Managing fleet vehicles can be challenging, but not if you have the power of telematics at your disposal. It’s a modern technology that allows you to seamlessly keep track of your fleet and stay in touch with them at all times.
Telematics comes in handy if you have a large fleet, where multiple items are being loaded and unloaded off a truck every few minutes. Realistically, you would have to be at several locations at the same time, for the entire operation to run smoothly. However, that is impossible since you can’t be in two places at once. And that’s where you take advantage of telematics.
It allows you to monitor many locations and drivers at one time. So, you can keep track of any irregularities and make adjustments when necessary.
Advantages for Refrigerated transport
The tracking suite works best with temperature-controlled vehicles as it allows you to remotely control the thermostat. You can maintain the temperature, and increase or decrease it depending on the situation.
Moreover, you can monitor the temperature for individual loads while they are in transit. For example, if you have frozen fish and vegetables in the same compartment, you would want the fish to be colder than the vegetables to maintain their freshness on delivery. The telematics suite allows you to do just that and a lot more.
Another advantage is cargo safety and timely delivery, which can be enforced with the help of telematics. Since you will be able to track the goods from their source to the endpoint, you will have full control of their security and movement. You could force the driver to move faster, and in the event of a theft, you would be able to catch the culprit red-handed.
Conclusion
Telematics works well for refrigerated transport vehicles. It’s a gift that has made goods transport a breeze for the modern fleet owner.
It is incredibly difficult to buy a vehicle nowadays. That’s because automobile prices have risen consistently over the past few years. You have no other option but to finance a loan or go for a lease to purchase something decent.
The two terms are commonly used, but not many people know what they mean. Is a loan or a lease better for you? Should you prefer either option if you intend to buy a refrigerated vehicle?
To find out, let’s get into the details.
Lease
In a lease agreement, you rent the vehicle while it is in someone else’s name. In essence, the person you are renting from owns the vehicle, and you pay them a monthly stipend. Once the lease period ends, you must return the vehicle and pay for any damages that might have occurred during that time.
In some lease agreements, you can pay a specified amount by the end of the period to buy the vehicle and transfer ownership.
Financing
Loan financing is a simple concept. If you want to purchase a refrigerated vehicle, you can approach a bank and show them the vehicle you want to buy. They will provide you the money based on your credit history and financial situation. You must pay back the money in monthly installments plus interest that the bank will charge for its services.
Which one is better?
There is no short answer. Each business owner or a fleet operator has to analyze all pros and cons and conclude the optimal choice. This is because the monthly rent in a lease is usually not that high, and the ownership rests with the leasing authority. If you decide to sell your truck before the agreement ends, you can do so without any repercussions. In a loan, you have to pay the amount every month and keep the truck well-maintained by yourself.
The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc across the globe, and under its influence, several industries have been forced to shut down. As a result, we are witnessing an acute shortage of all kinds of things, from electronics to non-perishable food items to perishable goods. In these tough times, the transport industry has also been hit hard, but most of the people employed here have been able to survive better than others. That’s because goods need to be taken from their source to the markets worldwide and without truckers this job is impossible.
Among all the truckers, one niche has seen a considerable rise in demand – temperature-controlled transportation.
The pandemic has caused a rise in the demand for packaged goods because people prefer bacteria-free products over regular organic food. This way, there is less transfer of germs from one person to another.
According to statistics, large-scale retailers experienced a 20-30% surge in the demand for temperature-controlled goods. That simply means that if there is demand for goods there must be a complementary demand for cold transportation.
The time is right for anyone looking to invest in a temperature-controlled transport fleet. You will be able to take advantage of the current lockdown conditions and make huge gains in the process. And even if lockdown restrictions are lifted, there will still be a healthy demand for packaged goods. So, you will be safe in the future as well.
Moreover, making a heavy investment in current market conditions will only help newcomers infiltrate the industry deeper. The Covid-19 pandemic isn’t going anywhere, and we are seeing wave after wave of rising cases with no end in sight. Experts believe that restrictive conditions will prevail for the next few years. So, now is the best time to get yourself a refrigerated transport truck.
It’s a tough ask to choose a new HVAC system for your vehicle. The decision itself can be very challenging and full of confusion since there are so many options in the market to choose from. It helps if you have the correct information before you make the purchase.
Tips to make the decision
Here is what you need to know to make your decision.
Determine the right size
You don’t want to waste money by buying the wrong size HVAC system for your truck. It’s better to have a professional take the measurements, so he/she can advise on the correct size. If you buy a small system it won’t cool the cabin efficiently and if the HVAC system is too large then it will consume a lot of energy to function. Therefore, you need to find the right balance and then install the perfect system.
Calculate Maintenance Charges
You should consider calculating the yearly maintenance charges for your HVAC system. Each system has its specifications, so the maintenance is different as well. The air filter is not the same, and neither is the refrigerant used by the system. These factors cause a variance in price, so be careful before selecting.
Choose the right thermostat
Your HVAC system should always be in your control. If you set a certain temperature, it should stay within that range and not deviate. In such cases, a digital thermostat works best, as it keeps you updated on the current temperature and you can make adjustments as much as you like.
On the other hand, the analog thermostat works the same way but it is inaccurate. You don’t want that, especially if you are transporting temperature-sensitive goods.
Final Thoughts
The right HAVC system is the one that comes within your budget, is reliable, and works well with your vehicle setup. Therefore, don’t overthink and go with the one that you find works best while keeping in mind the points mentioned above.
Thermal insulation is very important if you are a refrigerated goods transporter. It’s necessary to keep your truck sealed at all times so that there is no temperature leakage. Otherwise, the air conditioner would have to work double-time to maintain the temperature inside the cabin.
Fortunately, you can maintain cabin temperature by adding proper padding and insulation materials. Here we will look at a few things you can do that will make a difference.
Insulation Materials
Experts believe that it is better to target insulation materials that have a lower thermal conductivity. That’s because such a material is economically viable, and it saves you from adding thick padding on the hold walls. The latter consumes space, which ultimately affects your truck’s storage capacity.
Polyurethane Foam
If you are looking for one of the cheapest thermal insulators, then you need not look further than polyurethane foam. This material is commercially available, and it is cheap, so you won’t be spending a fortune securing your vehicle. You can create rigid boards or pads filled with dedicated foam and easily fit them to the hold walls for maximum effect.
Fiberglass
Fiberglass is widely used in the fishing industry as an insulator for boats and trawlers. There is no reason why you can’t use it in your truck or vehicle to maintain temperature. The good thing about fiberglass is that it is easily available, cheap, resistant to fire, and inconducive to heat. Moreover, it is available in a variety of presentations (in the form of mats, pads, boards, or as loose-fill).
A major disadvantage is that fiberglass breaks easily, so you have to be careful with handling your goods.
Final Thoughts
There are many other ways you can improve thermal insulation in your vehicle. Many of them are expensive and difficult to implement, so you should better stick with something that is both cheap and easy to install.