Fuel Cards / Products
Reefer Fuel in trucking
Plain-English explanation
Reefer fuel is diesel purchased specifically to run the refrigeration unit (reefer unit) on a refrigerated trailer. The reefer unit has its own independent diesel engine and fuel tank, separate from the tractor's main fuel system. It burns diesel fuel continuously or cyclically to maintain the trailer's set temperature regardless of whether the tractor's engine is running. Fueling logistics for reefer equipment: - Reefer fuel tanks hold 30-100 gallons depending on the unit and trailer size - Reefer fuel consumption runs roughly 0.5-1.5 gallons per hour depending on mode (continuous vs. cycle-sentry), ambient temperature, and how often the trailer door is opened - Most major truck stops have separate reefer fuel pumps, sometimes at different locations than the main truck diesel pumps; some drivers fuel the reefer from the same pump as the tractor if both use the same hose type For fuel card purposes, reefer fuel is often tracked separately and may have different discount rates or require specific authorization codes. Carriers with commercial fuel cards should confirm reefer fuel is included in the authorized purchase list -- some cards restrict to tractor diesel only. For IFTA reporting, reefer fuel is generally excluded from IFTA calculations because IFTA applies only to fuel used to propel the vehicle. A carrier should verify their specific state's IFTA rules, but standard guidance is that reefer fuel does not get reported as taxable miles fuel. A reefer unit that runs out of fuel mid-transit can lose temperature control and cause spoilage of the entire load. Checking reefer fuel level at pickup is a standard pre-departure check for reefer drivers.
Fuel card language should be checked against the pump receipt, card controls, discount method, network location, and statement. The advertised discount is not the whole calculation.
Why it matters in trucking
Reefer fuel is a real operating cost that does not appear in tractor fuel records. Carriers who fail to track reefer fuel consumption separately underestimate their per-mile operating cost on refrigerated freight. On a 1,000-mile run in summer heat, a reefer unit running continuously may burn 50-75 gallons of diesel -- a significant cost that belongs in the load's profitability calculation.
Fuel choices add up quickly. A route with a cheaper network price can still be the wrong call if it burns time, adds empty miles, or conflicts with card controls.
Example in real use
A carrier prices a 2-day reefer load at $3.20/mile. They calculate tractor fuel at 6.5 mpg and $3.85 diesel = $0.59/mile. But they forget the reefer unit: at 1.2 gallons/hour continuous over 48 hours of transit x $3.85 = $221. That reefer fuel cost equates to roughly $0.22/mile on a 1,000-mile load, bringing total fuel to $0.81/mile instead of $0.59/mile -- a meaningful difference in the load's net.
Where it shows up
Reefer fuel shows up before temperature-controlled pickup and during any long reefer run.
What to check first
- Reefer tank level before loading.
- Set point and run mode.
- Fuel plan for overnight or hot-weather operation.
Common mistakes or confusion
- Not checking reefer fuel level at pickup -- running out of reefer fuel mid-transit is a cargo claim waiting to happen; the cost of topping up before departure is far less than a spoilage claim.
- Excluding reefer fuel from load profitability calculations -- reefer operations carry an additional fuel cost that dry van operations do not; pricing reefer loads on dry van fuel cost assumptions underestimates the true variable cost.
- Fueling the reefer from the tractor fuel tank on a card that tracks fuel by vehicle -- if the reefer fuel goes on the tractor card, MPG records become inaccurate and the reefer fuel cost is hidden in tractor fuel spend.
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Sources and last updated
Last updated: 2026-05-09