Refrigerated Reefer Trucks vs. Walk in Cooler/Freezer Rental: Which is Right for Your Business?
Advantages, main differences, and ideal applications
Whether you’re looking for temporary cold storage for remote locations, emergency equipment repair, or during peak seasons, you’ve most likely come across two popular options: walk in coolers or freezers and refrigerated trucks. Both solutions provide onsite refrigeration, but because they were designed to solve different problems, they each have unique strengths and weaknesses.
In this guide, we’ll compare factors, such as mobility, energy efficiency, accessibility, cost, use cases, and installation requirements to help you find the best solution for your specific needs.
Table of contents
- What is a refrigerated truck rental?
- What are walk in cooler/freezer rentals?
- Key differences between reefers trucks and walk ins
- How to make the best choice for your application
- When walk in cooler/freezer rentals are typically the best choice
- Where refrigerated truck rentals are typically the best choice
- Why walk in cooler and freezer rentals are the best fit for most applications
What is a refrigerated truck rental?
A refrigerated truck, also called a reefer truck, is a vehicle with a built-in refrigeration unit. These trucks were designed to keep perishables at controlled temperatures as they are transported short or long distances in the cold chain between the manufacturer, cold storage facilities, and the customer. Reefer trucks come in various sizes to accommodate a variety of load sizes.
Key features of refrigerated trucks
- Constructed from heavy-duty steel or aluminum for durability
- Designed with cargo doors for bulk pallet loading
- Equipped with specialized power connections that require setup
- Used for long-haul transportation and remote site storage
What are walk in cooler/freezer rentals?
Walk in cooler/freezer rentals are structures placed outside of establishments such as restaurants, food processing plants, medical facilities, or grocery stores to provide temporary cold storage. They may also be found at festivals, events, and other places that require shorter-term usage. Walk ins are optimized for this purpose, sitting at ground level with easy-to-open doors that are designed for easy access.
Key features of walk in coolers/freezers
- Optimized for stationary use
- Positioned at ground level for easy access
- Powered by a simple 220V electrical connection
- Designed for energy efficiency and lower cost of operation
Key differences between reefer trucks and walk ins
Walk in cooler/freezer and refrigerated trucks both offer onsite cold storage, but because they were designed to solve different challenges, they have differences in mobility, energy efficiency, and other factors. Let’s take a look at each of these differences and see what kind of effects each one has.
Mobility
Refrigerated truck rental: Because the refrigeration units are built right into a truck, they’re always ready to move to a new location at a moment’s notice.
Walk in cooler/freezer rental: Most walk-ins are assembled on site and designed to be stationary, but Polar King walk-ins are unique. Built in the factory as solid one-piece structures, they’re designed with fork slots for ease of movement and an optional caster system that allows them to be easily repositioned as your needs change.
Temperature control
Refrigerated truck rental: Reefer truck rentals are ideal for transporting perishables, not storing them. As such, they tend to have lower quality insulation than walk in cooler or freezer rentals. This can cause greater variations in temperature in extreme weather conditions or after frequent door openings.
Walk in coolers/freezers: Walk ins offer precise and reliable temperature control, making them the best choice for businesses storing sensitive perishables.
Accessibility
Refrigerated truck rental: Reefer trucks have cumbersome rear or side cargo doors that add extra steps every time your operators need to open or close the door. And because the trailers are elevated, your operators need to expend more effort climbing ramps and accept a higher risk of falling during access.
Walk in cooler/freezer rental: These ground-level units have easy-open doors that allow operators to walk in and out with minimal effort, reducing risk and labor.
Operation
Refrigerated truck rental: Reefer trucks operate on diesel fuel, which is not only significantly more costly than electricity, but also produces noise and emits toxic exhaust into the local area. Operators also have the added task of having to frequently refill the fuel tank to avoid disrupting refrigeration and losing valuable foods or products.
Walk in cooler/freezer rental: Walk ins operate on cost-effective electricity, allowing them to operate around the clock without disruption.
Installation and setup
Refrigerated truck rental: Reefer truck rentals arrive ready to go but require adequate space for parking and extending the ramp.
Walk in cooler/freezer rental: Some walk in rentals require on-site assembly, but Polar Leasing walk ins arrive fully built and set up quickly. They can be placed on almost any surface and can usually be up and running just a few hours after delivery with just a simple 220V electrical connection.
Energy efficiency and environmental impact
Refrigerated truck rental: Reefer truck rentals are less efficient to operate than walk ins and lower local air quality by emitting toxic fumes and diesel particulate matter.
Walk in cooler/freezer rental: Polar Leasing walk ins feature premium polyisocyanurate rigid board insulation covered in durable fiberglass on both inside and outside. This seamless, one-piece construction keeps air and moisture from penetrating the unit, making Polar Leasing walk ins the most energy-efficient temporary cold storage solution on the market.
