Cold chain
Real-Time Trackers Mitigate Cumulative Risk in Intermodal Cold Chain Shipments
Real-time temperature, humidity, and location tracking is becoming essential for shippers managing intermodal perishable cargo, where every transfer compounds the risk of delay, loss, or quality degradation. Copeland's GO Real-Time and Oversight360 systems provide monitoring windows of up to 20, 60, or 90 days to support proactive delay response and verifiable claim documentation.
Intermodal shipping is a critical link in supply chains, yet every transfer between transport modes adds complexity and exposes cargo to delay, loss, theft, or damaging conditions. Dan Knauer, Account Executive for Cold Chain Cargo Solutions at Copeland, argues that real-time tracking of temperature, humidity, and location is the most effective means of mitigating these recurrent risks for perishable products.
Cost scales with risk
The more loads a shipper moves, the greater the cumulative exposure. Knauer notes that in many cases the cost of a real-time tracking device is measured in decimal points relative to the value of the load, making it a trivial expense that justifies itself as volume grows.
Proactive response to delays
Accurate location data tells a shipper exactly where a shipment is, how long it has been sitting at a particular point, and when it is likely to reach its destination. This record also enables a container to be located quickly if it is overlooked at a transfer point or stolen. When a driver can no longer make a delivery appointment, a shipper can call in a team to keep the load moving without rest time, or reroute the cargo so it does not arrive past its prime. Knauer gives the example of fruit that has been in transit longer than anticipated being redirected to a juice plant rather than a grocery distributor.
Verifiable proof for claims and compliance
Real-time tracking produces the documented evidence a shipper needs to file a claim, reject or reroute a load, or negotiate stricter compliance terms with carriers in the future.
What shippers lose without real-time data
Knauer frames a series of operational questions for shippers that do not yet use real-time insights: how they protect product quality and brand integrity, accept or reject loads with confidence, prevent problems before they occur, validate expense claims, avoid customer penalties, shut down vendor attempts to shift blame to other shippers in the chain, and identify repeat trouble spots to drive operational changes.
Monitoring options
Copeland's GO Real-Time trackers and Oversight360 platform offer comprehensive solutions for temperature, humidity, and location tracking, with monitoring options capable of providing data for up to 20, 60, or 90 days.
Source: Copeland Newsroom, April 16, 2026.
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