REEFER TRUCKS GROW IN STATURE

Growing in stature, reefer trucks in india are addressing the dynamic market requirements by tapping technology.

- Deepti Thore and Deven Lad

It is early February and the temperatures in Mumbai have started to rise. The onset of summer is insight, and the Novel Coronavirus is yet to reach the shores of this country. The buzz about the virus disrupting the flow of goods from abroad is already prevalent. A trader of frozen food at the APMC market, Navi Mumbai, is candid in stating that his supplies are fast drying up. He points at the spread of Novel Coronavirus abroad, and remarks that the days ahead look tough. Pointing at the reefer truck standing in front of his shop, he says that this could well be the last of the supplies that has reached him via the Nhava Sheva port. One look at the reefer truck on an Eicher chassis, and it is at once evident that they are growing in stature. A part of the cold chain industry that is pegged at Rs.1,288 billion in India, reefer trucks are gaining focus as they address the dynamic requirement of their operators and end-users.

Showing good potential to grow over the last two to three years, the cold chain industry has come to lap modern reefer trucks that assure reliable and safe transport. With players like Rivigo said to be ramping up their count of reefer trucks in the fleet with the ambition to reach 2500 numbers (by 2021) from 250 numbers (in 2016), reefer trucks have been growing in technology above all. Technologies like IoT and automation are aiding reefer trucks to gain in performance, efficiency, reliability, and lower operating costs. As big organized sector retail chains like Reliance Fresh, Adani Group, Aditya Birla Group, and wholesale mandi players, come on the scene and demand prompt and reliable service, reefer trucks are shifting into the fast lane.