Cost
Refrigerated truck rental: To calculate the true cost of reefer truck rentals, add the daily cost of diesel fuel to your daily or weekly rental fee as well as the additional time and labor expense of maintaining fuel levels and accessing the cumbersome cargo doors.
Walk in coolers/freezers: These efficient units are optimized for stationary storage and are more cost-effective because of their lower power consumption and ease of use.
Security
Refrigerated truck rental: Reefer trucks are mobile by design, which leaves your perishables more vulnerable to theft. Their locks are often less secure than the locks on stationary units.
Walk in coolers/freezers: Polar Leasing walk ins are designed for retail and foodservice use with secure locking mechanisms.
Noise
Refrigerated truck rental: Reefer truck rentals operate diesel engines day and night, which can disturb area residents.
Walk in coolers/freezers: Walk in rentals were built to operate quietly outside of locations with people nearby, such as healthcare facilities and restaurants.
Moisture
Refrigerated truck rental: Reefer truck rentals typically have inferior insulation, which can cause moisture build up — especially if the door is opened and closed frequently.
Walk in coolers/freezers: Walk in rentals have extremely efficient insulation that helps the unit quickly return to its set temperature and avoid collecting moisture.
Summary chart outlining the differences between a refrigerated truck rental and a walk in refrigeration rental
| Feature | Refrigerated Truck Rental | Walk in Cooler or Freezer Rental |
|---|---|---|
| Mobility | High mobility | High mobility |
| Temperature Control | Variable (may fluctuate) | Excellent (stable) |
| Accessibility | Low (cargo doors, not designed for frequent access) | High (easy-open doors for frequent access) |
| Power source | Diesel | 220V electric |
| Installation | Arrives ready to go | Ready in a few hours |
| Energy efficiency | Inefficient (diesel dependent) | Efficient (electric) |
| Cost | Higher | Lower |
| Durability | Moderate (prone to corrosion) | High (fiberglass, seamless, rust-proof) |
| Security | Low (high mobility, inferior locks) | High (stationary, secure locking mechanisms) |
| Noise level | High (noisy refrigeration unit) | Low (quiet operation) |
| Moisture | Prone to moisture | Eliminates moisture |
| Ideal usage | Refrigerated transit | On-site storage |
Making the best choice for your application
If you’re trying to decide between a reefer truck and a walk in cooler/freezer rental, ask yourself the following questions:
- How frequently will you access the unit? If you require frequent access, a ground-level walk in with its easy-access doors is a better option.
- Do you need refrigeration at a remote site without power? If so, a refrigerated truck is the best choice for you.
- Do you need to transport items in cold storage? Choose a reefer truck for shipping.
- Do you want to save room in your parking lot and place your refrigeration on the ground? A walk in rental is the right choice.
- Is fuel cost or noise a concern? Unlike reefer trucks, walk in cooler and freezer rentals operate quietly on cost-effective electrical power.
- Want hassle-free operation with lower power consumption? Walk ins are your most efficient choice.
When walk in cooler/freezer rentals are your best choice
Walk in cooler rentals are often better suited for applications such as:
- Foodservice and hospitality. Caterers, restaurants, cafeterias, and event vendors need the accessibility and energy efficiency walk ins provide.
- Healthcare and pharmaceuticals. Walk ins offer the precise control these highly regulated industries need to stay compliant.
- Supermarkets and convenience stores. Retail outlets can maximize their profit by choosing the lower operating costs of a walk in rental.
- Emergency and disaster relief. Walk in cooler and freezer rentals ship fast, set up quickly, and operation emission-free, keeping the environment safe for emergency workers.
Where refrigerated truck rentals are typically your best choice
Because reefer truck rentals are designed for mobility, they are the best choice for applications that require transportation or for operation in remote areas where electricity is not available.
Why Polar Leasing walk in cooler and freezer rentals are the best fit for most applications
Refrigerated trucks excel at what they do best — keeping perishables at controlled temperatures during transport. But Polar Leasing walk in cooler/freezer rentals offer businesses that need stationary storage many more advantages.
Polar Leasing walk ins are:
- Accessible. Ground level walk ins with user-friendly doors make it more convenient to manage products frequently.
- Efficient. With low installation and operating costs, Polar Leasing welk in rentals are the most energy-efficient solution on the market.
- Dependable. You can count on precise and reliable temperature control to maintain the best possible quality of your perishable goods.
- Scalable. We offer a range of sizes to fit your business’ specific cold storage needs.
- Durable. The seamless fiberglass surface prevents air and water from entering the unit and causing damage.