Climate Van Equipment

When last you heard from me, I had just been asked about what equipment you should expect to be on a climate van. I continue to be asked this question and would like to answer it here.

First, a climate control van should be fully insulated and equipped with a cooling and heating unit. This unit will usually be diesel powered. This unit should have a high-capacity 50-to-1 compressor ratio that will allow it to operate in the most severe conditions. It should also have a panel in the driver’s line of sight that allows monitoring of the trailer climate status.

Hydraulic Lift Gates: Lift gates are not standard on all climate control vans, so you should make sure any of your quotes and orders specifically request a lift gate if needed. The Atlas Van Lines climate control vans are all equipment with lift gates with a capacity up to 5,500 lb. These gates also extend 8 to 12 inches above the floor of the trailer for access to higher docks.

Aluminum Cargo Beams and ¾ inch plywood sheets are useful as decking to add capacity to a trailer. These items can usually be stored beneath the floor to maximize available trailer space. Again, this equipment is not standard with every carrier so it should be specifically requested when needed.

Hydraulic Pallet Jacks: Almost every carrier has a pallet jack as standard equipment.

Logistic tracking and straps: This is standard equipment and is needed to secure any load.

Heavyweight pads: Pads are standard equipment and are used to protect delicate, un-crated objects during transit. Most full sized trailers carry about 12 dozen.

J- Bars: This is considered standard equipment. A six foot J-bar provides leverage that is useful for moving large crates.

Dollies: Four-wheel dollies and two-wheel heavy duty hand trucks are standard equipment for every carrier. These items provide easy mobility for crates, cartons and pad wrapped objects.

There are a number of additional items that may or may not be on a trailer. Some of these are large rubber bands, cartons and tape, riggers dollies, hydraulic rol-a-lifts, etc. These are not standard on every van but can be very helpful for handling some shipments. Always request these items from your carrier when needed.