As the threat of cargo loss increases, cold chain shipments are often a prime target. Maintaining chain of custody is critical at each stop along the way. Carriers utilize advanced technology and operational policies to mitigate risks. For instance, artificial intelligence (AI) and computer vision tools help identify and validate trucks and trailers, exposing fraud schemes to thwart thefts and enable product recovery. Some refrigerated carriers instruct drivers not to stop within 200-300 miles of a pickup point to deter thieves from following a high-value load. Geofencing establishes virtual boundaries that define where drivers are permitted to travel. The system can send alerts if a truck is driven outside the designated area to identify possible cargo loss. Carrier vetting is a critical element to ensuring product safety. Logistics providers research carrier backgrounds to verify that drivers meet licensing and other regulations and make sure systems are equipped with telematics, ELD, and geofencing tech to ensure security, visibility, and compliance. Transformational Technology Improved technology has reshaped the flow of products internationally, opening up new sources of fresh produce for U.S. markets. This market expansion is built on complete end-to-end reefer monitoring and asset management at every hand-off point. The cold chain extends across continents, regulatory systems, and transport modes, making it more complex and more interconnected. “Requirements necessary to maintain consistently controlled temperatures, and to provide evidence of these practices on a case-by-case basis, represent the ongoing challenges of cold chain supply,” says Lyskoski. “Service providers and cargo owners alike are being challenged to move products farther and faster every day.” For example, imported fruit flowing into ports in Southern New Jersey, Philadelphia, and Delaware used to have a distinct seasonality. “Now imported fruit into this market
Combining high touch with high tech, Americold ensures product integrity with AI-enabled tracking, predictive analytics, and real-time monitoring.
Americold: Technology-Enabled Cold Chain Logistics Customer expectations for cold chain shipments have intensified dramatically. Today’s consumers and food brands demand real-time visibility, uncompromising safety, and full transparency, because reputations, businesses, and in many cases, lives are on the line when it comes to food safety. “This isn’t just about logistics. It’s about trust,” says Rob Chambers, president of Americold. “The industry is responding with more advanced tools, and Americold is going further by combining high tech with high touch.” Americold is investing in AI-enabled tracking, predictive analytics, and real- time monitoring to ensure product integrity. The company deploys real- time monitoring of temperature and energy usage across more than 90% of its facilities, enabling precise control and rapid response. Automated storage and retrieval systems reduce handling errors and maintain consistent product conditions. The company is especially focused
happens year-round,” says Joe Kouten, former vice president of sales at Genpro. “This means the requirements of the domestic cold chain must now be extended to countries of origin and require additional inspection upon arrival in the United States. The same temperature monitoring requirements
of domestic shipments apply to international shipments as well.”
Advanced technologies, such as AI and machine learning, are playing a bigger role for cold chain logistics providers, allowing them to offload repetitive work and enable employees to focus on strategic relationships. Logistics providers are automating formerly manual tasks such as load acceptance, order entry, pricing, assigning trucks to loads, contacting carriers when exceptions are identified, sorting and warehousing documents, and reporting. “Although technology boasts many wonderful things, the tools are only as efficient as the teams using them,” Lyskoski says. “Service providers must manage their processes using efficient and effective tools to control operating costs and determine how to provide these critical services to their customers at affordable rates.” Here’s a look at some of the top temperature-controlled logistics providers with the people, processes, infrastructure, and technology to support real-time visibility, cargo security, and regulatory compliance.
on predictive analytics, robotics, and innovations in refrigeration and packaging.
But the biggest shift may be structural: the move toward hub-based, multimodal networks that integrate storage, transport, and compliance in a single ecosystem. “This shift is essential because
it enables the cold chain to be not only faster and more efficient, but
46 Inbound Logistics • August 2025
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