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  7. Refrigerator Car
Equipment

Refrigerator Car(Reefer)

Definition

An insulated railcar equipped with a mechanical refrigeration unit used to transport perishable commodities such as fresh produce, frozen foods, and meat at controlled temperatures. Modern mechanical reefers maintain precise temperature ranges and can operate in both refrigeration and heating modes. Rail refrigerator cars compete directly with over-the-road refrigerated trailers.

Related Terms

Boxcar

An enclosed rectangular railcar with sliding side doors, used for transporting general commodities that require protection from weather, including packaged goods, paper, lumber, and auto parts. Boxcars are the most versatile car type in the fleet and are used across virtually all industries. They are available in standard and high-cube configurations.

Intermodal Container

A standardized steel box (typically 20, 40, 45, 48, or 53 feet in length) that can be transferred between ships, trains, and trucks without unloading the contents. Containers conform to ISO or domestic standards and are the fundamental unit of intermodal logistics. Their standardization revolutionized global freight economics.

Flatcar

A railcar with a flat deck and no sides or roof, used for oversized or heavy loads such as machinery, lumber, steel beams, and military equipment. Flatcars include standard, bulkhead, center-beam, and well-car variants. They are also the base platform for trailer-on-flatcar (TOFC) intermodal service.

More in Equipment

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