Refrigerated vehicles often carry significant amounts of valuable and time-sensitive assets. If they don’t arrive at the right location quickly and efficiently, these assets could expire before they’re able to be used, resulting in wasted labor, fuel, and material costs.
So, monitoring refrigerated truck fleets to ensure all shipments are delivered safely, timely, and in good condition should be a top concern for fleet management. Common cold chain logistics challenges can be mediated or even prevented with the use of GPS tracking technology; keep reading to find out how!
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6 Common Challenges for Cold Chain Logistics
Operating a high-quality cold chain logistics company involves navigating a handful of challenges, including:
1. Equipment Failure
Refrigeration units are complex electro-mechanical machines that can—and do—break down. If the equipment fails, then the temperature-sensitive cargo is at risk, which can be incredibly costly. Modern refrigeration units can have more than 200 alarm or fault codes, which means there are more than 200 ways the unit could fail or malfunction.
Some of the most common malfunctions include fluid leaks, faulty belts and hoses, faulty calibration, damaged air chutes, condenser issues, sensor malfunctions, door seals damaged, and bulkhead blockage. If these problems aren’t resolved quickly, they can affect the temperature inside the reefer unit and compromise the quality of your load, leading to spoiled cargo.
2. Driver Error
Transportation companies need drivers to be safe and able to configure refrigeration units to optimize performance for the cargo being transported. At a minimum, the driver must be able to configure the set-point for the unit, though ideally the driver can also set the mode of operation to either continuous run or start/stop mode and perform a manual defrost of the refrigeration unit when needed.
However, refrigeration units can differ significantly from brand to brand and model to model. In order to perform these basic configurations, drivers must be familiar with the operation of the controller of the refrigeration unit, which varies across makes and models. This, of course, poses a big challenge to transporters in terms of driver training since such training would have to be so extensive.
This also exposes transportation companies to risks of driver mistakes when operating the equipment. For instance, if the driver changes the set-point to -2.0oC instead of -20oC then this can result in the cargo being spoiled and rejected by the receiver. Furthermore, drivers who aren’t familiar with the reefer’s alarm codes won’t know how to respond and identify a problem when an alarm is triggered.
3. Compliance Issues
Regulations covering the temperature controls distribution and logistics industry are only moving one way: toward more stringent rules, reporting, and record-keeping.
Transportation companies are impacted daily by the implementation of new rules that aim to keep the food supply chain intact and regulated. Transporters of temperature-sensitive goods will need to develop and implement procedures to describe how they will comply with provisions for temperature control and how they will provide this information to both shippers and receivers.
This poses another challenge for cold chain logistics companies as this entails another layer of training for drivers. Drivers will need to be trained on temperature management and reporting requirements, and temperature records for each shipment will need to be retained.
4. Inadequate Documentation
Another significant challenge for the cold chain logistics industry stems from a lack of traceability in cold chain transport. Failure to maintain records of transport amounts to a higher risk of illness and damaged, wasted freight.
Moreover, failures in documentation could lead to stiff penalties from oversight organizations across the globe. For example, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration might impose compliance violations for a lost chain of custody and levy fines or penalties. Ensuring proper documentation is necessary for the efficiency and effectiveness of cold chain logistics.
5. Poor Packaging
Another common problem in cold chain transport involves packaging: Poor packaging and insulation can lead to drastic temperature changes within products, which in turn negatively impacts the quality of the cargo.
The best-laid plans will fail when improperly packaged and insulated freight is outside the climate-controlled cargo trailer. This is only further exacerbated in areas where outdoor temperatures have a higher average.
6. Climate Control Fluctuations
Fluctuating temperatures within the trailer could result in the thawing of foods and pharmaceuticals that need to be kept at a steady, consistent temperature. Of course, temperatures below certain levels may also cause damage to fresh produce and pharmaceuticals.
Furthermore, the risk of fluctuating temperatures is present during the loading and unloading phases of the logistics chain. This is one facet where proper packaging can prove its value and reduce this risk. In addition, pre-chilling freight is a great way to lower the risk of fluctuations during cargo movement.
How GPS Tracking Helps Avoid These Challenges
Fleet managers can monitor a vehicle’s cargo temperature levels remotely and minimize driver labor by utilizing GPS tracking and fleet management software to receive comprehensive temperature tracking reports.
Additional benefits of using GPS tracking in your cold chain logistics company include:
Monitoring Activities
GPS tracking can provide real-time information on the following:
- Arrivals and departures
- Routes
- Deceleration and acceleration
- Speed
- Location (even on private roads)
- Turns
- Schedule performance
- 24-hour tracking
Preventing Equipment Breakdowns
Implementing GPS tracking software to optimize your cold chain logistics business also means your fleet managers will receive automated reports on engine performance. This is essential for scheduling maintenance so that your equipment can last as long as possible while running at its best operation.
Achieving FSMA Compliance
GPS tracking for cold chain logistics involves a crucial component: temperature monitoring with automatic notifications in case the temperature deviates from set thresholds.
Plus, it can provide a trip report showing the temperature reading at every scheduled update with required data retention, which further supplies necessary documentation and improves your project management with reports that detail actual mileage and vehicle performance. Additional features of GPS tracking include monitoring defrost cycles, the status of the refrigeration unit, and the opening and closing of the door.
Since 1993, Rastrac has been helping organizations all over the world experience more efficient fleet operations and reduce their operating expenses. Rastrac is a leading provider of GPS tracking devices and remote asset tracking systems, with solutions that empower companies of all sizes to conduct more effective fleet management practices.
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