The Cold Chain Challenge

"Cold chain" refers to the uninterrupted temperature-controlled supply chain essential for preserving perishable products. This specialised logistics network has become vital due to increasing demands for fresh food delivery, stricter pharmaceutical regulations, and an ever-increasing market demand for temperature-sensitive goods. Traditional refrigerated transport has struggled with balancing thermal efficiency, weight, and operational costs. Most solutions offer only incremental improvements rather than fundamental innovation.

What Makes TVS Interfleet’s New Refrigeration Bodyline Different?

Neale Brothwood, Director of Refrigerated Products at TVS Interfleet, states: "After more than 30 years in the commercial vehicle and fridge body world, it's brilliant to see something come together that I genuinely believe raises the bar."

Vehicle Range and Type

• Chassis Compatibility: 3.5T,5T,7.2T, 7.5T, 18T, and 26T rigid truck chassis.

• Platforms: DAF, IVECO, Mercedes-Benz, MAN, and Renault Trucks.

Advanced Thermal Management

The new mobile refrigeration unit uses ‘high quality’ insulation materials (manufactured to ATP Certification Standards) that deliver superior thermal performance while reducing weight. This addresses the persistent challenge of maintaining stable internal temperatures regardless of external conditions, resulting in operational fuel savings and extended range—particularly vital for electric vehicles.

Multi-Temperature Configuration

A standout innovation with an ability to maintain multiple temperature zones within a single vehicle. This allows:

• Food distributors to transport frozen, chilled, and ambient products simultaneously

• Pharmaceutical companies to maintain specific temperatures for different medications

• Transport of sensitive cargo including chemicals, luxury foods, floriculture, fine art, and agricultural products

This multi-zone approach has the potential to reduce fleet size while increasing utilisation—delivering significant operational advantages.

Smart Logistics Integration

Featuring telematics systems providing real-time temperature monitoring, automated compliance reporting, predictive maintenance alerts, and route optimisation. For operators in regulated sectors like pharmaceuticals, these capabilities deliver documented evidence of compliance—critical for regulatory requirements and risk management. As part of the innovation process, we have worked closely with major transport refrigeration manufactures such as Carrier Transicold Carrier Transicold - https://www.carrier.com/truck-trailer/en/uk/ and GAH Transport Refrigeration GAH Transport Refrigeration as well as taking on board many issues that various industry requiring to transport goods requiring multiple temperatures within the vehicle.

Industry Applications

Pharmaceutical Transportation

Medications and vaccines often require extremely narrow temperature ranges—sometimes as precise as ±0.5°C. The new TVS refrigerated body line is well placed to meet these exacting standards with redundant cooling systems and continuous monitoring, providing documented evidence of temperature maintenance throughout transit.

Food Distribution

With consumers demanding fresher products with fewer preservatives, refrigerated logistics face increasing pressure. It offers multi-temperature distribution enables a single vehicle to transport frozen desserts, chilled prepared meals, and temperature-sensitive produce simultaneously. This can significantly reduce a fleets carbon footprint while delivering a range of cost savings.

Specialised Perishables

Beyond food and pharmaceuticals, this temperature-controlled transport can also serve floriculture, chemicals, biotechnology, and art conservation. These applications often require specific conditions beyond temperature control, including humidity management and protection from vibration—areas where the mobile refrigeration unit can be customised.

Sustainability Considerations

Refrigerated transport traditionally consumes significant energy and often uses refrigerants with high global warming potential. TVS Interfleet has addressed these sustainability issues by introducing: • Lightweight construction reducing fuel consumption and increasing payload capacity • Energy-optimised refrigeration systems reducing operational carbon footprint • Compatibility with electric and hybrid drivetrains • Optional solar-can assist cooling and reduce the reliance on engine power These features align with the industry's shift toward greener cold-chain solutions, helping operators meet increasingly stringent emissions targets.

Transforming Cold Chain Logistics

TVS Interfleet's entry into the refrigerated transport sector signals the growing importance of specialised solutions for temperature-sensitive goods. Purpose Bodies has designed the vehicle with fleet managers' practical needs in mind, creating solutions tailored to specific business requirements while maintaining reliability and performance.

The Future of Cold Chain Transport

As e-commerce expands into perishable goods and pharmaceutical home delivery becomes more common, demand for advanced refrigerated transport will accelerate. Industry professionals can see TVS’s new refrigeration bodyline vehicle at the Road Transport Expo (RTX) 24-26 June 2025 NAEC/Stoneleigh Stand Y33A.

The refrigerated transport sector is experiencing significant innovation after decades of incremental improvements. As consumer expectations and regulatory requirements evolve, solutions combining thermal efficiency, operational flexibility, and sustainability features—this vehicle—will redefine cold chain logistics.

For refrigeration professionals interested in technical specifications, TVS Interfleet will conduct detailed presentations throughout RTX 2025.