First confirm whether the size in the quote is an external or an internal one. The load fits the clear internal size; insulation, evaporator housing, door frame and the air gap left around the stack all reduce usable space.
| Item | What it takes from | Practical result |
|---|---|---|
| Insulation | Side walls, ceiling, floor, door | Width and height shrink |
| Evaporator | Front of the ceiling | Clearance needed beneath and around it |
| Channelled or raised floor | Height | Space set aside for air circulation |
| Air gap | Around the stack | No stacking hard against walls |
| Door frame | Rear opening | Pallet entry width narrows |
Test the volume figure against a pallet count. The EPAL Euro pallet footprint is 800 × 1,200 mm; count how many pallets fit side by side and deep, and how many tiers stack safely, using the clear internal size together with packaging overhang and the air gap. You buy cubic metres but you carry pallets, and a buyer who discusses the quote in pallets meets no surprises. Measuring your current vehicle and comparing it with the pallet count you carry today gives a real number to test a new quote against.
Fitting is not the same as carrying. Add the mass of pallets and packaging, transport containers, cold sources and equipment to the product mass, and compare the total with the documented vehicle and body limits and with load distribution. An acceptable total can still overload a single axle or floor area.
The door opening is a separate question from internal volume. An insulated door leaf and frame leave the clear opening narrower than the internal width, and with a pallet truck those few centimetres directly affect loading time and damage risk. Measure clear width and height with the door open, then trial the pallets and equipment you actually use.
When requesting a quote, ask for the clear internal width, height and depth with their reference points, the clear rear door opening, the free height under the evaporator, and the actual pallet layout with tiers and air gap.
