A refrigerated cargo van fails in one of two ways: something breaks, or something was never quite right and nobody caught it in time. A pre-trip inspection exists to catch the second kind, the door seal that's been a little loose for a week, the reefer that's taking a bit longer to reach setpoint than it used to. Those are cheap to fix on a Tuesday and expensive to discover on a Friday delivery. See how FleetRabbit turns that daily check into a habit that sticks.
Refrigerated Cargo Van Inspection and Reefer PM Software Built to Actually Get Used
Digital pre-trip inspections drivers complete in under two minutes, reefer PM scheduled on engine hours, and a record that's always up to date.
Why the Habit Matters More Than the Checklist
Almost every fleet already has a pre-trip checklist somewhere. The problem is rarely the list itself, it's whether drivers actually complete it every single day, honestly, rather than signing off on autopilot. A two-minute digital check that fits naturally into the start of a shift gets completed. A five-page paper form that has to be found, filled out and turned in gets skipped the first busy morning, and then it stays skipped.
Three Zones, One Quick Check
Exterior
- Tires, lights, mirrors
- Body damage
- Fluid leaks underneath
Reefer unit
- Reaches setpoint normally
- No unusual noise
- Display and probe working
Cargo interior
- Door seals and latches
- Interior clean, no odor
- Floor and drains clear
Make the daily check something drivers actually finish
A two-minute digital inspection beats a five-page form nobody fills out honestly. Free for your first three vehicles.
Reefer PM Belongs on Its Own Calendar
Daily inspection catches what's happening right now. It doesn't replace scheduled service, and it shouldn't have to guess when that service is due. Reefer units are best scheduled on engine hours rather than van mileage, since the unit can run for hours at a stop while the odometer barely moves.
Illustrative calendar. FleetRabbit builds this from each van's real engine-hour and service data.
From Flagged Item to Closed Repair
What FleetRabbit Gives a Refrigerated Van Fleet
Frequently Asked Questions
A focused digital checklist covering exterior, reefer and cargo zones can typically be completed in under two minutes, which is short enough that drivers actually finish it every day.
The reefer unit often runs while the van is stopped, so its wear follows hours, not miles.
The reefer's ability to reach setpoint and the cargo area's seals, cleanliness and drains, since those are specific to a refrigerated van and easy for a generic checklist to miss.
The shop is alerted immediately and a work order opens with the defect and vehicle history attached.
Yes. Start free with three vehicles and scale up as your fleet grows.
A Two-Minute Habit. A Complete Record.
Digital inspections, engine-hour reefer PM and audit-ready records in one place. Free for your first three vehicles.
