A specialised SmartMix fuel-monitoring solution
Transport Refrigeration Fuel Monitoring
Know more about the diesel your refrigeration unit consumes. Monitor fuel levels, identify refuelling events and investigate suspicious losses—with a configuration designed around your refrigerated fleet.
Designed for refrigerated trucks, trailers and cold-chain transport operations.
The challenge
Your truck and refrigeration unit may both use diesel. Can you account for each?
Refrigeration equipment can continue running while a vehicle is stationary, during deliveries or while the truck engine is switched off. If both systems draw from a shared tank, conventional tank-level data may not show how much diesel each consumer used.
Unclear consumption
It can be difficult to determine how much diesel was used to keep cargo at the required temperature versus powering the truck.
Fuel events without context
Refuelling or sudden fuel-level reductions may be difficult to verify without consistent, time-stamped monitoring data.
Incomplete cost allocation
Without an appropriate measurement method, refrigeration fuel costs can be mixed with truck operating costs or based on estimates.
How it works
A dedicated approach to refrigeration fuel intelligence
SmartMix assesses how the refrigeration unit receives fuel and selects a suitable monitoring configuration. Where the refrigeration unit has its own diesel tank, a dedicated fuel probe can measure fuel-level changes in that tank.
From fuel data to fleet decisions
A practical workflow for greater fuel accountability.
Two common configurations
The right measurement method depends on how your unit gets its fuel
SmartMix will assess the vehicle and refrigeration equipment before confirming the scope and reporting capabilities.
Refrigeration unit has its own diesel tank
A dedicated fuel probe can monitor that tank independently, supporting refrigeration-specific fuel-level reporting.
- Fuel-level changes over time
- Refuelling event identification
- Unusual fuel-reduction alerts or reports, where configured
- Consumption calculations based on calibrated readings and event data
Refrigeration unit draws from the truck's main tank
A probe in the shared tank measures the combined level changes. Additional measurement or a validated method is needed to separate the refrigeration unit's consumption from the truck engine's consumption.
- Review the vehicle and refrigeration model
- Assess available refrigeration operating data
- Determine whether additional fuel-flow measurement is appropriate
- Confirm what can be measured directly versus estimated
What you can monitor
Fuel reporting built around practical fleet questions
Available fields depend on the hardware, installation, calibration and telematics data configured for your fleet.
| Report information | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Initial and final fuel level | Shows recorded fuel levels at the beginning and end of a reporting period. |
| Fuel added | Identifies level increases associated with refuelling and supports quantity checks. |
| Fuel consumption | Reports consumption where the installed measurement method supports a defensible calculation. |
| Unusual fuel reductions | Flags events for investigation; a reduction is not automatically proof of theft. |
| Time and location | Helps place fuel events in operational context when location data is available. |
| Operating status | Can add context when suitable truck ignition and refrigeration running signals are available. |
Who it is for
Built for temperature-controlled transport operations
SmartMix can assess refrigeration fuel-monitoring requirements for a wide range of refrigerated transport fleets.
Refrigerated logistics fleets
Improve visibility of diesel used across trucks and refrigeration equipment in daily distribution operations.
Food and beverage distribution
Support fuel accountability on temperature-controlled delivery routes and during loading or unloading.
Pharmaceutical and cold-chain transport
Monitor fuel activity associated with equipment responsible for maintaining temperature-sensitive cargo.
Frequently asked questions
Transport refrigeration fuel monitoring FAQs
What is transport refrigeration fuel monitoring?
It is a monitoring solution designed to provide visibility into diesel levels and fuel events associated with a transport refrigeration unit. Depending on the configuration, it can support consumption reporting, refuelling detection and investigation of suspicious fuel reductions.
Can SmartMix separate truck engine fuel from refrigeration fuel?
Where the installed measurement configuration provides sufficient independent data, the two can be reported separately. If the refrigeration unit draws from the truck's shared tank, a tank-level probe alone measures combined changes and cannot independently identify each consumer's fuel use. SmartMix assesses the configuration and confirms a suitable method.
Can the system detect refuelling and possible fuel theft?
The system can identify fuel-level increases associated with refuelling and flag unusual reductions for investigation. A reduction is not automatic proof of theft; operating conditions, sensor tolerances and the measurement configuration must be considered.
Can SmartMix monitor refrigeration units that draw diesel from the truck tank?
These vehicles can be assessed individually. Separating refrigeration consumption from truck engine consumption requires additional measurement or a validated method using suitable operating data. The method and reporting accuracy should be confirmed for the specific configuration.
Can the solution integrate with our existing fleet-monitoring platform?
Integration depends on the installed hardware, available interfaces and the platform configuration. Tell SmartMix which platform and refrigeration models you operate so compatibility can be assessed before implementation.
How do we request a quote or assessment?
Contact SmartMix Technologies at info@smartmixtechnologie.co.za or call +27 76 125 7559. Include your fleet size, refrigeration unit make/model and whether each unit uses a dedicated or shared diesel tank.
Take control of refrigeration fuel
Know where your refrigeration diesel goes.
Speak to SmartMix Technologies about a fuel-monitoring assessment for your refrigerated trucks, trailers and cold-chain fleet.