Reliability and thermal efficiency have never been more important to transport operators servicing long-haul freight routes across Australia. Maintaining precise temperatures over thousands of kilometres is critical to protecting product integrity and meeting increasingly stringent customer expectations.
This is a challenge continuing to drive innovation across the refrigerated transport sector. Fleets are now looking toward advanced refrigeration technology, Performance-Based Standards (PBS) combinations and smarter trailer configurations to maximise efficiency without compromising performance.
One transport outfit at the forefront of that transition is Coolway Trans. The Victoria-based refrigerated transport specialist has just expanded its fleet with a new PBS-approved B-double quad-quad combination which, made up of a 16-pallet lead trailer and a 24-pallet rear tag trailer, highlights the growing importance of higher-capacity combinations and improving productivity, efficiency and compliance.
“This trailer set allows us to service customers up and down the east coast, as well as from the east through to Adelaide and the west coast,” says Coolway Trans Commercial Manager, Mark Williams. “Under PBS regulations, we can operate a longer vehicle and carry more volume with a single combination trailer.”
A key element of the PBS combination is the Carrier Transicold specification. Two refrigeration units – a Carrier Vector HE 17 single-temp system on the lead trailer and a Carrier Vector HE 19 multi-temp on the rear – provide extremely efficient and flexible cooling capabilities in the application’s cold chain operations.
“The rear trailer is multi-temperature, meaning we can run freezer or chiller confectionery,” Mark says. “Meanwhile, the lead trailer is single temperature.Both trailers also have Cooltrax systems fitted on them, allowing us to monitor the temperatures inside at all times.”
Approximately 90 per cent of Coolway Trans’ fleet now comprises Carrier refrigeration systems. According to Mark, investing in these units has translated to high levels of fleet efficiency and reliability.
“We run Carrier right through our fleet,” he says. “We believe their refrigeration units and service are second to none. They look after us on a commercial basis, and we use them right through our fleet nationally.”
For Coolway Trans, the Carrier Vector HE 19 model in particular has proven to be very economical on fuel with limited downtime.
“These systems are very thermal efficient, and that assists with fuel usage significantly,” Mark adds. “Carrier refrigeration units are very important to our business. We specialise in the movement of temperature-controlled products for many customers up and down the east coast and into the west, and maintaining temperatures within these freight tasks is critical.”
Coolway Trans’ relationship with Carrier Transicold has played a significant role in its fleet strategy. Proven performance over time has increased its confidence around expanding its refrigerated fleet capabilities.
One element of that broader fleet strategy has been investing in newly designed Containermax 45’ containers fitted with Carrier Vector HE 19 multi-temperature units. Carrier Transicold New South Wales Sales Manager, Darrin Klein, says Coolway Trans’ latest railbox application offers significant flexibility when transporting mixed-temperature freight.
“The Containermax units utilise multi-temperature functionality, allowing separate zones within the trailer to operate independently,” he says. “They dual-temperature systems in those units means each container can be zero degrees in one section and negative 20 in the next.”
Darrin also points to the thermal performance of the units as a major advantage, particularly within the steel-bodied railbox design.
“The thermal efficiency of these applications is extremely good,” he says. “Being a steel box, they work really well once we get the insulation in.”
Thermal retention remains one of the key considerations for refrigerated fleets operating across Australia’s diverse climate conditions. From the humid east coast to the extreme heat experienced throughout inland and western freight corridors, refrigeration systems must consistently maintain product temperatures despite harsh external conditions and extended transit times. Improved insulation performance not only assists with temperature stability but can also reduce fuel consumption by decreasing the workload placed on refrigeration units.
Coolway Trans is also exploring future transport technologies, including electric vehicle opportunities supported by Carrier’s evolving refrigeration platforms. As sustainability targets continue to influence fleet purchasing decisions, electrification is expected to become an increasingly important consideration across refrigerated transport operations in the years ahead.
“Carrier have been very open about how they can support us if need be, whether it’s across rigid or trailer applications,” Mark says.
Carrier has long pioneered in temperature-controlled transport and cold chain visibility solutions, supplying advanced refrigeration systems for light commercial vehicles, trucks, trailers and marine applications worldwide. With more than four decades of experience in the sector, it continues to focus on energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable refrigeration technology capable of supporting increasingly complex freight operations.
For now, Coolway Trans’ latest investment in the refrigeration specialists demonstrates how Australian fleets are continuing to evolve – combining larger PBS-approved combinations, smarter refrigeration systems and advanced monitoring technology to deliver greater efficiency, flexibility and reliability across the cold chain sector.
