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Reefer Fuel Cost Calculator — Refrigerated Trailer Total Fuel Cost

Calculate total fuel cost for refrigerated trailer shipments, including both truck fuel and reefer unit consumption. Essential for reefer carrier pricing and owner-operator cost models.

Quick answer: Reefer units burn 0.5–1.0 gallon/hour at operating temp. A 24-hour run adds 12–24 gallons of diesel on top of truck fuel. At $3.90/gal that's $47–$94 extra per day just for the reefer.

🧊 Reefer Fuel Cost Calculator

Total hours reefer unit runs (incl. pre-cool)
Typical: 0.5–0.9 GPH. Colder = more fuel.
Total Fuel Cost
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Truck Fuel
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Reefer Unit Fuel
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How to Use This Calculator

  1. Enter trip miles — total loaded miles from pickup to delivery.
  2. Enter reefer run hours — include pre-cooling time before loading (typically 2–4 hours) plus trip duration.
  3. Set reefer GPH — Thermo King and Carrier reefer units average 0.5–0.9 GPH. Colder setpoints use more fuel.
  4. Select temperature setpoint — colder setpoints apply a consumption multiplier.

Worked Example

An 800-mile reefer run at 6.0 MPG, 18 hours reefer run at 0.65 GPH, 0°F frozen, $3.95/gal diesel.

  1. Truck fuel: 800 ÷ 6.0 = 133.3 gal × $3.95 = $526.67
  2. Reefer fuel (0°F ×1.3): 18 × 0.845 GPH = 15.2 gal × $3.95 = $60.04
  3. Total: $586.71 — reefer adds 11.4%

Reefer carriers must price this additional fuel cost into every load. A standard van load at the same mileage would cost $526.67 — reefer costs $60 more. This is why reefer rates run $0.40–$0.60/mile above dry van.

Frequently Asked Questions

Modern Thermo King and Carrier reefer units use 0.5–0.9 gallons per hour at moderate temperatures (34°F produce). Deep frozen loads (-10°F) can use 0.8–1.2 GPH. Newer units with eco-mode and improved insulation use less. Pre-cooling an empty trailer from ambient to setpoint uses 1–2 gallons.

Most reefer units (Thermo King, Carrier) have their own separate diesel tank and engine — they do not draw from the truck's main fuel tank. The reefer tank typically holds 50–100 gallons. Some newer units use electric standby when connected to shore power at a dock.

Continuous mode runs the reefer compressor constantly to maintain exact temperature — uses more fuel. Cycle-sentry (start-stop) mode cycles the unit on and off to maintain temperature within a range — uses 15–25% less fuel. Fresh produce typically requires continuous mode; dry frozen goods can tolerate cycle-sentry.