Masternaut has launched a new telematics platform for operators in the cold-chain, offering real-time insight for fleet decision-makers.

As well as more traditional benefits such as measuring driver behaviour and fuel efficiency, the new Masternaut platform gives them the opportunity to continuously track temperatures in chilled units and receive immediate, geolocated warnings should the temperature move outside set limits.

The system will adapt dynamically to the temperature set on the cold group inside the refrigerated vehicle or trailer.

Inefficiencies of any kind are costly within a fleet, but in the cold-chain environment, this is particularly sensitive, as unwanted temperature fluctuations can result in the wastage of entire shipments of products, said Masternaut.

One industry which is particularly affected by breaks in the cold chain, is the food sector. According to the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), in more than 2 million tonnes of fresh produce are lost or wasted each year in the supply chain alone in the UK.

It is estimated that by taking action to reduce or prevent this waste, the UK fresh produce industry would realise savings of between £400 million and £500 million a year.

Masternaut CEO Dhruv Parekh said: “We have been working on developing this offer for a number of years, with some of our key cold-chain customers.

“Now, we are able to offer this as a complete package to all operators, opening up the benefits of continuous temperature tracking and measurement, along with all the traditional functions offered by our telematics software.

“Improving the cold chain plays an important role in improving business efficiency, as well as delivering a much larger societal impact. This new platform, known as Connect Cold, is available now, and we look forward to working with individuals in this industry to understand how we can improve operations together.”