CCJ | Commercial Carrier Journal : December 2008
Technology: Keeping it cool
26 Commercial Carrier Journal December 2008 R efrigerated carri-ers know the risks involved in moving temperature-sensitive goods. A fluctuation of only a few degrees can lead to a total cargo loss. One way to prevent such mistakes is by early detection. Trailer monitor-ing systems can provide real-time visibility of reefer status, enabling fleet managers to confirm at any time that their refrig-eration units consistently are within the operating parameters requested by customers. Both Thermo King and Carrier Transicold have a standard interface proto-col that allows any third-party system to communicate with the microproces-sors of their latest refrigeration units. With this protocol, fleets can monitor a variety of operating parameters, including reefer power status, operating mode, return air temperature, set point, operating hours, battery voltage, fuel level and any fault codes or alarms. Besides passing along information from the trailer, the interface extends in the other direction. Fleet managers can change temperature set points or turn refrigeration units on or off by using any computer with an Internet con-nection. However, not all trailer monitoring systems presently allow users to change reefer settings. When you start talking with (fleet) executives, they get real shy about starting an engine remotely, says Bob Montgomery, product development leader for GE Asset Intelligence, which offers the cellular-based VeriWise reefer management system. People will gain confidence in the safety mechanisms over time. Besides the fact that some vendors presently do not offer remote control, another major difference between offerings is with the power supply. We have always taken power from the tractor, Montgomery says. More recently, VeriWise also has started taking power directly from both Carrier and Thermo King units, he says. In some cases, we also put solar power, Montgomery says. Guardian Technologies earlier this year announced ReeferGuard, a system with integrated solar cell technology to gather energy. The system draws Keeping it cool Visibility, control help avert reefer problems By Aaron Huff technology n EBE Technologies (www.ebe-inc.com), a provider of business process management solu-tions, completed its interface with Instructional Technologies' (ITI) computer-based training solutions, Pro-Tread and Pro-Tread In-Cab. n Tools (www.profittools.net) intro-duced Mobile Office, a mobile com-puting system designed to deliver document transfer and print capabili-ties to drivers on the road. n (www.gefleet.com) developed a product-controls fuel card designed to enable drivers to purchase oil, car washes, coolant and wiper fluid, in addition to fuel. n Xata Corp. (www.xata.com) announced that Eby-Brown a major U.S. tobacco, candy and convenience distribu-tor has adopted Xatanet as its fleet opti-mization platform. n launched Mobius Insight, a new add-on feature to its flagship Mobius TTS onboard computer and fleet manage-ment software. Mobius Insight provides dozens of preconfigured dashboards for transportation executives. n announced its PB2 and PB3 commer-cial mobile receipt printers designed to provide low-cost, wearable receipt printing solutions for DSD/route accounting, retail queue busting and field service applications. in brief GE's VeriWise reefer product provides information and warnings about the reefer operation for many Carrier Transicold and Thermo King units.