Often called reefer trucks, refrigerated trucks are an essential for a business that needs to transport perishable goods. This includes food, pharmaceuticals, floral arrangements and beverages. Refrigerated trucks allow business to maintain temperature controlled environments even outside of the business premises and this ensures that products remain fresh and safe on their arrival.
In a country with a varying temperature, such as Australia, refrigerated trucks have an important role in perishable transport. If you are currently in Australia and are wondering about the costs involved in renting or buying your own refrigerated truck.
We have a guide here for you that will break down the expenses, the factors that affect the pricing, and the benefits of opting for a refrigerated vehicle over a standard truck.
Why choose a refrigerated truck?
There are plenty of unique benefits to renting a refrigerator truck, including temperature control and preservation of the peripheral items you are transporting. This can be critical for a business, depending on its industry.
Unlike a standard truck, which may expose goods to fluctuating temperatures or weather types, refrigerated trucks use cooling systems that maintain set temperatures for the whole journey. For a company that relies on safe and efficient delivery of temperature sensitive goods, a refrigerated truck is invaluable. You want to protect your product from spoilage and extend the product lifespan before it gets to your customers.
Refrigerated trucks can do this while also helping you to meet regulatory compliance. These features alone make a refrigerated truck a wise investment or rental option for Australian businesses that need a reliable cold chain.
What factors affect the cost of renting a refrigerated truck?
There are several factors that contribute to the cost of hiring a refrigerated truck. While prices vary depending on your location and your vehicle specification, some of the common factors include the following:
- Truck size. The size of the truck that you require will influence the cost significantly. Smaller trucks will obviously cost less to hire than larger trucks.
- Hire duration. A short term refrigerated truck rental, such as a daily or weekly hire, tends to have higher rates compared to a longer term contract. Sometimes a monthly rental can be more cost effective per day, making it more ideal for your business along with ongoing delivery costs.
- The temperatures you require. Some refrigerated trucks can maintain an ultra low temperature for specific goods. Some operate at more moderate levels. The colder the temperature necessary, the more energy intensive the cooling system and this can impact the cost of the rental.
- Distance. It’s not just the truck type that costs money, but the fuel expenses that you have to consider play a large role in overall costs if long distance travel is involved. This is especially true of refrigerated trucks, which tend to consume more fuel due to the cooling unit.
Typical costs of renting a refrigerated truck in Australia
Rental costs for a refrigerated truck vary widely depending on the factors that we’ve outlined above, but a general guide to what you may expect is as follows.
- A small refrigerated van of 3-4 cubic metres often starts with a rate of approximately $150 per day. Weekly rentals sit between $800 and $900.
- A medium-sized refrigerated truck of 6 to 8 pallets tends to begin with a daily rate between $200 – $300 a day, with weekly rentals falling around $1000 to $1500.
- A large refrigerated truck, which holds 10 to 14 pallets, is often priced between $300 and $500 per day. Weekly rates tend to begin between $1500 to $2500 or more, depending on the specifications, the size and the distance.
Businesses can often negotiate for better and more affordable rates on a monthly basis, especially if there’s a need for consistent and long term use. This varies from company to company, but committing to a monthly rental can sometimes reduce your daily costs by up to 20%.
If you’re interested in renting a refrigerated truck, it’s advisable to contact companies like Eurocold, which operate across Australia, to compare rates and services in your specific area.
The benefits of renting over buying a refrigerated truck
Often, renting a refrigerated truck can be advantageous compared to buying one. This is especially the case for a business that is in need of flexibility or those who are not ready to invest heavily in ownership.
Buying a refrigerated truck can cost anywhere from $40,000 for a smaller vehicle to output of $150,000 for a larger model. Renting offers access to these without that substantial initial investment, especially if you’re in the early days of your business.
Rental companies will often handle vehicle maintenance, repairs, and insurance too, which reduces the burden on the hirer. This is especially beneficial for a business looking to avoid any downtime and unexpected expenses.
The other consideration that you should make is that renting your own refrigerated truck is more flexible and you can adjust vehicle sizes or features depending on your current demand. With rental services, you also have the option of accessing the latest models with advanced cooling technology. This gives you the chance to have an energy efficient vehicle that meets regulatory compliance without needing to upgrade to a purchased one.
What does it cost to buy a refrigerated truck in Australia?
For a business with ongoing delivery needs, buying a refrigerated truck may be cost effective in the long run.Here are some of the comparison prices when it comes to buying instead of renting.
- A smaller, refrigerated van usually starts at around $40,000 to $60,000 for a smaller model that is suitable for urban deliveries.
- A medium refrigerated truck can often go for between $80,000 and $120,000. It all depends on the features you’d use and the brand.
- A larger refrigerated truck with extensive cooling capacity can range from $120,000 to $150,000 or more.
These are not the only costs that you have to consider when buying. You may have to consider maintenance, insurance and registration fees as well. You should also account for potential repair costs because the cooling systems that keep your products cold are sophisticated and need professional servicing from time to time.
How to choose the right refrigerated truck rental company
When it comes to choosing the right refrigerated truck rental company, you need to choose a reputable company that is reliable for their service and fair pricing. You can do this by checking the reviews and the reputation for previous customers and understand what’s included in the quote. The rental quote should include the necessary costs like maintenance, 24/7 roadside assistance, and insurance.
Renting a refrigerated truck offers you the advantage of flexibility, reduced upfront costs and maintenance free services. This makes it the ideal choice for seasonal or short term needs.