the load on the cooling system. The cooling system works independently, even when the train is not moving, to ensure that the temperature in the refrigerated van remains constant. If it fails, it will trigger an alarm to alert engineers on the train to the problem.
A refrigerated van that drives on the highway can be useful for caterers, florists, and other businesses that need to transport goods in a cold environment. To maintain safety, food, including meals and grocery deliveries, must be kept at a constant, cool temperature. Especially in hot climates where a truck may be making multiple stops, driving in traffic, or traveling long distances, cooling is critical to keeping goods in good condition. The flowers are also transported in this way to prevent wilting; they can be stored in the on-site refrigerated van and brought out at the last minute to keep them looking fresh.
Modified refrigerated vans are often available secondhand for businesses that can’t afford a new unit. It is also possible to rent vans in case a company only needs them periodically. Other companies may pool resources to share a refrigerated van with partner companies.
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