Dubai, UAE: Overloading in transport refrigeration can play a significant role in food quality, as this can negatively impact air circulation and affect the integrity of the food being transported.

Paul McGarrigle, Strategic Account Manager at Thermo King, put it in a nutshell: “The ultimate result is poor temperature. Bad loading equals bad temperature.”

However, pointing out that proper measures can be implemented to address the issue, McGarrigle said, “Training is obviously a key criterion; properly qualified guys are vital.” He outlined three other practices that can be adopted to solve the problem of overloading: First is the use of cargo pallet to ensure that the cargo is off the ground, which allows for proper air flow. The second is integrating channel flooring as part of the trucks design, which promotes better circulation, and lastly, positioning a load line, which is essentially a track inside the trailer made by the manufacturer as a guide and reminder to ensure no cargo is to be placed beyond a particular point, typically 12 inches below the roof.