Technical guide
What ATP-FRC means, and why it decides who can carry perishables
ATP-FRC is the classification of a refrigerated vehicle with reinforced insulation, rated to hold −20 °C inside at +30 °C outside. It is the reference class for international perishable transport.
What ATP stands for
ATP is the Agreement on the International Carriage of Perishable Foodstuffs and on the Special Equipment to be Used for such Carriage, an international treaty promoted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and signed in Geneva in 1970.
The agreement does two things: it defines which equipment may be used to carry perishable foodstuffs, and it sets which temperatures must be maintained for each product type. A vehicle carrying perishables between signatory countries must hold a valid ATP certificate and display its class marking.
What each letter of FRC means
Each letter of the code identifies a characteristic of the equipment. In FRC:
- F — Refrigerated
- The vehicle generates cold with a mechanical refrigeration unit. It does not merely preserve: it actively cools.
- R — Reinforced
- Reinforced insulation: overall heat transfer coefficient K of 0.4 W/m²·K or lower. For normal insulation (N) the limit is 0.7.
- C — Class C
- Able to hold an internal temperature between +12 °C and −20 °C with an outside temperature of +30 °C.
Table of ATP refrigerated vehicle classes
These are the classes for mechanically refrigerated equipment. The agreement also covers insulated, refrigerated (non-mechanical) and heated equipment.
| Class | Code | Internal temperature held |
|---|---|---|
| Class A | FNA / FRA | Between +12 °C and 0 °C |
| Class B | FNB / FRB | Between +12 °C and −10 °C |
| Class C | FNC / FRC | Between +12 °C and −20 °C |
| Class D | FND / FRD | 0 °C or below |
| Class E | FNE / FRE | −10 °C or below |
| Class F | FNF / FRF | −20 °C or below |
Testing is carried out at an outside temperature of +30 °C. The lower the temperature the equipment must hold with that heat outside, the more demanding the class.
How a vehicle is certified and how long it lasts
- Initial test. The equipment is tested at an authorised test station, where the K coefficient of the insulation and the useful refrigerating capacity of the unit are measured.
- Certificate issue. On passing, the competent authority of the country of registration issues the ATP certificate, valid for a maximum of 6 years.
- Renewals. From then on the certificate is renewed for periods of up to 3 years, subject to verification of the condition of the equipment by test or expert inspection, per each country’s procedure.
- Marking. The vehicle must display the identification mark of its class and the certificate expiry date.
It is a chain that breaks easily: a trailer with an expired certificate cannot perform an international perishable movement, however well it cools. Which is why expiry control is part of a serious operator’s daily work, not an annual formality.
When is ATP mandatory?
It is mandatory for international carriage of perishable foodstuffs between signatory countries, of which there are more than fifty, including the whole European Union. It applies particularly to frozen and quick-frozen products and to chilled products of animal origin.
For domestic transport each country applies its own rules, which in practice mirror the ATP requirements for the same products. Beyond the legal obligation, quality-managed shippers and retail chains require ATP from their carriers as a condition of contract.
ATP is not the same as "a refrigerated truck"
This is the most common confusion when contracting. Three categories get mixed up:
| Equipment type | What it does | Suitable for perishables |
|---|---|---|
| Insulated | Only insulates: slows heat ingress, produces no cold | Very short runs only, by product |
| Refrigerated (non-mechanical) | Cools using a non-mechanical cold source (ice, eutectic plates, liquefied gas) | Limited, with finite autonomy |
| Mechanically refrigerated (F) | Generates cold mechanically and holds it indefinitely | Yes, the international standard |
The entire CoolCargo fleet is mechanically refrigerated with reinforced insulation in class C (ATP-FRC). See the fleet and the certifications.
Frequently asked questions about ATP
What exactly does ATP-FRC mean?
It is a vehicle classification code under the ATP Agreement. F means the equipment is mechanically refrigerated, that is, it generates cold with a mechanical unit. R means reinforced insulation, with a heat transfer coefficient K of 0.4 W/m²·K or lower. C is the class, which here means the equipment holds the interior between +12 °C and −20 °C with +30 °C outside.
How long is an ATP certificate valid?
The initial certificate is issued for a maximum of six years following testing of the equipment at an authorised station. After that it is renewed for periods of up to three years, subject to verification of the equipment’s condition by test or expert inspection, per the procedure of the country of registration.
What is the difference between FRC and FRB?
The minimum temperature the equipment guarantees. An FRB holds the interior down to −10 °C and an FRC down to −20 °C, both with +30 °C outside. To carry quick-frozen product, which must travel at −18 °C or below, class C is the minimum.
What is the K coefficient of a trailer?
It is the overall heat transfer coefficient of the body: it measures how much heat comes in through the walls. The lower, the better the insulation. ATP requires K of 0.7 W/m²·K or lower for normal insulation (N) and 0.4 W/m²·K or lower for reinforced (R). The coefficient degrades with the age and use of the body, and it is checked at every certificate renewal.
Can an ATP-FRC vehicle carry chilled product at +4 °C?
Yes. Class C covers the whole range between +12 °C and −20 °C, so the same equipment serves both frozen and chilled. It is one of the reasons FRC is the fleet standard: the type of load can change without changing the vehicle.
How do I check a carrier’s ATP is valid?
The vehicle’s ATP certificate, or a certified copy, must travel on board and be produced on request by the enforcing authority. The equipment also carries a visible marking with the class and expiry date. A shipper can and should ask for copies of the certificates of the vehicles that will move their freight.
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