• Temperature rises in the fridge market
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• by Sharon Clancy The temperature-controlled transport sector is a complex mix of blue-chip logistIcs specialists at one end of the chain and small local delivery companies at the other. It is especially susceptible to changes in consumer tastes and behaviour.
An in-depth study of the European market just published by iveco indicates that current buying patterns by European consumers will have repercussions on vehicle specifications.
Iveco commissioned the study to establish where the market was heading, reasoning that only then could it determine which vehicles will be needed to meet its customers needs. It held 10 brain-storming sessions with refrigeration and legal experts, and followed this up with face-to-face interviews across Europe with 100 operators and bodybuilders.
Several trends are emerging, says the company One is that the sector will become even more specialised than it is now as operators grapple with legislative pressures, increasing congestion, more urban deliveries and complicated loading patterns to maximise efficiency. There will be fewer operators in the sector, managing larger fleets, it predicts.
Although co-operation between chassis and body builders and refrigeration unit suppliers is already high, Woo expects demand for "missionready" trucks to increase.
The pressures to improve productivity means multi-temperature vehicles, already wellestablished in the UK, will become even more popular and there will be increasing reliance on telematics.
Market trends
EU consumption of frozen prepared meals is increasing by an average of 3.7% a year, indicating higher demand for well-insulated bodies and fridge equipment for carrying frozen food.
Home deliveries are already growing in the UK. France and Germany and will grow further, while the catering industry is also using more prepared and frozen foods. Both sectors require deliveries of mixed-temperature products in small quantities—hence sales of light vehicles with multi-compartment bodies should rise.
Operating trends
lveco's experts predIct that growing congestion means more operators will have to switch to night-time deliveries to maintain productivity and utilise driver's available hours most effectively. More attention will fall on noise pollution, increasing demand for silent-running refrigeration units. Demand for 24-hour servicing will grow, with refrigerators being serviced at the same time as the chassis.
Half the operators Iveco interviewed expect to be using vehicle telematics to improve systems monitoring, navigation and driver management.