Utility Trailer Manufacturing is strengthening its robust transportation solutions with through new innovations with Cargobull North America and expanded connectivity options for all customer types.
In a busy press conference Tuesday at ATA's Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) Annual Meeting in Nashville, Utility introduced a newly designed transport refrigeration unit (TRU) with microchannel condenser and a new Load-Dividing Bulkhead option that enables shippers to better contain temperatures within a trailer to support different types of loads. The company also announced the expansion of its UTC trailer connectivity solution, introducing a retrofittable UTC-Basic program for all Utility equipment.
Utility President and CEO Jeff Bennett says the new solutions exemplify the company's commitment to the industry. “These [solutions] highlight our dedication to transport performance and efficiency and show how we remain committed to excellence and innovation,” he says.
Utility says the new microchannel condenser will become a standard feature of the 625 and 655MT Hybrid TRUs, boosting performance of the units that already meet 2030 emissions standards. The condenser features a more compact design, improves heat transfer and increases the already-high cooling capacity. With the unique Cargobull variable-speed engine control, the TRU maintains optimal thermal performance, Utility says.
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“Our microchannel condenser offers better thermal efficiency, ensuring optimal cooling capacity even in elevated ambient temperatures,” stated Andreas Schmitz, president and CEO of Schmitz Cargobull, designers of the units. “At high outside temperatures, the condenser maintains reliable performance, crucial for consistent refrigeration. By reducing the refrigerant charge by 3 lb., we enhance sustainability and lower both upfront and replacement costs.”
The Cargobull 625 and 655MT TRUs are both California Air Resources Board-certified as ULETRU (ultra-low-emissions TRU) Evergreen units. Featuring additional hybrid shore power as a standard feature, Utility says the TRUs are exclusively available on Utility Trailer 3000R reefers.
The new Load-Dividing Bulkhead is available on the 3000R multi-temp reefer.
The moveable, track-mounted bulkhead enhances energy efficiency and enables flexible temperature management by creating different compartments with varying temperatures and volume capacities. Designed to work as a partition wall in the center of a trailer or create compartments within it, the bulkhead uses an efficient sealing system to form an airtight seal, preserving optimal temperatures within compartments. Utility says the feature significantly reduces air flow and thermal transfer between compartments, optimizing thermal efficiency for partial loads.
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“The partition wall is designed to be strong and reliable, eliminating the need for a mattress partition. It is easy to operate, with no shrinking during up and down movement. The wall features automatic pressure equalization through the retraction of side and bottom seals when opening and is operated by a central locking lever,” Schmitz says. “Additionally, it includes an angle-dependent brake for one-hand operation and automatically locks in the parking position, whether the wall is in the upper or lower position.”
The features of the new UTC-Basic system, which the company says is available as a factory install or retrofit for all Utility trailers.
As for its newest telematics solution, Director Amanda Bennett says UTC-Basic was developed as to complement the company's UTC-Pro telematics solution available on its reefer units that has become the “ultimate solution for cold chain logistics.”
Bennett says the UTC-Basic is available on all Utility dry van and flatbeds both as a factory install or retrofit, and Utility will leverage the more than 130 Cargobull-certified dealers in Utility's dealer networks as its installation footprint. Bennett says UTC-Pro hardware can be installed on a trailer in just 15 minutes, and will provide carriers asset location information, ABS fault alerts, wheel end monitoring, tire pressure monitoring and more.
