Thermo King's newest service Remote Operating Center (ROC) is a driver support solution that provides roadside assistance for transport refrigeration units (TRU).

ROC service delivers 24/7 real-time, remote monitoring, predictive analytics that use an algorithm to help predict failures days or weeks before they occur, and guided response by a team of experts to solve any problems that may arise.

“Putting older units on the road doesn’t have to feel like a game of roulette anymore," said Bob Roberts, technical operations at Thermo King Americas, in a statement. "Our new data-enabled and predictive analytic technologies can help reduce unplanned downtime. Behind that technology is a team of Thermo King experts to assess alarms, take corrective actions remotely, or guide drivers through remediation steps to get them back on the road and to their homes sooner.”

When a TRU alarm is received, the ROC service team reacts, relying on defined and documented best-practice responses. Each alarm is critically categorized — from green alerts that do not require immediate reaction to red alerts that trigger smart routing protocols to send the driver to the closest of Thermo King’s 280 North American dealerships to fix the problem. 

Thermo King officials say the fleet owners and managers who choose ROC services may benefit from:

• Reduction in downtime.

• Improved protection of temperature-sensitive loads.

• On-road support that improves driver satisfaction.

• Extended ROI and improved reliability of TRU assets.

• Better leveraging of in-place technology to improve business processes and performance.

• Improved sustainability by preventing in-transit food losses.

• New benefits to offer drivers for hiring and retaining talent.