The importance of servicing refrigerated vehicles
Protecting perishable goods like food and beverage, pharmaceutical, or biomedical supplies in transit is paramount and refrigerated vans play an indispensable role. Paul Barton, aftersales manager at CoolKit, tells CVW how vital it is to carry out regular servicing and maintenance.
Any business involved in delivering goods that require a refrigerated or temperature-controlled environment must view their vehicles as their most valuable asset because the company’s success and reputation depends on them.
So, regular servicing and maintenance isn’t just a recommendation – it’s an absolute necessity. And at this time of year, as we are moving into the warmer months, it is more important than ever.
Without such investment, breaking down during a delivery could result in product loss, client loss and even the replacement of the vehicle – all extremely costly consequences.
Full check up
Maintaining a consistent temperature within a refrigerated van is essential to preserve the quality and safety of perishable goods. Any change in temperature will compromise the integrity of the load and possibly result in substantial losses.
Legislation requires properly functioning refrigeration systems. Failures can pose significant workplace hazards. Servicing and maintaining vehicles’ temperature control systems and bodywork ensures that drivers are confident delivering and meeting customers’ needs. If the thought of any of the above is causing you to sweat – fear not. There is a way to keep your cool – proper aftersales maintenance and care.
Routine maintenance includes full servicing, calibrating, and inspecting the refrigeration system to ensure it operates within specified parameters.
In addition, temperature monitoring systems in conjunction with telemetry provide real-time and historical alerts and reporting that helps carriers meet compliance, reduce rejected loads, and enhance operational efficiency. Generally, routine check-ups help to identify potential issues early, reducing wear and tear and thereby extending the lifespan of both the van and its refrigeration equipment.
It would be a mistake simply to rely on scheduled services. To guarantee maximum performance, before using any temperature-controlled van, drivers should conduct checks on a daily basis to include:
- Ensuring the inside of the container is clean to avoid any contamination.
- Examining the insulated area to check for holes or punctures that could affect the temperature control.
- Checking all seals and locks on the door.
- Reviewing the temperature settings to ensure they match the requirements of the load (ever frozen a lettuce?!)
- Inspecting any drains present for contamination or blockage.
- Evaporator and condenser fan functioning.
- Ensure that the load space is cooled prior to loading – and don’t expect the van to cool a warm load.
At CoolKit, we actively contact customers to remind them to keep on top of routine maintenance checks. In that way, we try to identify potential issues before they escalate into costly breakdowns. A routine refrigeration unit service should usually include:
- Inspecting the amount of refrigerant charged and the extent of any contamination.
- Checking for refrigerant leakage.
- Checking the functioning of electrical fans in the evaporator and condenser units.
- Checking for excessive electrical consumption.
- Inspecting compressor drive belt wear and alignment
- Cleaning the surfaces of the evaporator and condenser fins to optimise their efficiency for transferring heat.
- Calibration to give you confidence that the temperature that you see is the temperature you get.
Finally, watch for the warning signs. While out in a van the driver should be aware of any changes from its regular performance whether that be unusual noises or on-board technical irregularities. If something doesn’t feel or sound right, it probably isn’t right. However, regular servicing and maintenance should reduce those instances to an absolute minimum and optimise your refrigerated van fleet reliability.
