The cargo distribution industry has long been concerned with product delivery issues. Operating in cold climate areas has created the need for in-transit climate control, mobile warehousing and heat recovery solutions. Cargo heaters provide the even temperatures in van trailers needed to keep specific loads at the right temperatures. Freeze protection provided by heaters is essential for those fleets with delicate loads.

Available from several suppliers, cargo heaters provide convenient, reliable protection from low temperatures for cargo and equipment. Choosing the right cargo heater for the job is critical. There are many choices in today’s market, here are a few:

Elston
Elston says its cargo heaters are used for heating cargo in a range of spaces from straight truck bodies to beverage trucks to 53-ft. trailers. The company notes that its universal heater is also used to heat the cabs of heavy equipment. The company offers the following models of heaters: roll-on (totally portable, nose mount (forced air) and universal (heavy-duty/compact at 1 cu.ft.).

The nose mounted forced air heaters push heat, available on demand, throughout the trailer. Power for the units is supplied safely and economically using propane for stand-alone operations. An optional 110-volt standby power supply is available to run the heaters off of shore power. The nose-mounted units can be equipped with a control unit visible and accessible from ground level. For more information, visit www.elstonmfg.com.

Espar
According to Espar, its line of cargo heaters heat vans, multi-temp trailers and trailer bodies. These air heaters thermostatically maintain desired temperatures for cargo without using engine heat. They instead use readily available diesel or gasoline and 12- or 24-volt power, depending on the model, to efficiently create heat. The company has compiled the following cargo heat application guidelines for its most common cargo heating products:
• Airtronic D4 (13600 BTUs/hr)—is designed for van bodies 20 ft. long, and maintains 40°F cargo temperatures (outside temperatures -20°F). Insulation is a minimum of 2-in. polyurethane. Available in 12- or 24-volt, diesel or gasoline
• Airtronic D5LC (18,800 BTUs/hr)—is designed for van bodies 30 ft. long, and maintains 40°F cargo temperatures (outside temperatures
-20°F). Insulation is a minimum of
2-in. polyurethane. It’s available in
12- or 24-volt, diesel or gasoline
• D8LC (27,300 BTUs/hr)—is designed for larger or more demanding applications such as 53-ft. trailers. It’s available in 12- or 24-volt, diesel only.
• The Airtronic D4, D5 and D8LC can either be mounted inside or outside the cargo bodies. For applications where it is preferred to have the heater nose-mounted, Espar has partnered with Thermo King to offer the E-Series of Air Cargo Heaters, which include the E-13, E-18 and E-28.
• Nose of trailer, which is designed to provide low cost heat for dry vans up to 53 ft. (18,000 and 22,000 BTU models), and which has thermostat controls, is free standing and needs no electricity. For more information, visit www.espar.com.

Northstar
According to Northstar, its flameless heaters have a proven track record. The units use a convected heat design, which moves heated air throughout the trailer. No electrical hook-up is required. The company says this is a huge advantage, particularly if the trailer is spotted.
In addition, the company says 22,000 BTU portable and wall mount cargo heaters are now available. Freeze protection has been improved with the higher BTU ratings, plus an astonishing doubling of the volume and velocity of air flowing through the unit. The heated air migrates throughout the trailer faster and more thoroughly. Exterior painted surface temperature of the heater has been greatly reduced. The company recommends the 22,000 BTU cargo heaters for 48-ft. and 53-ft. trailers. For more information, visit
www.northstarflameless.com.

Webasto
Webasto says its CSL 31 and CSL 45 BT heating systems provide versatility in transporting temperature sensitive cargo. Utilizing the Thermo 90 ST and DBW 2010 heaters, Webasto systems maintain consistent transit and storage temperatures, enabling mobile warehousing, stand alone operation and in-transit product protection. For more information, visit www.webasto.com.