Stoughton reveals PureBlue performance measures; sets RIG safety benchmark
Key Highlights
- PureBlue trailers are 18.2% more thermally efficient than competitors, potentially saving fleets up to $910 annually in fuel costs.
- The trailers feature a 27.7% more airtight design, reducing temperature fluctuations and extending refrigeration system lifespan.
- Stoughton expanded its Evansville facility by 87%, increasing production capacity and enabling complex trailer configurations with factory-installed multi-zone temperature options.
- The company is the first to meet the IIHS TOUGHGUARD impact standard at 40mph, surpassing the previous 35mph benchmark, enhancing safety for rear impact collisions.
- Independent testing by Element Labs and Calspan validates the performance and safety improvements of the PureBlue trailer line.
NASHVILLE—Stoughton Trailers recently enhanced its PureBlue refrigerated trailer line to deliver higher thermal efficiency and lighter weight for fleets. The company, which manufactures transportation equipment, commissioned independent testing by Element Labs showing PureBlue trailers are, on average, 18.2% more thermally efficient than five leading competitors, potentially saving up to $910 annually in fuel costs, as Stoughton leadership detailed at the Technology & Maintenance Council 2026 Annual Meeting and Transportation Technology Exhibition here.
The trailers’ 27.7% more airtight design reduces temperature fluctuations and extends refrigeration system life. PureBlue is also lighter than four of the five competitor trailers tested and offers multi-temperature zones for transporting mixed loads.
“The competitive refrigerated trailers in this space are quite good, reputable—running all over the U.S. every day and night,” Stoughton Chief Commerical Officer Jeremy Sanders said, speaking to industry media from the company’s booth at TMC. “So this isn't about anyone else being bad—this is about us being good, and we want to prove to you why we feel so confident in our product. We're going to continue to talk about these metrics because we're proud of it. We believe it's real, and we want everyone who is in the market for refrigerated trailers to give our product a try. Don't just take our word for it.”
TBB Flashback: Stoughton launches PureBlue production
To support growing demand, Stoughton Trailers has expanded refrigerated trailer production at its Evansville, Wisconsin, facility, increasing floor space by 87% and adding multiple parallel production paths for complex trailer configurations. Additionally, PureBlue trailers are now available with factory-installed equipment that allows multiple temperature zones within the trailer.
“The investments made in Evansville have dramatically increased our production capacity,” said Todd Eicher, VP of refrigerated products. “The investments in expanding our product offering, production capacity, and third-party competitive testing show our commitment to the refrigerated trailer line and our growth expectations.”
New TOUGHGUARD mark set
Stoughton Trailers is the first trailer manufacturer to meet the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety TOUGHGUARD rear impact requirements at an elevated speed of 40mph, surpassing the 35mph standard IIHS previously set for the van trailer industry, the company also reported at TMC.
The crash test was conducted on December 22 at an independent third-party testing facility operated by Calspan in Buffalo, New York. Calspan is an independent provider of testing and technology development services for the aerospace, defense, and automotive industries.
“Safety is a piece of our DNA, a piece of what differentiates Stoughton,” Chief Commercial Officer Jeremy Sanders said during a TMC press event, adding that company last year became the only intermodal chassis builder to meet the IIHS 35mph standard. “We're continuing to invest in the safety of our products. We're continuing to invest in being the best in class in this because, frankly, it's just the right thing to do.”
The test followed all IIHS TOUGHGUARD protocols for a 30% overlap rear impact. The company purposely chose the 30% overlap crash test as it is more challenging to pass than the straight-on, full width test and the 50% overlap test, as Sanders explained. Advanced simulation modeling confirms the Stoughton rear impact guard (RIG) passes the full width, 50% overlap and 30% overlap test requirements at the elevated speed of 40mph.
Look for additional coverage in the April print edition for TBB.