Over the past several years, refrigerated container throughput has continued to grow. And now that populations around the globe have found a taste for fresh produce, it’s hard to imagine this trend will slow.
Technological advances and increases in agricultural output from developing countries allow consumers to enjoy year-round what were once only local, seasonal products. Additionally, recent gains in pharmaceuticals shipped via refrigerated containers have escalated the demand for reefer handling capability.
Terminals wishing to engage in this trade or increase current capacity must prioritize yard space and electrical connections to support the demands of refrigerated containers and this growing segment.
But that’s not all.
Unlike dry containers, reefers require more than real estate. And they are not commodities that simply pass through the port. Perishable cargo demands attention to detail.
Ensuring the safety of the perishable cargo and delivering value to the cargo owner should be the ultimate goal. Reefer operators must keep track of the critical data each reefer provides. If for anything else, to protect themselves against potential claims of loss while the cargo is in the operator’s care. Because should the contents of a refrigerated container reach its final destination spoiled due to the reefer failing to maintain specified atmospheric settings during the trip, where is the value in that?
To avoid this, manual inspections of reefer conditions remain the long-standing process of verifying temperature settings and mechanical functionality at many ports worldwide. Humans physically walk the yard, gathering data and recording the information.
Yet, humans are, of course, fallible, and documentation errors are common. Additionally, hours can go by between each inspection, leaving gaps in coverage and increasing the potential of reefer failures going unnoticed.
Moreover, refrigerated containers can fall out of spec for various reasons.
- Mechanical failure of the reefer equipment
- Incorrect or incomplete instructions regarding setpoints
- Human error in recording data
- Failure to plug the reefer into a power supply
By comparison, automated monitoring ensures the quality of refrigerated cargo by providing a centralized picture of the entire reefer yard with remote access to:
- Alerts to temperature changes in real-time
- Power connection status and electrical energy usage
- Setpoint control
Access to this data can also decrease claims of spoiled cargo. Automated data collection affords terminal operators precise reports on the condition of each container at any point in time, delivering value to the shippers and cargo owners that entrust terminal operators with the care of their perishable loads.
So, while having enough terminal space and access to plugs is the first step to increasing reefer throughput, remote monitoring allows operators to scale their business and ensure successful growth.
Contact RTE to learn how a customized remote reefer monitoring solution can help your reefer terminal provide better value and grow.
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