Great Dane recently completed production of Celadon Group's first refrigerated trailer, part of a 200-reefer order being built at Great Dane's newest manufacturing facility in Statesboro, Ga. These reefers represent the first refrigerated trailers that Celadon, one of North America's largest truckload carriers, has purchased from any manufacturer.
"As a long-time supplier of Celadon's dry freight trailers, we're especially honored that Celadon selected us for its initial order of refrigerated trailers," said Dave Gilliland, Great Dane's VP of national accounts. "These trailers will enable Celadon to expand its customer service by hauling temperature controlled freight in addition to its already wide range of services," Gilliland added. "We're confident that these new trailers will prove to be a sound investment for Celadon."
The reefer trailers being built for Celadon are based on Great Dane's Everest TL model, known for its strength, industry-leading lightweight technology and durability. Celadon's trailers will also include Great Dane's premium ThermoGuard reefer liner, which features a patented metal barrier layer in the sidewalls, ceiling and floor subpan to minimize thermal degradation of the trailer's insulation over time. Compared to traditional liners, ThermoGuard liners provide unequalled strength and puncture resistance, weight savings and reduced cooling unit fuel consumption.
Other features of Celadon's customized Everest TL order include a wedge design for maximum rear opening height, Hendrickson HD Air Ride suspension, Bridgestone R197 Ecopia tires, Transtex side skirts, Carrier 2100 APX reefer unit with auto fresh air exchange and Intelliset temperature control, rear door switch, StarTrak GPS, side air chute, air return bulkhead and pallet stops. The trailers are also designed for occasional rail usage.
"We're very fortunate to have high quality suppliers right here in Indiana and we're extremely excited to continue our long term partnership with Great Dane, and at the same time, provide a new area of service coverage for our core customers," stated Celadon president and CEO Paul Will.
