Reefer Cost Per Mile

What does a reefer cost per mile in 2026?

Start with the planning range, then replace it with your own result. The tractor math matches dry van. The trailer adds four lines dry van never sees.

That $2.48 sits inside the benchmark range of $2.30 to $3.05. The full side by side with dry van is in reefer vs dry van. Run your own trailer payment and reefer hours through the cost per mile calculator instead of borrowing this example.

How much reefer fuel does the unit burn?

Work it: 30 running hours × 0.7 = 21 gallons. At $6.20 that is $130 on a 1,000 mile trip, or $0.13 per mile for that load. Continuous cool and frozen loads burn more hours than start stop produce. Track reefer gallons separately from tractor gallons at the pump, because mixing them hides a climbing unit. A failing door seal or an overworked unit shows up as extra gallons per trip before it shows up as a repair bill. Add the result to tractor fuel instead of averaging it away.

Do reefer rates cover the extra cost?

Often, but not always. Produce season pays $0.20 to $0.40 more per loaded mile than dry van on the same lane, which covers the $0.19 premium with room left. Off season the spread shrinks while the costs stay. Three terms protect the margin. First, washout $50 to $75 on the rate con, since food grade shippers reject dirty trailers. Second, detention $50 per hour after two free hours, because live produce loads run long. Third, layover $150 to $250 when the receiver pushes to morning. Test every load in the load profit calculator with reefer fuel and washout included, and keep dry van cost per mile beside it so you know when to switch trailers. The wording that gets paid is in the detention guide.

What maintenance does a reefer trailer add?

Budget $0.02 to $0.03 more per mile than dry van for the unit alone: belts, hoses, coolant, and the 1,000 hour service. A pre trip that skips the reefer is not a pre trip. Check set point against the bill, fuel level, belt condition, and alarm codes before you leave the yard. One rejected load over a $400 repair costs more than a year of service intervals. Log unit hours with your ELD notes so the service schedule follows hours, not memory.

By Srikanth M. · Last reviewed October 13, 2026. Planning estimates only, not tax or financial advice. Diesel: EIA weekly prices. Method: sources and methodology. Diesel moves weekly, so re-run your numbers when it does.