In refrigerated logistics, maintaining precise temperature control is paramount. Ensuring that perishable goods, such as food and pharmaceuticals, are transported under optimal conditions is critical to preserving their quality and safety.
By leveraging telematics and data integration solutions for refrigerated transport, logistics companies can closely monitor and manage temperature conditions, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations and delivering products with confidence.
This article explores the essential role of telematics in enhancing temperature compliance and operational efficiency in refrigerated transport and logistics.
Temperature compliance in refrigerated transport operations
In refrigerated transport, compliance standards must be maintained to ensure that perishable goods such as food, pharmaceuticals, and other temperature-sensitive products are transported under optimal conditions. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always go right, says Max Girault, Inauro’s Chief Commercial Officer.
“Typically, the manufacturer will do everything they can to manufacture within the temperature constraints that the standards provide. But once it’s out of the factory and into the hands of a third-party logistics company or someone else, it’s out of their control. There is a big impact on the materials if they’re not being carried at the right temperature.”
It’s a challenge faced by manufacturers and logistics companies around the globe.
The World Health Organization estimates that up to half of all vaccines produced globally are thrown out. A shortage of facilities and failures in temperature during transport and storage are major contributing factors.
Temperature-controlled logistics failures are costing the pharmaceutical industry. It’s losing about USD 35 billion every year due to such failures.
According to the United Nations, approximately 13% of all food harvested worldwide is lost before it reaches retailers. Poor handling and transportation issues play a significant role in these losses.
It’s a headache for insurers, adds Max, who says retailers are turning away goods arriving too cold or not cold enough. While the failure might have occurred during the logistics or transport phase, the manufacturers (and their insurers) often have to deal with the loss.
“There’s a lot of finger-pointing at the moment, which is wasting a lot of people’s time and money. Accurate data reporting can solve all that,” says Max.
Real-time refrigerated transport temperature monitoring adds an extra layer of protection to the supply chain
How data integration solves logistics issues
So, how can telemetry and data systems enhance refrigerated logistics and solve these issues?
“Knowing where the refrigerated trucks are is the first step,” says Max. “Knowing the temperature of the cargo is the second step.
“For example, fault codes in the refrigeration unit can warn of an issue during transit. With the right systems in place, manufacturers and retailers can have much more assurance from a logistics company that they’re temperature compliant.”
Real-time refrigerated transport temperature monitoring adds an extra layer of protection to the supply chain. “Through telematics integrations, we can receive second-by-second data on temperature. And from that, we can very quickly see trends, such as the way the refrigeration unit works. Therefore, any deviation from that is really easy to identify, too.”
Max says Inauro can provide a two-fold solution. “We ensure that real-time notification and information about the problem is relayed to the appropriate person who can address the issue.” Secondly, Inauro also provides an analysis of trends to improve operations over time.
Temperature-controlled logistics failures are costing the pharmaceutical industry
Refrigerated transport operations: a case study
Refrigerated transport provider Scully RSV was experiencing rapid growth and had increased the number of its refrigerated trucks and trailers from 141 to 1000 when it came to Inauro.
Scully RSV has sales and rental clients across Australia, and it wanted to streamline operations and gain complete transparency and control over its expanding fleet. It needed an integrated data logistics solution that would allow it to monitor assets, track their performance, share information, and keep track of how the assets were operated while they were hired out.
The business needed an IoT fleet management software partner that could deliver, which is why it chose Inauro. Through multiple sensors that monitor different parts of each vehicle, Inauro is gathering data on the refrigeration and temperature aspects of each vehicle, plus driver behaviour and other vehicle particulars, such as how it’s being used. The solution Inauro provided is flexible and connected to Scully RSV’s existing telematics systems on each asset.
The Inauro platform evolves with new tech advancements and changing business needs. Thanks to Perspio™, Scully RSV and its 120 customers have complete visibility of its assets, pinpointing their location and monitoring their performance. Perspio™ also delivers tracking information that helps with servicing.
Companies can reduce risks and ensure the safe delivery of perishable goods through the adoption of telematics and data integration solutions
Integrated data and logistics: discover more
Integrated data systems provide immense value in refrigerated logistics by ensuring precise temperature monitoring and compliance with regulatory standards. By adopting telematics and data integration systems for refrigerated vehicles, logistics companies can enhance operational efficiency, reduce risks and ensure the safe delivery of perishable goods.
Discover more about how Inauro and Perspio™ can elevate your operations by getting in touch with us today.
