Use case · Logistics and freight forwarding
Cold chain monitoring with FMx6 series trackers
The cold chain is becoming an increasingly important part of logistics, as many of our products are delivered frozen. Unfortunately, it is often difficult for fleet managers to monitor the temperature in the trailer during the journey – making it a real problem to ensure the quality of refrigerated goods. GPS devices can help here by providing the fleet manager with relevant information about the situation in the refrigerated trailer.
Image: Teltonika Telematics
The challenge
In cold chain logistics, problems can arise in three phases. First, the product may already be damaged before transport begins, while it is not yet in the carrier's care. Second, its quality may deteriorate during transport – for example due to incorrect temperature settings, refrigerator doors not being closed or condensation. Third, the condition of the goods may deteriorate at the recipient's premises if they are stored there under unsuitable conditions.
All refrigerated goods must be kept at a specific temperature throughout transport. Even small temperature changes can affect either the quality of the goods or the environment in which they are stored – which in turn affects the products themselves. Incorrect temperature settings can increase the risk of microbial or mould growth in the cargo area; if the temperature is too low, larger accumulations of ice crystals can form on the product and damage it.
Another area with many challenges is the doors of refrigerated trailers. Damaged doors may not close completely, allowing heat to enter and cold to escape. Even with correct temperature settings, this affects the temperature in the refrigerated trailer – the damage may be irreversible and cost the transport company a great deal of money. This type of problem can even compromise employee safety, as the inside of the trailer can become slippery or harmful mould can form.
Accurate data about conditions in the trailer is also important. The recipient of the goods or a supervisory authority may request this data if the products are damaged on delivery. And it would be a major problem if the data showed that the storage conditions had impaired the quality of the products. The fleet manager must know at all times that the goods are being stored under appropriate conditions in order to avoid possible difficulties with the recipient.
The solution
The FMC650 and FMM650 vehicle GPS trackers from the Teltonika PROFESSIONAL series can read data from the thermographs of refrigerated trailers. This allows fleet managers to monitor the situation in the refrigerated trailer during the journey and give drivers further instructions if necessary. As a result, more goods are stored under the right conditions in the refrigerated trailer and their quality does not deteriorate during transport. The FMC650 model is used to illustrate the solution.
How it works: A refrigeration thermograph is a device that measures the temperature in the trailer while also storing data about the conditions in the refrigerated trailer for further use and analysis. The supported thermographs have an RS232 communication line that can be connected to the FMC650 tracker via the COM1/COM2 port. Once connected, the device starts monitoring and storing the data recorded by the thermograph.
As both devices are easy to connect and configure, this is an ideal solution for transport companies in cold chain logistics. In addition, the Teltonika PROFESSIONAL series supports three different thermograph types – Carrier DataCold 600, Thermo King Transcom 2 and Thermo King TouchPrint.
With the FMC650, the fleet manager can monitor the thermograph data live, as the tracker sends this data directly to the way4net Portal. Since one of the main tasks of the thermograph is to record temperature data, the GPS device also records this data. This means certain settings of the refrigeration unit can be changed while the vehicle is still on the road: if the fleet manager notices that the temperature is too low or too high, they can call the driver and ask them to adjust the temperature in the refrigerated trailer. This ensures that the goods are always stored under the right conditions.
Thermographs also monitor the status of the refrigerator doors and report when the doors are not properly closed. The FMC650 also records this data and sends it to the portal. As with the temperature, the fleet manager can alert the driver that the refrigerator doors are not properly closed, so that the driver can close them and prevent possible damage to the goods, to people nearby or to themselves.
Thermographs also have special alarms, for example for a rapid rise in temperature in the refrigerated vehicle. The Teltonika GPS devices can monitor these alarms and notify the fleet manager that one or more alarms are active. Via the device configuration, the vehicle trackers of the Teltonika PROFESSIONAL series can be set to record only certain alarms. Please note that the exact range of functions depends on the respective thermograph model.
If the fleet manager later needs information about the conditions in the refrigerated trailer, this data can be stored in the portal and retrieved at a later date. This is useful when the recipient of the goods or supervisory authorities want to know under which conditions the goods were stored during transport.
The trackers of the Teltonika PROFESSIONAL series, namely the FMC650 and FMM650, were developed to help fleet managers overcome the challenges described above. These GPS devices can be used to implement a complete solution – using the FMC650 as an example, we show how.
The FMC650 tracker (4G LTE Cat 1) can be configured to generate specific events depending on operational requirements. These events can have different priorities, so that the fleet manager sees the events most important to them first. This practical function helps to focus first on the events that are critical to the operation of the entire fleet.
And the other functions and advantages of these PROFESSIONAL vehicle GPS trackers should not be forgotten: they feature an RS232 transparent mode that makes it easy to read data from external devices. The FMC650 also has an internal 550 mAh battery, external GNSS and 4G antennas, 4 digital inputs and 4 digital outputs (DIN/DOUT), and its data transmission intervals can be configured so that data is sent according to the movement scenario.
System overview
Graphic: Teltonika Telematics
Your benefits
Precise temperature monitoring
The trackers enable real-time temperature monitoring and ensure that perishable goods are transported under the required conditions – reducing spoilage and losses.
More efficient routes
Thanks to real-time GPS tracking, fleet managers can optimise routes for faster and more efficient deliveries – crucial in time-critical cold chain logistics.
Advanced vehicle diagnostics
The FMx6 series provides detailed vehicle diagnostic data, enables predictive maintenance and reduces the risk of breakdowns during critical transports.
Real-time alarms and notifications
Receive instant alerts for temperature deviations, unscheduled stops or door openings and take immediate countermeasures to protect the integrity of the cargo.
Improved regulatory compliance
The FMx6 trackers help meet strict regulatory requirements for temperature-controlled transport – important for complying with industry standards and maintaining customer trust.
In-depth data analysis
Access to historical data and analyses helps optimise future processes, improve overall efficiency and reduce operating costs.
Greater customer satisfaction
By ensuring the integrity of the goods and punctual deliveries, the trackers help build a reputation for reliability and service quality in cold chain logistics.
Devices used
Devices from Teltonika – available from way4net to buy or rent, bundled with the way4net Portal.
Note
Content and graphics based on the use case by Teltonika Telematics (original on teltonika-gps.com), translated and adapted for way4net. Device data according to manufacturer specifications. Together, we will work out which devices and functions suit your application – and you can test the solution with a 14-day trial.
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