{
  "slug": "reefer-fuel-cost",
  "title": "Reefer Unit Fuel Cost Calculator",
  "heading": "Refrigerated Trailer (Reefer) Fuel Cost Calculator",
  "category": "financial",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/reefer-fuel-cost",
  "summary": "Diesel cost for running a reefer unit over a trip or month.",
  "description": "Reefer units run their own separate diesel engine to power refrigeration, burning fuel independent of the tractor, and that cost is easy to underestimate when pricing temperature-controlled freight. This calculator multiplies your reefer's fuel burn rate (which varies by mode — continuous run mode burns more than cycle-sentry mode) by hours of operation and diesel price to compute total reefer fuel cost for a trip, which should be added on top of tractor fuel cost when calculating true cost per mile on reefer loads.",
  "formula": "Reefer fuel cost = run hours × gal/hr × price/gal.",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-30",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=reefer-fuel-cost",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "runHours",
      "label": "Reefer run hours",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 60,
      "unit": "hr",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "burnRate",
      "label": "Operating mode",
      "kind": "select",
      "hint": null,
      "default": "0.6",
      "options": [
        {
          "value": "0.4",
          "label": "Cycle-sentry (~0.4 gal/hr)"
        },
        {
          "value": "0.6",
          "label": "Continuous run (~0.6 gal/hr)"
        },
        {
          "value": "0.8",
          "label": "Deep-frozen continuous (~0.8 gal/hr)"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "dieselPrice",
      "label": "Diesel price",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 3.95,
      "unit": "$/gal",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "miles",
      "label": "Trip miles (for CPM figure)",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 900,
      "unit": "mi",
      "min": 1,
      "max": null
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "cost",
      "label": "Reefer fuel cost",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "gallons",
      "label": "Reefer gallons burned",
      "format": "decimal",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "costPerMile",
      "label": "Reefer fuel cost per mile",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "Reefer run hours: 60 hr",
      "Operating mode: Continuous run (~0.6 gal/hr)",
      "Diesel price: 3.95 $/gal",
      "Trip miles (for CPM figure): 900 mi"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "Reefer fuel cost: $142.20",
      "Reefer gallons burned: 36",
      "Reefer fuel cost per mile: $0.158"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter reefer run hours (hr).",
      "Enter operating mode.",
      "Enter diesel price ($/gal).",
      "Enter trip miles (for cpm figure) (mi).",
      "Read your reefer fuel cost on the right — it updates as you type.",
      "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone."
    ]
  },
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Conservative",
      "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?",
      "values": {
        "runHours": 36,
        "burnRate": "0.6",
        "dieselPrice": 2.37,
        "miles": 540
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "runHours": 60,
        "burnRate": "0.6",
        "dieselPrice": 3.95,
        "miles": 900
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "runHours": 96,
        "burnRate": "0.6",
        "dieselPrice": 6.32,
        "miles": 1440
      }
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.",
    "Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.",
    "This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant."
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "What's the difference between cycle-sentry and continuous run?",
      "a": "Cycle-sentry shuts the engine off once set temperature is reached and restarts only as needed, saving fuel; continuous run keeps the engine running at all times for tighter temperature control, which is often required for very sensitive freight like produce or pharmaceuticals."
    },
    {
      "q": "Should reefer fuel be priced separately from linehaul rate?",
      "a": "Yes — many reefer loads include a separate reefer fuel surcharge or built-in rate premium over dry van precisely because this is an added cost the carrier bears that dry van freight doesn't have."
    },
    {
      "q": "Does idling the reefer at a dock count as run hours?",
      "a": "Yes — any time the reefer unit's engine is running, whether the trailer is moving or sitting at a dock keeping product cold, it's burning fuel and should be counted in run hours for an accurate cost picture."
    },
    {
      "q": "How much does a reefer unit typically cost to run per mile?",
      "a": "On a typical trip, reefer fuel often adds $0.08-$0.20 per mile on top of tractor fuel cost, depending on run mode, trip duration relative to miles, and ambient temperature extremes that push the compressor harder."
    }
  ],
  "related": [
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/fuel-surcharge-recovery",
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/owner-operator-cost-per-mile",
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/truck-idle-time-cost"
  ],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — Reefer Unit Fuel Cost Calculator (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/reefer-fuel-cost)"
}