A standard European reefer semi-trailer takes 33 euro pallets on the floor in a single tier, with a payload normally in the region of 21 to 24 tonnes. A forty-foot high-cube reefer container takes roughly twenty to twenty-three euro pallets on the floor depending on the container model and how the pallets are turned. For frozen fruit in cartons, both formats almost always run out of floor space before they run out of weight.
Why the container number is a range and the trailer number is not
A reefer container has thicker insulation and an integral cooling unit at one end, so the usable internal length and width are smaller than the nominal dimensions suggest, and they vary between manufacturers and generations. The pallet count therefore depends on the specific box. A trailer floor is a standard length, so 33 euro pallets is reliable.
If you use industrial pallets rather than euro pallets, recount. The footprints are different and so is the fit.
Stacking
Double stacking is possible when the cartons and the pallet height allow it, and it changes the economics completely. It is also the fastest way to crush the bottom layer if the carton board grade is wrong or if the cartons have picked up moisture. Confirm the compression rating of the carton at freezer temperature and humidity before assuming a second tier.
What limits the load in practice
- Floor pallet positions, for cartoned berries and vegetables.
- Weight, for dense products such as pitted cherry, juice concentrate or purees.
- Airflow. Loading to the roof against the evaporator or blocking the floor channels starves the return air and creates a warm pocket, which is a quality problem rather than a capacity one.
Related: reefer road transport and packaging for frozen fruit exports.