Here at Iceotemp, we offer comprehensive and professional temperature-controlled distribution services to businesses across the UK. Our team has expert knowledge and experience, bringing perishable goods from their origin through to the final destination. We do this with our fleet of transportation – a selection of modified and specialist vans that support our drivers in supporting you. Alongside this, our team is on hand to direct you towards the best transportation solution for your needs. In today’s guide, we’ll provide guidance on how to choose the right temperature-controlled vehicle, depending on your needs and requirements.

What Is a Temperature-Controlled Vehicle?

We have a full guide available here that introduces the idea of our vehicles. However, to recap, temperature-controlled vehicles utilise the latest innovations and technology to help create a stable, consistent and temperature-specific environment for a set period of time. They are used to ensure that goods can be transported to the desired location and arrive in their optimal condition. Fresh foods, cut flowers and medicines are some of the products in the market that require this form of transportation. Without consistent temperatures, these goods perish – either spoiling, becoming inedible/unsellable or becoming dangerous in this final form.

A temperature-controlled vehicle is a complex machine that uses a range of monitoring systems to maintain consistency. Heat exchange readings, regulation controls and detection techniques are in place to ensure that any dips or fluctuations in temperature are recorded and alerted. The goal is to ensure that goods are loaded and maintained at all times, without any compromise to their environment en-route.

Vehicles in Our Fleet

Over the years, we have expanded our fleet to ensure there is an option for every requirement on hand. To date, the vehicles available at Iceotemp are:

• Small van (300kgs).
• Medium van (500kgs).
• Large van (900kgs).
• 7.5T truck (2500kgs).
• 18T HGV.

The right choice for you will be dependent on a number of factors. Some of these cross over throughout specific industries and others will be specific to you. Things to consider include:

• Quantity of Load – How large is your shipment? This will have a significant impact on the type of vehicle you can choose as you will need one with the capacity to suit your needs.
• Required Temperature – Can the vehicle you choose to maintain your required temperature, even if this is below freezing?
• Sensitivity of Goods – Some temperature-controlled shipments are more sensitive than others.
• Weight of Goods – Again, you need a vehicle that can transport your entire shipment (considering packaging and cooling elements too).
• Security – Some goods, including pharmaceuticals, are very expensive to produce and will significantly impact you financially if there is an issue during transportation.

Consider Your Industry

Let’s take a look at some of the factors that will impact your decision, depending on your industry and the products at hand.

Cold/frozen Foods

Manufacturers and suppliers of frozen foods will need a temperature-controlled solution that is able to withstand very low temperatures. For example, ice cream needs to be kept at -25°C to avoid crystallization or changes to the texture. Poor goods upon delivery can have a significant impact on your business reputation.

One thing to consider here is multi-drops. To optimise on cost and time, larger vehicles are sometimes used for multiple drops. Unless they have individual access to the storage area (such as multiple rear doors), the act of opening up to remove a prior delivery can cause fluctuations to the internal environment. To avoid this, smaller vehicles can be prioritised for individual deliveries meaning that once a load is onboard, it isn’t accessed again until it reaches its end destination.

Fresh Foods (Butchers, Bakers and Fishmongers, Etc)

Generally, the goods transported by large-scale food companies are done so in larger vehicles. This is due to a number of reasons. Most suppliers will have a range of products on offer – many of which require different transportation environments but need to arrive at the same end destination. This means they need space to accommodate various technologies to create isolated spaces within a storage vehicle.

Alongside this, we need to consider weights. Fish, for example, aren’t heavy in their individual capacity. However, one of the most common ways to store them at an optimal temperature is by using ice. This heavy ice adds to the load’s overall weight and contributes to the need for a larger-scale. Tail lifts and meat rails are often used to reduce the risk of strain injury and ensure goods can be safely loaded on board.

Medical Goods/pharmaceuticals

Medicines and goods used within the pharmaceutical company come with high price tags. Besides, many of them are vital to the livelihood and health of the people around us. Transportation of blood and organs, for example, is a delicate process that needs to be appropriately managed. Any mistakes, fluctuations in temperature or environment can have devastating impacts. Not to mention, when medicines aren’t stored correctly, they begin to spoil. This places risk to public health and can also reduce effectiveness.

Goods within this industry need to be stored in machines fitted with the highest-quality equipment designed for the purpose. High-spec technology allows medicines to be stored in dual compartments with back-up refrigeration systems in the event of a power cut or delay during travel.

Our ICEOTEMP Vehicles

All of our vehicles within the Iceotemp fleet have been converted to the highest standard. Dual evaporators help to maintain both chilled and frozen temperatures. We have trans can temperature monitoring equipment which provides an accurate log and report of each journey to ensure consistency is maintained at all times. In addition, our temperature monitoring equipment is monitored and controlled remotely from the depot. This provides an additional set of eyes on each van and truck as it moves throughout the UK. We also have a dual messaging system that allows us to stay on top of delivery times and optimise our services during every single delivery.

Our small vans have a 1 pallet capacity of up to 300kg while our 18T HGV can deliver shipments of up to 14 pallets with an 8000kg capacity. If you would like more information or advice about our fleet or would like to book a temperature-controlled shipment today, please do get in contact.