TRU Knowledge Base
Straight, practical answers on Thermo King and Carrier Transicold reefer units — from a working mobile TRU tech, not a marketing team.
Why reefer units fail in New England winters: hard cold starts, fuel gelling, heat mode, defrost and battery issues, plus prevention tips.
Read guide →How mobile TRU reefer repair is really priced: labor rates, travel, parts, and job types. An honest breakdown from a Vermont reefer tech.
Read guide →Reefer PM schedules run on engine hours, not miles. Learn typical service intervals, what a full PM covers, and how to protect your loads.
Read guide →A clear, accurate guide to how a reefer unit works: the refrigeration cycle, the diesel engine, airflow, set point, defrost, and why it can't chill a warm load.
Read guide →Reefer unit not holding temperature or pulling down? Learn the common causes, driver-safe checks, and when to call a TRU tech before your load is at risk.
Read guide →A practical, ordered reefer pre-trip inspection checklist for drivers. Run a clean TRU pretrip and precool the box to stop rejected loads.
Read guide →Reefer unit won't start? Learn to tell a no-crank electrical fault from a cranks-but-won't-fire fuel problem, plus safe driver checks and when to call a tech.
Read guide →How a Thermo King or Carrier reefer compressor gets replaced: failure signs, EPA recovery, filter-drier, evacuation, recharge, and typical time.
Read guide →What Thermo King and Carrier Transicold reefer alarm codes mean, how to read them, and which ones tell you to shut down now versus keep running.
Read guide →Thermo King vs Carrier Transicold reefer units compared fairly: engines, controls, parts, reliability, and how to choose the right one for your fleet.
Read guide →How EGR valves and coolers clog on Thermo King and Carrier reefer diesels, the symptoms to watch for, and why timely EGR service prevents bigger repairs.
Read guide →Why transport refrigeration units need preventive maintenance: the cost of skipping PM, what an inspection covers, and how to avoid rejected loads and breakdowns.
Read guide →