How to choose a reefer monitoring system for your operation

Evaluate the pain points and take control.

When transitioning from manual reefer inspection to an automated model, it’s crucial to understand the environment and the problems that need resolution. When clients ask for advice on selecting a reefer monitoring system, we first ask fundamental questions to understand their unique challenges, focusing on critical areas of concern. By listening to their responses, we gain valuable insight into the entire operation, leading to constructive solutions that meet every client’s needs and empower them to succeed.

Here are a few examples.

What are the most critical problems facing your operation that you believe remote reefer monitoring can help resolve?​

This question is essential to understand. And clients often begin with a single concern they want to iron out. Yet through our interview process, we often discover many unforeseen areas of their operation where remote reefer monitoring may help the client.

Here are several ‘pain points’ we typically encounter.

• Too many reefers to inspect manually
• Reefer positioning in stacks makes manual inspections difficult and time-consuming
• Safety concerns for reefer yard personnel
• Data entry errors affecting cargo integrity
• Inconsistent record-keeping
• Lack of integrated data
• Missing insight into energy efficiency

Can you relate to any of these?  Perhaps, several of them. Automated reefer monitoring can help to resolve them all. However, identifying which one or more is most important to you will ensure a quantifiable result is attained.

Will the monitoring solution be for a terminal, depot, or another type of operation?​

The answer will give us a better idea of the structure of the operation. Refrigerated containers can be handled in various ways, and these methods can differ at different stages in the cold chain, and sometimes even within the same facility.

For example, reefer terminals might use stacks, racks, or a combination of both, while depots may rely on stacks or wheeled yards. Other operations include intermodal facilities, rail yards, and vessels.

Therefore, understanding the entire reefer operation is crucial in determining which Remote Reefer Monitoring system will work best. Since there is no one-size-fits-all solution that can perfectly match every situation, having options can help create the best outcome for each unique operation. Consider providers that offer multiple solutions within the same product family.  

How many reefer connection points need monitoring? 

Understanding the number of connections needed can provide an idea of the scale of your data collection project. It’s also important to plan for future expansion. Although you might not need it now, the amount of refrigerated goods passing through your facility is likely to increase. It has recently been reported that seaborne reefer traffic will increase by 3.7% annually. By considering how this could affect your operation in the future and incorporating it into your monitoring solution today, you may be able to reduce costs later on.

Does the operation have a communication system installed throughout the yard?​

• WAN (Cellular)
• LAN (Cable/Fiber Optic)
• WLAN (Wireless)

Why does this matter?

Knowing which communication network is available may open or limit the range of product choices. Each communication system has advantages and disadvantages that need to be considered. For example, the cost of cabling infrastructure may need to be balanced with the challenges of wireless ‘noise’ in the terminal yard.

Moving forward on a solution without first understanding its impact on effective data collection may cost more in the long run. To avoid this, it is recommended to consult with a qualified systems engineer first. They can help identify communication challenges in advance. 

In summary, reefer operators begin their journey into remote reefer monitoring for various unique reasons. Understanding that some methods may be better suited to one environment than another is essential to success. Additionally, maintaining clear communication between the client and RTE engineers is vital to developing a robust solution that will adjust to the client’s changing needs.

Connect with our client services team today to learn how an RTE reefer monitoring system would work in your environment. Let’s get started.

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