Put the same load, route, and service level in writing for all three options. The reefer running-cost worksheet separates cost items; reefer or container explains the operating differences between active refrigeration and a container arrangement.
What to check in a rental
Do not compare a rental by its daily or monthly figure alone. The vehicle's refrigeration condition, clear dimensions, temperature regime, and service level must match the route. Aris Makina does not advertise vehicle rental; this section explains which lines to compare in a third-party offer.
- rental period, minimum days, mileage, extension, and early-return terms
- what the rate includes for the unit, fuel or energy, driver, delivery, and return
- responsibility for servicing, breakdowns, planned maintenance, and the specification and timing of a replacement vehicle
- responsibility limits for product temperature, logger records, cleaning, damage, delay, and handover records
- deposit, excess, extra driver, out-of-area use, and days outside the contract
Responsibilities when buying
An owned reefer lets you plan the internal dimensions and equipment around the operation. Alongside the purchase price, evaluate servicing, breakdowns, insurance, inspection, tax, energy or fuel, tyres, cleaning, records, and parking. The total depends on the vehicle and use; no single threshold applies to every fleet.
Write down annual use, servicing time, breakdown backup, and dry-work capability. For tax, accounting, credit, or depreciation treatment, obtain specialist advice; this page does not advise on those matters.
Insulated container and eutectic plates
Here the vehicle is a means of carriage. GEBHARDT documents eutectic plates, plate rails, and freezing racks for the Isotec TBX. Its up-to-24-hour cold-chain statement applies to defined configurations and operating conditions; it is not a guarantee for every load, ambient temperature, opening pattern, or route.
Check container volume and payload, vehicle dimensions and door opening, handling, plate-freezing equipment, washing space, spare-container or plate arrangements, delivery temperature, and records. The container does not validate the chain by itself: goods must be loaded at the required temperature and door openings must fit the route plan.
Aris Makina's Isotec TBX needs-analysis form asks about goods, fresh or frozen status, target temperature, route duration, distance, stops, summer ambient temperature, container volume, vehicle dimensions, and plate-freezing conditions. These inputs support selection; they are not a performance or cost guarantee.
Compare the same service level
| Criterion | Rented reefer | Owned reefer | Standard vehicle + container |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access | Contract and availability | Vehicle and fit-out plan | Container, plates, and suitable vehicle |
| Cost items | Rate, extra days, mileage, contract | Vehicle, equipment, service, operating | Container, plates, freezing, washing, handling |
| Breakdown or short capacity | Replacement is contractual | Backup is the operator's responsibility | Spare container/plates and vehicle may be needed |
| Route fit | Confirm dimensions and regime | Fit-out can be designed | Confirm volume, doors, payload |
| Out of season | Return depends on contract | Fixed costs and use plan continue | Storage, capacity, maintenance still need a plan |
| Multi-drop or multiple temperatures | Check compartments and records | Engineer compartments, unit, records | Separate containers, regimes, records where suitable |
Request comparable quotations
For every option record annual and monthly trips; route duration, distance, stops; loading and target temperature; net volume, pallet or crate dimensions, total load; ambient and dwell conditions; door openings; clear vehicle dimensions and payload; pre-cooling or plate-freezing capability; cleaning, logger, handover records; and breakdown, replacement, and backup method.
Mark rental extras, ownership fit-out and operating items, and container plate and preparation arrangements separately. If the service level is not written down, apparently lower prices are not comparable.
An optional simple formula
Use the reefer running-cost worksheet to total documented costs over one common period: period cost ÷ suitable trips in that period = a per-trip comparison value. Put rental charges, the owned vehicle's costs attributable to that period, or the container arrangement's container, plate, freezing, washing, handling, and backup costs on the same basis. Do not compare a full vehicle purchase price directly with one month's rent; assess tax and depreciation separately with your specialist.
If you run a trial, define success first: product and container temperature records, delivery temperature, door openings, preparation time, plate condition, load damage, cleaning time, and actual trip cost. The number of trials depends on route variability; there is no universal count.
When requesting a TBX model or plate quotation, send the route and load information in the form. Aris Makina is GEBHARDT's distributor in Türkiye; it does not promise vehicle-rental availability or carrier performance.
