Question 1

What is reefer fueling and why is it different from regular truck fueling?

Accepted Answer

Reefer fueling is the dedicated diesel supply for the refrigeration unit (Thermo King, Carrier, Daikin) mounted on a refrigerated trailer or truck — separate from the tractor's on-road fuel tank. The reefer unit has its own small fuel tank (typically 50-100 gallons) that powers only the refrigeration compressor and blower, and it often runs on off-road (dyed) diesel because it is not propelling a vehicle on public roads. Reefer fueling is a higher-urgency service than tractor fueling because a fuel-out shuts down the refrigeration unit and puts temperature-sensitive cargo at immediate risk.

Question 2

Can I use off-road (dyed) diesel in my reefer unit?

Accepted Answer

Yes, in most cases. Reefer refrigeration units are stationary engines from a tax perspective — they do not propel a vehicle on a public highway — so they qualify for off-road (dyed) diesel, which is exempt from federal and state highway fuel taxes. This typically saves $0.40-$0.60 per gallon compared to on-road ULSD. The reefer unit must be fueled through a separate tank from the tractor; fueling a tractor's on-road tank with dyed diesel remains illegal. We deliver both grades and ensure the correct fuel goes into the correct tank at every stop.

Question 3

What happens if my reefer unit runs out of fuel overnight?

Accepted Answer

Exigo Fuels offers 24/7 emergency reefer fueling with priority dispatch across South Florida. We understand that a fuel-out on a reefer unit puts temperature-sensitive cargo at immediate risk of spoilage. Call (305) 900-6725 any time — day or night — and we will dispatch a fuel truck to your location as quickly as possible. Critical emergencies are targeted for a 1-hour response window.

Question 4

Do you deliver reefer fuel at distribution centers and cold storage warehouses?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We deliver reefer fuel directly at distribution centers and cold storage warehouses across Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties. Common delivery destinations include 3PL cold storage facilities in Medley and Doral, produce and floral DCs near Miami International Airport, grocery distribution centers in Broward, and cross-dock operations along the I-95 and Florida Turnpike corridors. We fuel reefer units at the dock while they hold cargo at temperature, so the cold chain is never interrupted.

Question 5

How do you coordinate reefer refueling with active loading and unloading?

Accepted Answer

We schedule reefer refueling around your dock windows. For scheduled programs, we work with your operations team to identify quiet periods — typically between inbound and outbound waves — and fuel all units in that window. For emergency calls we coordinate directly with the on-site dock supervisor so our driver stages the fuel truck outside the active lane and fuels the reefer without blocking loading. Most reefer fueling takes 5-10 minutes per unit, short enough to fit in almost any dock schedule.

Question 6

What is the typical minimum for reefer fuel delivery?

Accepted Answer

For on-site reefer fueling, our typical minimum is 250 gallons per delivery — which covers 3-5 reefer units depending on how low they are at arrival. For large cold storage facilities and distribution centers, we deliver bulk loads of 2,000+ gallons into on-site storage tanks that dispense to reefer units and yard trucks throughout the week. Emergency single-unit fueling is available 24/7 for fleets enrolled in our priority dispatch program, regardless of minimum volume.

Question 7

Do you support hurricane and outage coordination for cold-chain facilities?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Cold storage facilities and reefer-dependent operations are among our highest-priority accounts during hurricane season and extended grid outages. We pre-position fuel reserves before named storms, maintain priority dispatch for contracted cold-chain clients during recovery, and fuel both reefer units and the backup generators that keep warehouse freezer systems online. Preventing cargo loss at a 100,000 sq ft cold storage facility is measured in millions of dollars, so we treat these accounts with the same response-tier protocols as hospital generators.

Question 8

What is reefer fuel and how is it different from regular diesel?

Accepted Answer

Reefer fuel is the diesel that powers the refrigeration unit (Thermo King, Carrier, or Daikin) on a refrigerated trailer or truck — it is chemically identical to standard ASTM D975 ultra-low sulfur diesel, but is delivered into a separate fuel tank dedicated to the reefer unit, not the tractor's on-road tank. The same product can be supplied as either clear on-road ULSD or red dyed off-road diesel under IRS §4082, depending on whether the reefer unit qualifies for the federal off-road tax exemption (most do, because the reefer compressor is not propelling a vehicle on a public road). The 'reefer fuel' label is functional, not a separate product spec — what makes it different from regular truck fueling is the separate-tank requirement and the higher urgency of running out (cold-chain cargo at risk vs simply a stranded truck).

Question 9

Why does reefer fuel need to be in a separate tank from the tractor?

Accepted Answer

Two reasons: regulatory and operational. (1) Regulatory: if the reefer unit is fueled with red dyed off-road diesel under IRS §4082 (which is the common case for tax-savings purposes, $0.40-$0.60 per gallon less than on-road clear diesel), the dye marker must not enter the tractor's on-road fuel tank — even by mistake. Mixing dyed fuel into an on-road tank is a federal civil penalty starting at $1,000 per violation plus state penalties, regardless of intent. The dye remains detectable on a roadside dip test for many fill cycles. (2) Operational: the reefer unit's compressor consumes fuel at a different rate than the tractor's engine, and the small reefer tank (typically 50-100 gallons) needs to be tracked and refilled independently of tractor fueling. Combining the tanks would mean either the tractor never gets fuel-economy data on the reefer compressor consumption, or the reefer runs dry while the tractor still has plenty of fuel.

Question 10

Can reefer units use off-road dyed diesel?

Accepted Answer

Yes, in nearly all commercial cases. Reefer refrigeration units qualify for the IRS §4082 off-road exemption because the compressor and blower do not propel a vehicle on a public highway — only the tractor engine does. This means the reefer unit can be fueled with red dyed off-road diesel that is exempt from the federal $0.244/gallon excise tax and Florida state fuel tax, saving $0.40-$0.60 per gallon. The hard requirement is physical tank separation (see related FAQ) and proper bill-of-lading documentation on every delivery identifying the load as IRS §4082 dyed fuel for non-taxable use. Exigo Fuels delivers both grades to mixed fleets and ensures the right product goes into the right tank with the paperwork to support a compliance audit.