Data at their fingertips

Blue chip customers are nothing if not strict in their expectations, and it was the introduction of TrailerConnect telematics which originally brought Schmitz into favour with the operator.  With data reports to be sent and KPIs to hit, having access to all its load temperature and location data in one place made a real difference to how Marine & Cargo itself was able to work.

“We can do everything through the platform, right down to setting the correct temperatures and locking the doors,” Marshall says. “Then I can let my customer look at it too, either by sending them an instant download, or they can look on the platform themselves.”

That side of things taken care of, next on the list comes hitting the company’s environmental targets, something all hauliers need to think about these days. “Every contract you go for now, as a business, they want to know what you’re doing sustainability-wise,” Marshall reminds us. “That’s where I think the Schmitz Cargobull refrigeration unit is fantastic – it runs better, it runs quieter and it runs cleaner.”

The next step: Less CO₂

Having started out with the S.CU dc80, Marine & Cargo then upgraded to the S.CU dc85, which it found worked very successfully within its trailer fleet. So much so, in fact, the company has recently received their first example of the next in the series – S.CU dc90.  “We were told that the new refrigerant in the unit reduces CO2 emissions by 89% compared to its predecessor,” Marshall says. “Since we’re all about sustainability, we ordered it there and then.”

That headline 89% carbon reduction is all thanks to the use of a new environmentally friendly refrigerant – R454A – as standard across the S.CU modular system, raising the bar in terms of efficiency, sustainability and futureproofing at Schmitz Cargobull. Other technical improvements mean S.CU dc90 also offers up to 6% increased refrigeration capacity and up to 10% lower fuel consumption against its predecessor, too – both of which mean lower direct emissions at the “tail pipe”.

Going fully electric – without the compromises

From a green perspective, of course, every engine hour avoided is a win. That is where the S.KOe COOL comes in: the all-electric refrigerated trailer operates without a diesel-powered refrigeration unit. Instead, a high-voltage battery supplies the battery-powered S.CU ep85 refrigeration unit with reliable energy. It can be charged via a standard power supply while stationary, or during transit using recuperation energy from the generator axle — extending both the runtime and range of the refrigeration unit.

The batteries themselves are situated between the landing gear in place of a fuel tank, whilst the removal of the diesel generator mostly offsets their additional weight, making the payload of this 100% electric reefer around the same as one fitted with a traditional diesel-powered unit. At the same time, customers have the option of installing an extra pallet cage, taking overall space up to a full 36 Euro pallets.

Charged up and delivering

Marine & Cargo were the first company in the UK to take the S.KOe COOL, which joined the fleet in August 2024. “Everyone has been pleasantly surprised by how well it’s doing,” Marshall says. “Even the older drivers are on board, once they get to know the new equipment and see that their day-to-day job is just the same – although it’s also considerably quieter!”

The trailer is currently deployed on a dedicated run which takes it from base in Buckinghamshire up to Scunthorpe with a dry load on, charging the battery as it goes. It then picks up a full frozen load of meat products, which are onward delivered to the customer in Hemel Hempstead.

“With a frozen load on, a full battery charge will run the chiller for six hours just while it’s parked up, then you’ve got the electric axle as well,” Marshall assures us. “So there’s always plenty of charge available. We can also plug it in at either end to top it up if we want to,” he adds. “All it needs is a standard three-phase socket.” Charging and battery status can both be monitored remotely via the telematics portal TrailerConnect®, along with remaining range, to provide reassurance at any time.

A project that sets a clear benchmark

All in all, the whole project is a resounding success, not just in ticking sustainability boxes for haulier and customer alike, but in genuinely providing an emission-free refrigeration solution.  After all, as cities across Europe increasingly talk about imposing zero emission zones, it can never be too soon to get ahead of the game.