When soğutuculu araç, frigorifik araç, soğutmalı araç and izotermik araç are written as synonyms in a quote, it is unclear what the equipment being compared actually does; for one route a first offer may be insulation only, a second a unit, a third eutectic plates. The way to separate the quote lines is to ask where the cold comes from. The definition of a refrigerated vehicle is in what a refrigerated vehicle is, and the comparison with unit-free solutions in how refrigerated vehicles and passive containers are compared.
What is a soğutuculu araç, and how does it differ from an isothermal vehicle?
| Term | Where the cold comes from | Meaning in the ATP text |
|---|---|---|
| Isothermal (izotermik) vehicle | No cold is made; insulation slows heat entry | Insulated equipment: K up to 0.70 for normal insulation, up to 0.40 W/m²·°C for heavy insulation |
| Soğutuculu (frigorifik) vehicle | A refrigeration unit tied to the body | Mechanically refrigerated equipment: classes A, B, C, D, E, F |
| Soğutmalı (in the ATP sense) | A source of cold such as ice, eutectic plates, dry ice or liquefied gas | Refrigerated equipment: classes A, B, C, D |
In everyday Turkish, soğutmalı araç usually describes a vehicle with a unit. In ATP, refrigerated equipment is insulated equipment that uses a source of cold instead of a unit; the common test for refrigerated and mechanically refrigerated equipment is whether the empty body can be brought down to the temperature of its class, and held there, at a mean outside temperature of +30 °C. A quote should therefore put the unit model or plate type, power supply and target band next to the word soğutmalı; a container fitted with eutectic plates does not fall into this category automatically (what ATP class R refrigerated equipment is).
An insulated body is limited by time
An insulated body makes no cold; it slows heat gain in a load that is already at the required temperature. The result depends on the load's entry temperature, the ambient profile, door openings and, where there is one, the amount and placement of the passive cold source. The 2013 MEB module also treats pre-cooling of product and body before loading together with airflow.
Which suits which job
- short route, few stops, verified entry temperature: if the time calculation holds, an isothermal solution may be enough
- continuous heat load, long route or frequent door opening: calculate active refrigeration separately
- frozen product: require the target band, entry temperature and equipment class in writing, not just a label
- multi-stop work: add the door scenario, airflow and logger points to the quote file
A fleet does not always need one solution. Set the decision from daily load mass and volume, target band, route duration, number of stops, net internal dimensions and acceptance measurement; do not generalize one vehicle type across every operation.
The regulatory side. ATP is an agreement on the international carriage of perishable foodstuffs; designations such as insulated, refrigerated and mechanically refrigerated may be given only to equipment that meets the definitions in Annex 1. In Türkiye the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure applies ATP and has authorized TSE for testing and certification. The Special Equipment Regulation of 2 July 2021 has extended the equipment requirement to intercity domestic carriage since 1 January 2022, while urban carriage was taken out of its scope by the 2025 amendment. Which document a given shipment needs is explained in perishable food transport rules in Türkiye and the ATP certificate.
Where the price difference comes from. Do not read the price difference from the unit price alone: insulation and door work, unit energy, maintenance, breakdown exposure and the loss of carrying capacity belong in the same sheet, and their annual totals are worked out in the refrigerated vehicle running cost worksheet. The Thermo King E-Series page is a limited example showing that power supply is assessed together with the vehicle and installation; it does not generalize.
