The commonest cold-chain overspend is renting the wrong-sized truck — too big and you pay for empty space, too small and you run extra trips. Here’s exactly what each tonnage carries, so you can pick the right one the first time.
Indicative figures — pallet counts and volume vary by make and model. Tell us your load and we’ll confirm the exact size.
| Capacity | Payload* | Cargo volume* |
Pallets* | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 ton | ≈ 1 ton | ≈ 6–8 m³ | 2–3 | Small bulk / large-van loads |
| 3 ton | ≈ 3 ton | ≈ 18 m³ | 6–8 | Distributor & restaurant supply |
| 5 ton | ≈ 5 ton | ≈ 24 m³ | 10–12 | Supermarket & wholesale routes |
| 7 ton | ≈ 7 ton | ≈ 28 m³ | ≈ 14 | Bulk multi-store replenishment |
| 10 ton | ≈ 10 ton | ≈ 40 m³ | 18–20 | Large-scale distribution |
Don't buy tonnage "to be safe." An oversized truck runs a bigger, hungrier cooling unit over more empty air, costs more per day, and is harder to keep evenly cold when half-full. The right question is never "how big can I get" — it's "how many pallets, at what temperature." Answer that and the size is obvious.
The entry point above a van — a few hundred kilos to a tonne, 2–3 pallets. Good for small bulk runs that just outgrow a chiller van but don't justify a 3-ton body.
The most popular mid-size. Around 18 m³ and 6–8 pallets — the workhorse for distributor routes, bulk restaurant and catering supply, and single-store replenishment. If you're unsure, this is usually the right starting point.
A step up for heavier wholesale and supermarket routes — roughly 24 m³ and 10–12 pallets, enough for multi-drop retail without moving to the largest bodies.
Bulk multi-store replenishment and larger distribution — around 28 m³ and 14 pallets. One 7-ton run frequently replaces several smaller trips, cutting both cost and cold-chain risk.
Large-scale distribution — up to ~40 m³ and 18–20 pallets. The choice for high-volume DC-to-store and inter-emirate bulk cold freight. For adjustable or frozen configurations at this scale, see our refrigerated truck and reefer truck pages.
Chiller trucks, from
From, for a 3-ton chilled truck — larger sizes and frozen/adjustable units quoted to spec. Driver, GPS & HACCP included.
0°C to +8°C bulk chilled, 3–7 ton.
Chilled or frozen, 3–10 ton, chosen by temperature.
Under ~1.5 tonnes — the more economical option.
It comes down to pallet count and weight, not guesswork. As a rough guide: 1 ton suits a few hundred kg or 2–3 pallets, 3 ton around 6–8 pallets, 5 ton around 10–12, 7 ton around 14, and 10 ton around 18–20 pallets. Tell us your load and we’ll size it exactly.
A 3-ton chiller truck carries up to around 3 tonnes of payload in roughly 18 m³ of chilled space — about 6–8 pallets. It’s the popular mid-size choice for distributor routes and bulk restaurant or supermarket supply.
Yes — larger trucks cost more per day, but the right size is usually cheaper overall than running several smaller-vehicle trips for the same load. One well-filled 7-ton truck often beats three van runs on both cost and cold-chain safety.
Yes. Each capacity is available chilled (0°C to +8°C), frozen (to -18°C) or adjustable (-10°C to +10°C) depending on your cargo. The tonnage is about volume and weight; the temperature is a separate choice.
Then a van is the better fit. A chiller, freezer or refrigerated van handles loads up to around 1–1.5 tonnes more economically than a truck. See our chiller van rental for smaller cargo.
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