No longer simple iceboxes on wheels, refrigeration systems are evolving to include highly efficient, green data management solutions
There was a time when technological revolutions came in fits and starts. As a result, their impact on a business, industry or society tended to be fairly dramatic. But over the past two decades, the advent of computers and the subsequent quantum leaps in computing power have accelerated the pace of technological innovations to the point that today we constantly are bombarded with new products offering game-changing capabilities.
A prime example of this unceasing technological push can be seen in fundamental changes now taking place in the reefer market. Until recently, the reefer’s evolution had been fairly straightforward and largely predictable. Early reefers used block ice and electric fans to keep loads frozen or cool. As mobile refrigerated systems came along, diesel-powered Freon-cooled trailers became commonplace. Various waves of newer, better insulating materials were the puzzle’s final piece, resulting in the more efficient reefer units that have dominated the industry for decades.
But if you thought reefer manufacturers had reached the pinnacle of their design arc, think again. The next generation of refrigeration technology now appearing on the market offers refrigerated fleets unprecedented leaps in terms of load quality, temperature control, fuel savings, data logging and remote operation. These new reefers use established technologies like cell phone networks, GPS, diesel-electric hybrid engines and the Internet to give fleets more control as to how they move refrigerated loads and the power to control costs while doing so.
Witte Brothers Exchange, a Troy, Mo.-based refrigerated fleet, began using Carrier Transicold’s hybrid Vector units in 2009 and was among the first to adopt diesel-electric reefer power for its trailers. “Like any fleet, we’re looking for a competitive edge,” says Brent Witte, president. “The status quo just isn’t good enough anymore, especially when you factor in 4-dollar-a-gallon diesel fuel and the push from our customers to adopt green technology.”
Witte sees future growth in the trucking industry coming in continuous steady waves rather than quick spurts over long periods of time. “Adopting technology that allows us to better control external costs such as fuel enables us to prepare for that new business reality,” he says.
Saving fuel and going green
Dave Kiefer, director of marketing and product management for Carrier Transicold, sees four key customer-driven trends that relate to current reefer technology developments. First, there is a widespread demand for improved fuel efficiency of transport refrigeration units. This ties in directly with the second trend: the ability to run the unit by electricity when parked – also called standby operation. Third and fourth, the dual push for “green” operations – both from customers seeking a marketing edge and the forthcoming federal greenhouse gas emissions regulations – has led to a demand for cleaner-running reefer units that simultaneously will reduce the unit’s overall carbon footprint.
Other key concerns include eliminating driver error, improving ease of use, customizing and optimizing performance, simplifying troubleshooting and maintenance, and greater use of telematics for remote monitoring and control. Carrier Transicold has addressed many of those issues through a new TRU control system and software applications that support it, Kiefer says.
Fleets are looking to vendors for more flexibility in how they go to market, says Doug Lenz, director of transport product management for Thermo King. “At the end of the day, what we’re really talking about is information, particularly fuel monitoring and metrics,” Lenz says. Going forward, new engines will give fleets dependable fuel consumption data so they can manage their operations better, understand their costs and potentially charge their customers more on their actual reefer use instead of estimated usage, he says.
New technologies give reefer fleets more control as to how they move loads and the power to control costs while doing so.
Hybrid diesel-electric reefer units have proven effective in reducing fleet fuel costs because they have the capability to run off electricity. “When (electric) standby is used during loading, unloading and staging, our Vector refrigerated power units save fuel because the diesel engine is not used, eliminating associated emissions and noise,” Kiefer says. These features are attractive for use at supermarkets and distribution facilities near residential areas. By using the diesel engine less, there is also less engine wear, helping to extend service intervals and longevity.
