A pre-trip inspection (PTI) is the diagnostic test run on a refrigerated container’s cooling unit before it’s released for an export load. The reefer machinery runs through its full cycle — cooling, heating, defrost, and controller checks — to confirm it can hold setpoint for the voyage. Shipping lines require a passed PTI before releasing a reefer for booking, because a unit that fails at sea can destroy an entire cargo of produce or pharmaceuticals.
What a PTI actually tests
A full PTI takes one to four hours depending on the unit and includes: controller software and sensor calibration (supply and return air probes), refrigerant levels and compressor performance, condenser and evaporator fan operation, defrost cycle, fresh-air exchange vent, and door seals. Modern units store the PTI result in the controller’s data logger, and the pass is recorded against the container number so the terminal and trucker can verify it.
Who performs the PTI and when
PTIs are performed by the shipping line’s depot or an authorized reefer technician at the empty depot before the container is released. For time-sensitive Miami exports — produce to Europe, pharma out of MIA’s cold-chain corridor — book the reefer early enough for the depot to complete the PTI, or request a unit with a recent pass. Some lines accept a PTI completed within the previous 30 days; others require one per booking.
PTI and the drayage leg
The trucker picking up the empty should verify the PTI sticker or EIR notation before pulling the box — hauling a failed unit wastes a round trip. On genset moves, where the reefer must run during over-the-road drayage, the driver also confirms the unit holds setpoint on the genset before departing. Our overview of Port Everglades reefer drayage explains how plugs, gensets, and cutoff times fit together.
Why PTI matters for cold-chain integrity
Most reefer claims trace back to equipment that was marginal before loading, not failures at sea. A documented PTI shifts liability clearly: if the unit passed and was loaded at the right pulp temperature, deviations point to handling; if no PTI exists, the shipper’s insurer faces a harder claim. That’s why cold chain logistics programs treat the PTI record as a required document, alongside temperature downloads.
Reefer moves with Go Freight
Go Freight runs reefer drayage at PortMiami and Port Everglades with owned trucks, gensets, and a temperature-controlled dock at our Miami warehouse. Our DispatchAI drayage verifies PTI status at pickup and logs setpoint at every handoff.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a reefer PTI take?
A standard automated PTI takes about one hour; a full manual PTI with sensor calibration can take up to four hours. Depots run them before releasing empties, so build that time into tight export bookings.
Is a PTI required for every reefer shipment?
Policies vary by shipping line. Many require a PTI pass within 30 days of the booking, while high-value pharma programs often demand a fresh PTI for each container.
What happens if a reefer fails its PTI?
The depot repairs the unit or swaps the booking to another container. If a failure is discovered after pickup, the trucker returns the unit and the line owes a replacement — another reason drivers verify the PTI record before leaving the depot.
Shipping temperature-controlled freight? Get a reefer drayage quote or call (786) 445-0150.