Reefer vs Dry Van: which trailer for European freight?
Reefer vs dry van: reefers keep cargo temperature-controlled under EU ATP rules, while dry vans move ambient cargo more cheaply and quickly.
Logifie Team
Logistics Technology Experts
A reefer (refrigerated) trailer keeps cargo at a set temperature using an active cooling unit, required for perishables such as food and pharmaceuticals under the ATP Agreement, while a dry van is an uninsulated box trailer for ambient-temperature general cargo; reefers cost more to run but reach markets a dry van cannot legally serve.
What is the difference between a reefer trailer and a dry van?
A dry van is a standard box trailer with no insulation or active climate control, built to move palletised general cargo such as furniture, electronics, or packaged non-perishable goods at ambient temperature. A reefer trailer adds insulated walls and a diesel or electric-standby refrigeration unit that holds a set point, often from around minus twenty degrees Celsius for frozen goods up to plus twenty five degrees Celsius for some pharmaceuticals, and logs that temperature for compliance checks. Matching the right equipment to each load is a planning problem as much as a fleet problem; temperature-aware load planning through a TMS helps dispatchers avoid assigning a dry van to a shipment that legally needs refrigeration.
When do EU rules require a refrigerated trailer instead of a dry van?
European and international rules make the reefer-or-dry-van choice a legal question, not only a commercial one, whenever cargo is perishable. The ATP Agreement , the UN treaty most European states apply to cross-border perishable transport, defines equipment classes such as insulated and mechanically refrigerated bodies and sets the temperature each class must maintain for products like frozen meat, dairy, or fresh produce. Once cargo falls under ATP or under Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 , which requires an unbroken cold chain from loading to delivery, a dry van is not a legal option regardless of cost. Carriers proving compliance on request typically rely on continuous location and temperature tracking rather than paper logs alone.
How much more does it cost to run a reefer trailer than a dry van in Europe?
A reefer trailer generally costs more to buy, fuel, and maintain than a dry van, because its refrigeration unit burns its own diesel or draws electric standby power independent of the tractor engine. Temperature-sensitive freight is a meaningful, durable slice of EU road freight demand: food, beverages, and tobacco accounted for 16.7 percent of tonne-kilometres moved on EU roads in 2024, the largest share of any goods group, and 12.2 percent of tonnes carried, according to Eurostat , which keeps reefer capacity in steady demand despite the higher cost. Carriers adding reefer trailers to their fleet can register that capacity for shippers sourcing temperature-controlled lanes.
| Dry Van | Reefer Trailer | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical cargo | Ambient-stable general goods, packaged non-perishables | Frozen and chilled food, pharmaceuticals, other perishables |
| EU regulatory basis | General road freight rules only | ATP Agreement equipment classes; Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 cold-chain obligations |
| Relative running cost | Lower fuel, purchase, and maintenance cost | Higher, due to the refrigeration unit's own fuel and servicing needs |
| Loading/unloading speed | Faster; no temperature consequence from open doors | Slower; pre-cooling and shorter door-open time protect the set point |
Frequently asked questions
What is the ATP Agreement and does it apply to all EU cold-chain freight?
The ATP Agreement is a United Nations treaty setting equipment and temperature standards for international carriage of perishable foodstuffs, applied by most European states to qualifying cross-border loads such as frozen and chilled food. Purely domestic cold-chain transport instead falls under national rules built on Regulation (EC) No 852/2004, so the exact standard depends on whether the load crosses a border.
Can a dry van carry food that is not temperature-sensitive?
Yes. Ambient-stable food such as canned goods, dry pasta, bottled water, or packaged snacks can legally move in a dry van because it does not require an unbroken cold chain under EU food-hygiene rules. Only food and pharmaceutical products that need a controlled temperature range fall under ATP or cold-chain hygiene obligations.
Are reefer trailers slower to load and unload than dry vans?
Generally yes. Reefer trailers hold temperature better when door-open time is short, so many depots pre-cool the trailer, load in smaller batches, and close doors between pallet drops, adding time compared with a dry van that can sit open at a dock without consequence.
Is a reefer trailer heavier, and does that cut into payload capacity?
Yes. The insulated walls, floor, and refrigeration unit typically add several hundred kilograms to a reefer trailer's unladen weight compared with a dry van, cutting directly into usable payload within the same gross vehicle weight limit. Shippers moving dense, heavy cold-chain goods should factor this into load planning.
Request a quote covering reefer or dry van capacity and match the right trailer to the cargo before it reaches the dock.
