When perishable goods are exposed to unsuitable temperatures, they can spoil, lose their freshness or even become dangerous for consumption. On the other hand, some drugs can lose their efficacy if stored too hot or too cold, which can endanger the health of patients.
Temperature monitoring systems are used to ensure that temperatures remain within a safe range during transportation. These systems include sensors and advanced technologies that can measure and monitor temperature in real time. They can generate alerts if the temperature goes outside the desired parameters so that appropriate action can be taken to protect the goods.
The importance of temperature monitoring becomes even greater with longer distances and complex logistics routes. During transportation, goods may be exposed to different environmental conditions, such as extreme heat or cold. Temperature monitoring allows logistics professionals to continuously monitor goods and detect any abnormalities in a timely manner. This enables them to act proactively and prevent possible damage or loss of goods.
In short, temperature monitoring is vital in refrigerated transportation to ensure the quality, safety and shelf life of perishable goods. Through advanced temperature monitoring systems, logistics companies can maintain the integrity of goods and provide customers with fresh and safe products.
Carrier and Thermo King are world leaders in high-technology heating, air conditioning and refrigeration solutions. These companies provide a number of heating and air conditioning tools for the transportation industry.
All-Connects tracking systems for the transportation industry are compatible with Carrier Vector units (single and multi-compartment), as well as all Thermo King units that can transfer data via Thermo King iBox. All-Connects thus provides a way to transfer data from the units over the mobile network to the management application.
- Monitoring temperature
- Retrieve warning codes from refrigerated containers and maintenance scheduling
- Automatic alerts for low battery
- Analysis of engine running hours and fuel consumption
- Integration with external IT systems, for example shipment tracking solutions, providing this data in real time to customers or dispatchers in the office.
Reefer units seem pretty simple to follow up at first: you set the desired temperature, set a required operating mode, and you're good to go. Unfortunately, a number of errors can occur during this process, and it is essential to have a way to verify that the driver has set everything correctly. All-Connects' Fleet.connect tracking platform provides accurate data on the status of the refrigeration unit, providing a way for the dispatcher in the office to track the shipment.
All temperature data is displayed in the form of graphs, allowing filters, detailed zoom on both axes and detailed information about each specific data point. Since the temperature data is linked to GPS data, it is possible to monitor not only when changes in temperature mode were made, but also where they were made.
- Target temperature (required temperature for the load, red color)
- Supply air temperature (the temperature of the air blown into the compartment, blue color)
- Return air temperature (the temperature of the air coming out of the compartment and represents the actual temperature of the load, green color)
- Ambient air temperature (temperature outside the cooling unit).
Defrost cycles are also monitored and can be filtered to avoid asking about temperature readings that fall out of range.
Both Carrier and Thermo King refrigeration containers offer a set of warning codes that can be used to understand what is happening with the refrigeration unit. Some warning codes describe fault conditions and cooling container shutdowns, while other codes are used to provide information about regular maintenance intervals and other informational issues.
By receiving this information over the airwaves in the form of alerts, you can manage your refrigerated containers more efficiently. You can schedule your maintenance work faster and find the nearest Carrier / Thermo King service center in case of urgent problems.
Getting unit status information and alarm codes as quickly as possible is vital when transporting temperature-sensitive goods. According to EU guidelines on drivers' working and rest times, truck drivers are allowed to drive for 4.5 hours at a time, which means that if something happens to the refrigeration unit during the trip, it can take up to 4.5 hours for the driver to notice the problem. If you want to monitor this vital data remotely, there are a number of possible solutions:
- The driver can be informed immediately that the cooling unit has stopped or is having problems. The driver can take action as soon as parking is available.
- The dispatcher in the office can be notified and he can contact the driver to verify that everything is correct.
The All-Connects tracking unit also reads the battery status of the refrigeration unit. If it is not used for an extended period of time, the battery may drain completely, leading to the need for battery replacement and thus additional costs to the company.
Once the battery voltage drops, an alert is sent via the Fleet.Connect tracking platform and the customer can monitor the situation.
Carrier and Thermo King refrigeration units also provide information on the number of hours the unit has run in each of the power modes (diesel/electric). This information can easily be used to calculate estimated fuel consumption to ensure that fuel is not stolen from the unit.
Most transportation companies already use a solution to manage and track their shipments. The Fleet.Connect tracking platform also provides customers with an API to integrate refrigerated transport monitoring into their existing systems.
If you have an internal system for scheduling maintenance on refrigerated containers, you can easily integrate it with Fleet.Connect to receive real-time alert code data on each refrigeration unit.
To retrieve data from Carrier and Thermo King units, two separate devices are required: a Carrier gateway / Thermo King iBox connected to the refrigeration unit and an All-Connects device connected to the gateway / iBox unit that transfers the data to the Fleet.Connect platform. Both devices are powered by the refrigeration unit's battery.
Do you still have questions after reading this blog and what works for your specific business situation? Then contact us directly by phone 03 289 55 35 or click here for more information.
After reading this blog, are you curious about which tracking and digital solutions All-Connects offers? Ask us your question and we will answer you as soon as possible.
