Article 5(1)(a) of the Turkish vehicle-loading regulation gives a general maximum width of 2.55 m and 2.60 m for the refrigerated structures of refrigerated vehicles only. Under Article 4(c), fixed side projections count towards width, rear-view mirrors do not. Insulation, door frame, floor, wheel arches, evaporator and return-air path all take their space from inside that external size, so internal width is narrower than on a dry-freight body of the same outside width. The loading plan is therefore built from measured clear openings.
| Check | What it shows | Effect on loading |
|---|---|---|
| Clear internal width | Measure between wall linings | Pallet and packaging layout |
| Clear door opening | Actual entrance | Pallet-truck manoeuvre |
| Wheel arch | Footprint lost above the floor | Pallet position |
| Return-air path | Clearance between load and return route | Airflow stays open |
| Mass and axle limit | Product, equipment and vehicle together | Payload |
The EPAL Euro pallet footprint is 800 × 1,200 mm. Three 800 mm sides side by side make 2,400 mm; if internal width is exactly 2,400 mm, the drawing leaves no clearance, yet packaging overhang, air and restraint gaps need room too. A three-pallet layout is therefore not accepted until it has been measured on site.
Door and handling equipment belong in the plan as well. A pallet may fit in the body while a narrow door leaves no room for a pallet truck or forklift to turn; if the operator feeds the pallet in at an angle, both the body lining and the pallet suffer. Mark the points that jam during a trial and do not force the load through.
A load pressed against the wall cuts off circulation of cold air: the unit runs, but the face against the wall does not cool. The few centimetres gained are paid for in product temperature, so air paths are not sacrificed for pallet count. The clearance needed depends on the body and the unit installation; no single centimetre value applies to every vehicle. Also check how straps, barriers and locks affect door closure and airflow.
A volume calculation does not replace a mass check. Add pallets, packaging, containers, cold sources and equipment on board to the product mass. Article 6(1)(b) prohibits exceeding axle weights even when the registered maximum laden weight is not exceeded. Write vehicle and body identity, pallet orientation, reserved gaps and unloading sequence on the plan, and recheck the dimensions when the load or equipment changes.
For the legal frame around maximum external width, see The five centimetres allowed for a refrigerated body.
