There’s no getting around it: fuel is still, and will always be, a major running cost when you’re operating refrigerated trucks. That means that when running your operation, it’s not only the engine you need to think about but also the energy needed to maintain the right conditions for the load. Small inefficiencies across the vehicle and refrigeration system will quickly start adding up.
The good news is that there are plenty of practical ways to reduce fridge truck fuel costs without compromising your entire cold chain fleet. And while how you drive certainly still matters, better refrigerated truck fuel efficiency starts with looking at the whole operation and remembering the following tips and tricks you can use to keep fuel and other running costs to a minimum.
Let’s take a quick look at some of the easiest cold chain fuel-saving tips to remember so you get the best out of your fleet:
1. Don’t make the refrigeration unit work harder than it needs to
Let’s start with the easiest thing to check, which is how you’re actually using your refrigeration equipment. That means always making sure you’re running at the correct set point for the load instead of automatically setting temperatures lower than required. And if your operating procedures call for pre-cooling, make sure to give the refrigerated body enough time to reach the required conditions before loading, too.
The product itself matters here, too – refrigeration equipment is there to maintain the required transport conditions, so your loading and temperature procedures should be designed around the product you’re actually carrying. Getting those basics right before setting off means that the system won’t be asked to compensate unnecessarily throughout the journey.
2. Keep the doors closed whenever you can
It’s probably already obvious to anyone who works with cold chain trucks that conditioned air escapes and warmer ambient air can enter every time you open the doors. But it’s important to still reiterate that the longer the doors are open, the more work your refrigeration system may have to do to restore the required conditions.
Opening doors is, obviously, unavoidable when you’re making deliveries – but the opportunity should then be in reducing how long they need to stay open. So for multi-drop routes, think about your loading order before leaving the depot. Making frequently accessed freight easier to reach can mean less time searching through the load at each stop and, in turn, less time standing there with the doors wide open.
3. Stay on top of the tyres and all maintenance
Good maintenance isn’t only about reliability but can also affect how efficiently your refrigerated truck operates. That’s why correct tyre pressures matter, as does keeping the vehicle properly serviced. And the refrigerated side deserves the same attention, too: the unit itself, body, doors, and seals all need to be doing their jobs properly.
A damaged or poorly fitting door seal, for example, can make it harder to maintain conditions inside the body. Likewise, refrigeration equipment that isn’t performing as intended may be working harder than it should.
If your fuel use has started creeping upwards without an obvious operational reason, it may be worth looking at the condition of the truck and refrigeration equipment rather than assuming the problem is entirely on the road.
4. Plan the route around more than kilometres
The shortest route on a map isn’t always the most efficient route for a refrigerated delivery – traffic, unnecessary idling, delivery order, and repeated stops can all influence fuel use. For multi-drop operations, planning an efficient sequence can also reduce backtracking and help minimise unnecessary door-open time.
Fleet managers should think about vehicle allocation, too. As in, if you’re routinely sending a larger refrigerated truck than a particular route actually requires, you may be moving more vehicle and capacity than you need. And matching the truck to the workload can be just as important as shaving a few kilometres from the route.
5. Drive efficiently… but look beyond just the driver
Yes, your driving style really does make a difference.
That means harsh accelerations, unnecessary idling, excessive speed, or repeated heavy braking can all work against fuel efficiency a lot more than you might think they do. Anticipating traffic conditions and driving smoothly can help keep consumption under better control.
But driver behaviour is only one part of refrigerated truck fuel efficiency, because if routes are inefficient, vehicle allocation is poor, maintenance is overdue, or the refrigeration system is being made to work unnecessarily hard, then telling drivers to use less fuel isn’t going to address the bigger issue. The best results come from looking at how all of those factors work together and planning for the right way to tackle the expected conditions of any route, as well as the best and smoothest way to drive it.
Small fuel savings can make a big difference
There isn’t one single change that’s suddenly going to transform the running cost of a fridge truck. Instead, look for noticeable patterns in where fuel is being used and where efficiency might be slipping. For a larger fleet especially, just a few small improvements will end up becoming far more significant when they’re repeated across multiple vehicles, routes, and all those delivery kilometres that add up.
And some of those improvements start well before the truck leaves the depot. Scully RSV understands the complete refrigerated vehicle, with servicing, repairs, preventative maintenance, and specialised refrigerated fleet support to help keep your equipment operating as it should.
So, if you’re trying to reduce fridge truck fuel costs, don’t just look at the fuel gauge: keeping the truck and its refrigeration equipment in good working order gives the people behind the wheel a much better starting point for running efficiently.
