Temperature Controlled Shipping: 24/7 Monitoring Solutions with ARDEM ColdSure™

Temperature Controlled Shipping: 24/7 Monitoring Solutions with ARDEM ColdSure™

Our client is a leading transportation & logistics company that specializes in transporting pharmaceutical products and blood plasma across the United States. Their business relies heavily on maintaining strict temperature controls during transport. This is vital to ensure no product is compromised and makes its way to the receiver in prime condition in reefer trailers.

Utilizing a fleet of temperature-controlled trailers, the products must be maintained in negative temperatures for the entire process from pre-chill/pre-load to delivery. ARDEM’s ColSure™ solution provides consistent temp monitoring and communication to eliminate any chance of a claims load happening. ARDEM has not only taken over the process but also used a combination of effort based and Automation processes to double check all analytics for accuracy and to increase processing speed. ARDEM’s guarantee is a six-sigma level of data quality 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The Challenges Faced

The client faced several operational challenges in managing their temperature in refrigerated trailers prior to ARDEM stepping in and taking the process over. These challenges often led to product spoilage, resulting in significant financial losses. Key challenges included:

1. Temperature Control trailer issues

The client transports sensitive products such as plasma, and other pharmaceutical products. The reefer loads must be kept at a strict temperature of -35°C or as specified. However, there were frequent issues with maintaining the required temperature during transit. There were issues like fuel shortages, mechanical breakdowns, driver error or door malfunctions causing temperature fluctuations. So, the client faced the risk of financial loss, but also the possibility of losing their client all together prior to ARDEM stepping in.

2. Internal Team’s Inefficiency to Monitor Trucks

The client’s internal team manually monitored the temperature of their trucks every two hours. However, with over 90 trucks in operation, this manual process was time-consuming and prone to delays. The manual effort of their in-house team made it challenging to catch temperature deviations in real time.

Why the Client Came to ARDEM

The client approached ARDEM to improve their shipment monitoring processes, reduce costs, and increase accuracy. They had specific goals in mind:

1. Real-Time Temperature Monitoring

The client needed a real-time shipment monitoring solution that would allow them to monitor the temperature of their trucks and raise immediate alerts when deviations occurred. They wanted to ensure that their products remained at the required temperature during transport.

2. Prevent Financial Losses

The client wanted to reduce product loss and improve their operational efficiency. They sought ARDEM’s expertise to implement shipment monitoring solutions that would prevent these losses.

3. Improve Response Times

The client wanted to enhance their ability to respond to temperature deviations more quickly. They needed a temperature monitoring system that would immediately escalate issues to fleet managers and drivers.

How ARDEM Solved These Challenges

ARDEM implemented a comprehensive truck monitoring solution for temperature-controlled trailers to address the client’s concerns. ARDEM ColdSure™ temp monitoring solution includes:

1. Real-Time Temperature Monitoring

ARDEM set up a 24/7 shipment monitoring system to track the temperature inside the client’s refrigerated trucks. A dedicated team of analysts monitors the temperature of over 100 reefer trailers at all times. If the temperature in any truck deviates from the required range, ARDEM immediately raises an alert to the fleet manager. The fleet manager then contacts the driver to correct the issue.

2. Proactive Temperature Issue Escalation

ARDEM’s team ensures that any issues, such as doors being left open or fuel running low, are detected early and reported to the appropriate personnel. This proactive approach has significantly reduced the risk of product loss. This has allowed for immediate corrective action.

3. Efficient Shift Management for Constant Truck Monitoring

ARDEM operates in shifts to ensure continuous truck monitoring for reefer loads. So, one analyst manages up to 45 refrigerated trailers per hour. This ensures that every truck is checked for temperature control multiple times each hour. Thus, it improves the overall efficiency of the shipment monitoring process.

4. Manual Shipment Monitoring with Automation

ARDEM’s ColdSure™ process is a seamless man-machine solution that integrates advanced automation with a dedicated freight analyst team to provide consistent and accurate temperature readings throughout the day. This approach also enables real-time truck analysis and trend monitoring for each trailer, ensuring constant visibility into shipment conditions. By leveraging automation, ARDEM delivers faster, more precise, and proactive readings, promptly escalating any potential issues to the client’s team. This allows for quick resolutions before costly mistakes or claims occur, ensuring smooth operations and reducing risk.

How the Client Benefited from ARDEM’s Solutions

1. Zero Product Losses Since Implementation

Since ARDEM began monitoring the client’s refrigerated trucks, the client has not experienced any product losses due to temperature fluctuations. Real-time shipment monitoring and proactive escalation have ensured that the client’s goods remain safe during transport.

2. Improved Response Times

The client’s fleet managers now receive immediate alerts when a temperature issue arises. This has significantly improved response times, allowing drivers to take corrective actions quickly and prevent product loss.

3. 24/7 Truck Monitoring and Support

ARDEM’s 24/7 truck monitoring service ensures that the client’s reefer trailers are always under supervision, with no gaps in coverage. This around-the-clock support has provided the client with peace of mind. They know that their sensitive goods are being closely monitored at all times.

4. Enhanced Communication with Fleet Managers

ARDEM’s team uses Microsoft Teams to communicate instantly with fleet managers, ensuring seamless coordination when issues arise. This has streamlined communication and reduced the chances of miscommunication or delays.

5. Scalability for Future Growth for Increased Temperature-controlled Trucks

As the client’s fleet expands, ARDEM is ready to scale its services to monitor additional temperature-controlled trailers. The current process for this instance is 100 refrigerated trailers per shift and can easily scale this rate to 50-100x. ARDEM provides the client with the flexibility to grow without worrying about monitoring capabilities.

By partnering with ARDEM, the client has significantly improved their temperature monitoring process for their reefer loads. ARDEM’s proactive and real-time monitoring solution has prevented product and financial loss. It has ensured the safety of sensitive pharmaceutical goods during transport. The client now enjoys improved efficiency, better communication, and peace of mind, knowing that their products are safe. If you are interested in how ARDEM ColdSure™ could benefit your fleet, contact your dedicated ARDEM Account manager today.