BY BEN AMES, SENIOR NEWS EDITOR
TRANSPORTATION FLEET MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY
With the cold chain market set to explode, temperature-controlled fleets are looking to
sophisticated new technologies that provide precision monitoring of perishable cargo.
SUPPLY CHAIN VISIBILITY IS A CRUCIAL CAPABILIty in the trucking sector, allowing fleet managers to track
the precise location and condition of every vehicle as they
hustle to meet strict delivery schedules while complying
with a host of regulatory requirements such as driver
hours-of-service caps. Nowhere is that more true than in
the cold chain, where fleet managers must meet all those
demands plus one more thing—keep their freight within
precise temperature ranges at every step of the journey.
Meeting this challenge requires far more than simply
bolting an air conditioner onto a refrigerated “reefer”
truck and uploading a tracking app to the driver’s smart-
phone. So in search of better ways to monitor freight
temperatures in transit and provide real-time data to
shippers, the industry is turning to new technologies such
as sensors, the Internet of Things (IoT), fifth-generation
(5G) wireless networking, and blockchain data sharing,
Cold chain fleet managers say those platforms could
change the way temperature-controlled trucking is per-
formed within the next five years. By providing improved
environmental monitoring, track-and-trace capabilities,
and supply chain visibility, these technologies could also
help fleets keep up with exploding demand for tempera-
ture-controlled transport. The global cold chain market
is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate
(CAGR) of 7.6% from 2018 to 2023, to reach a value of
$293 billion by the end of that period, according to the
Northbrook, Illinois-based research firm Markets and
Markets Inc. The growth will be driven by the expansion
of international trade in perishable foods, technologi-
cal advancements in refrigerated storage and transport,
government support for infrastructure development, and
increased consumer demand for perishable foods in both
Staying
cool under pressure
