Rex says
Money math without the spreadsheet headache. Plug in your numbers and I'll show you exactly where the dollars land.
Try a scenario
Click to load — tweak from there.Inputs
Result
Reefer fuel cost
$142.20
Reefer gallons burned
36.0
Reefer fuel cost per mile
$0.158
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How to use this
- 1Enter reefer run hours (hr).
- 2Enter operating mode.
- 3Enter diesel price ($/gal).
- 4Enter trip miles (for cpm figure) (mi).
- 5Read your reefer fuel cost on the right — it updates as you type.
- 6Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone.
About this calculator
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.
Worked example
Using the values the calculator loads with:
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
Results
- Reefer fuel cost: $142.20
- Reefer gallons burned: 36
- Reefer fuel cost per mile: $0.158
What each field means
Inputs
- Reefer run hours (hr)
- The reefer run hours used in the calculation, measured in hr. Starts at 60 hr so you have a working example on load.
- Operating mode
- Pick the option that matches your situation — the maths changes per option. Choices: Cycle-sentry (~0.4 gal/hr), Continuous run (~0.6 gal/hr), Deep-frozen continuous (~0.8 gal/hr).
- Diesel price ($/gal)
- The diesel price used in the calculation, measured in $/gal. Starts at 3.95 $/gal so you have a working example on load.
- Trip miles (for CPM figure) (mi)
- The trip miles (for cpm figure) used in the calculation, measured in mi. Starts at 900 mi so you have a working example on load.
Results
- Reefer fuel cost
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars and shown as the headline result. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Reefer gallons burned
- Returned as a decimal number. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Reefer fuel cost per mile
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
FAQ
What's the difference between cycle-sentry and continuous run?
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.
Should reefer fuel be priced separately from linehaul rate?
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.
Does idling the reefer at a dock count as run hours?
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.
How much does a reefer unit typically cost to run per mile?
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.
Accuracy and 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.
Related tools
Cite this calculator
Writing about this topic? Grab a citation — every link helps keep these tools free.
RevenueLab. (2026). Reefer Unit Fuel Cost Calculator. Retrieved from https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/reefer-fuel-cost
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/reefer-fuel-cost" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reefer Unit Fuel Cost Calculator — RevenueLab</a> (2026).</p>
Source: [Reefer Unit Fuel Cost Calculator — RevenueLab](https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/reefer-fuel-cost) (2026).