In 2024, the statistics released by LTA for total commercial vehicle registrations showed that refrigerated vehicles made up only 4.18% of the total of 143,209 [Source : LTA]. If you are reading this, you are likely about to join a very niche yet important sector serving Singapore’s cold chain industry.
Introduction
Businesses use refrigerated trucks to transport temperature sensitive products from point to point. Â Some examples of products include :
- Frozen and chilled food
- Chemicals
- Certain vaccines
- Electronics like semiconductors
Before diving further, it is important to note that the main function of refrigerated trucks is to maintain the temperature of the product it is carrying, and not to pull down the product temperature.
Common terms used to refer to refrigerated trucks in the industry are :
- Freezer/chiller truck
- Reefer truck
- Cold truck
All the terms refer to trucks fitted with an insulated box and a refrigeration system.
What options are available for cold chain transport?
In Singapore, you can choose to buy either a refrigerated truck or refrigerated van to transport your goods.Â
Due to its limited cargo space, a refrigerated van is only suitable for small volume transportation. However, if this sounds perfect for you, read our article 5 reasons to buy a 10ft cabin height refrigerated truck over a van before you make a decision.
4 things to consider when buying a refrigerated truck
Buying a new refrigerated truck is a big investment which warrants careful thinking. For example, knowing your cargo volume and cargo temperature would enable you not to overspec your box and system. Here, we’ve put together this list of items to consider when making your purchase.
Deciding on the size of box
In addition to your budget, these 2 other factors will affect your box sizing.
The make and model of the truck you purchased
LTA has specific restrictions on the dimension limits for the refrigerated box that must be followed.
Your cargo volume and cargo platform
This looks at how much cargo you carry per trip. You may carry them in boxes, baskets, rollcages or pallets. What are their dimensions? It is helpful to provide your box manufacturer with this info in order for them to design the size of the box.Â
At Hwee Jan, we have the ability to customize the box to meet your exact specification.
Deciding on the refrigeration systemÂ
The next thing you should know is the temperature your product requires. Generally, the larger the box, the more powerful the system required. A more powerful system helps to :
- precool the container faster before deliveries
- overcome heat gain quicker when there are frequent door openings during unloading.
There is no need to install the most powerful systems on trucks carrying products with less sensitive temperature requirements like chilled beverages and vegetables, for example.
Browse our product range to discover the full range of truck refrigeration systems we offer.
Quality and specifications of material
If you plan to use your refrigerated truck throughout its 10 year COE lifespan, it is worthwhile considering the following.
Box materials
Choose Extruded polysterene foam (XPS) when possible as the density of this foam type provides excellent mechanical and insulation strength. High mechanical strength is crucial because it provides resistance to bending under heavy load. This type of foam also provides extremely low water absorption.
Hwee Jan’s insulated box is made of high grade XPS which significantly contributes to maximum operation efficiency and longevity.
Water absorption increases the weight of the box over time, which consumes more diesel. It also affects temperature pull down speed, because the refrigeration system will cool the water first.
Refrigeration system
Selecting a reliable and reputed refrigeration system brand is also critical to efficient operations and longevity. With less breakdowns, less needs to be spent on repairs and more time can be spent on deliveries.
With decades of experience in truck refrigeration and Japanese engineering reliability, Mitsubishi truck refrigeration systems is the ideal partner for your transportation.
Food Hygiene
For added peace of mind, look for panels which carry hygiene certifications. This builds trust and assurance to your end user as well. For example, Hwee Jan’s panels are HACCP certified and USDA/FSIS approved.
Servicing the refrigerated truck : What to know
In order to keep the freezer truck running in optimal condition, regular servicing is a must. The most common drawback from infrequent servicing is that the truck refrigeration system will encounter slow temperature pull down, or failure to achieve the set temperature.
The systems servicing intervals will depend on the usage intensity. Generally, the higher number of hours used a day, the more frequent you should go for servicing.
At Hwee Jan, we recommend our systems be serviced once a year at minimum. During servicing, some of the jobs we perform include :
- Tightening the compressor belt
- Tightening the compressor bearing
- Tightening the idler bearing
- Checking of fan speed
- Washing the condenser
- Conducting temperature testing
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For complete peace of mind, we recommend purchasing our Comprehensive Maintenance Package. Contact us to enquire.
Moving to the future : Electric vehicles
In line with Singapore’s Green Plan 2030, ICE (Internal combustion engine) vehicles will be slowly phased out from the roads. As a result, two scenarios have unfolded.
a)you might be incentivized to purchase an electric truck with the available government grants. Fully electric refrigeration systems thus are also available in the market to work specially with such vehicles.
b) During this transition period, you might still be operating your existing diesel truck or planning to buy a new diesel truck, while hoping to adopt sustainable practices.
Do Contact us for solutions for both scenarios or learn more about what we exhibited at FHA 2025.
 Some electric vehicles come with an EPTO (Electric power takeoff), a device that allows conventional direct driven (non-electric) refrigeration systems to operate with electric vehicles. Do check with your truck agent for further details.
