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Get the latest industry news, learn about temperature control and more about ATC’s direct drive truck refrigeration systems. Designed to Perform and Built to Last.

Do I Need a Refrigerated Truck For My Business

The need for a refrigerated truck, van, or trailer continues to grow as the world of online ordering and home-delivery gains popularity. Reefer trucks are often used on a commercial level, supplying large chain grocery stores with perishable goods. Refrigerated vans, trucks, and trailers are also customized to fit the needs of any business, small or large. If it isn’t clear whether you need a refrigerated van or truck, then consider the following details.  

What Is Your Merchandise?

Finding a refrigerated truck, van, or fleet of reefers depends heavily on the products and services you provide. Here are some typical mobile refrigeration examples

Refrigerated truck fleet using ATC nose mount systems.

Westbrook Refrigerated Fleet uses ATC nose mount refrigerated systems

Restaurant delivery vehicles are an important part of the business as their menus become available online. To fulfill the online orders, they require a safe and quick way to deliver freshly cooked meals.

Catering Businesses commonly rely on refrigerated vans to safely store fresh ingredients and prepared food. They often need customized units to accommodate all the food, cooking, and serving tools necessary for each event.

Refrigerated delivery van fleet using ATC rooftop systems.

Delaware Valley Floral Sprinter and Transit reefer delivery fleet, uses ATC16-RT to guarantee freshness.

Frozen Meat such as steak, pork, chicken, and seafood require refrigerated trucks to make deliveries. Large and small game meats like elk, venison, pheasant, and rabbit still need coolers, ice boxes, or refrigerated trucks to store them. Businesses that specialize in game and ground meats need refrigerated truck methods for safe distribution.
Floral Distribution from big chain suppliers and local shops rely on refrigerated means to keep their flora and fauna as fresh as possible.
Refrigerated compact delivery van running ATC14RT on Nissan NV200

Edible Arrangements uses an ATC-14RT to ensure fresh product deliveries.

Snack and Vending companies typically use a refrigerated truck or van to refill their machines. Without them, the soft drinks would be warm and the candy bars would melt.

Food service and home delivery companies need refrigerated vehicles to supply their customers. Examples of such companies would include home grocery delivery, meal services, and deli delivery.

 

What Are Your Equipment Needs?  

The major factors to take into account when considering your own fleet of refrigerated vehicles is the type of cargo being transported and the driving distance. The kind of cargo helps determine the temperatures needed to maintain the quality of the products. The driving distance and number of stops helps determine what kind of refrigerated unit is needed to control the desired temperatures until the final destination and products are delivered.

These details are needed to properly customize a vehicle and equip it with the right refrigeration system. Doing so will help save you time and money by avoiding costly mistakes. For example, buying high operating cost diesel units or buying a van and realizing the cargo volume doesn’t come close to the space needed for all the merchandise.

Properly reviewing these details with van and truck refrigeration experts will help you understand all your possible equipment needs. Equipment options to consider are pre-kitting, adjustable shelving, dual cargo temperature controls, and wireless tracking.

Pre-kitting helps consolidate routes and lower truck inventory in order to transition to smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles. Adjustable shelving helps keep everything organized, which helps maximize storage space. Dual cargo temperature controls give the driver the ability to maintain two temperatures for sensitive cargo, like frozen goods and dairy. Wireless tracking helps you keep track of vehicle speeds, idle time, and fuel economy. These equipment options help save on operating costs by increasing payload efficiency and maximizing fuel economy. Additionally, it can help increase your business’ revenue stream by maintaining quality control of the products.

What kind of refrigerated truck do you need?

Do you know the difference between a nose-mounted refrigeration unit and a roof mounted one? Knowing this will help you better understand what mobile refrigeration entails and the best possible unit to use on your vehicles.
Roof mounted units are designed for compact to large high top, extended wheelbase vans.
Nose mounted units are designed for medium to large boxed trucks and trailers to support a variety of urban delivery applications. 

Who Can Help

Finding the right experts who know about van and truck refrigeration is tough without knowing where to look. Fortunately, Advanced Temperature Control (ATC) has 30 years of experience in customizing, engineering, and manufacturing tough, reliable direct drive mobile refrigeration units and heating systems. We have an extensive dealer network and offer a variety of options to meet mobile refrigeration needs. Don’t hesitate to contact ATC if you have any questions or would like to learn more about their services.

Truck Refrigeration to meet any distributors needs
ATC Refrigeration – 10 things to know about our Truck Refrigeration 
Considerations for Refrigerated delivery
Refrigeration Delivery Trucks

Imagine Life Without Refrigerated Trucks

Trying to operate a business without the right delivery vehicles to transport your goods may be tough; especially if those products require colder temperatures during transport. A refrigerated truck would be the most recommended choice when it comes to transporting temperature sensitive items. Meat, dairy, flowers, and medicines are only a few examples of products that are delivered safely using reefers. Attempting to transport such items without refrigerated trucks is difficult to imagine.

Finding a refrigerated truck to meet all your needs is not a daunting task when you know where to look. Advanced Temperature Control (ATC) has over 30 years of experience with truck and van refrigeration systems. Our experts can help determine the best possible method to use for refrigerated trucks or vans.

Life Without Refrigerated Trucks

Refrigerated truck and van systems have a wide array of applications when it comes to transportation and delivery. They are often used in the floral industry as well as bakery, meat, dairy, and other food transport companies. Refrigerated trucks are an efficient way of maintaining fresh products and temperature sensitive freight. Keeping products maintained at precise temperatures during transport helps ensure a smooth delivery whether they are used for large chain suppliers, local shops, or individual business owners.

Life without refrigerated trucks would make it difficult for many industries to safely transport their time and temperature sensitive goods and the following short list are examples of businesses that would not be as successful without refrigerated reefer trucks.

Food Industry

The food industry would be impacted greatly without refrigerated trucks because perishable foods are extremely time sensitive. Without the use of refrigerated trucks, there would be a limited amount of perishable food items compared to what is seen in most grocery stores today. Businesses that deal with fresh or frozen food products would be affected including large chain grocery stores, locally owned markets, and individually owned delivery vehicles, food trucks and carts.

The advent of online ordering has helped increase the need for high performance refrigerated transport vehicles. Some prime examples of online orders that contribute to the need for reefers are home grocery delivery, catering services, and restaurant delivery. Other common uses for refrigerated vehicles include seafood, poultry, and bakery delivery as well as snack and vending services.  

Refrigerated compact delivery van - Edible Arrangements uses an ATC-14RT to ensure fresh product deliveries.

Delivery of the finest quality Meats, Seafood, Poultry and Pastas made possible with ATC's Refrigerated trucks.

ATC's Van Refrigeration guarantees fresh fruit and veggies for Field Goods, Athens, NY.

Imagining life without refrigerated trucks would be like trying to imagine life without grocery stores. Meat and dairy products that need to be transported great distances would spoil. Ice cream would melt, so the idea of ice cream trucks would be a distant dream. Catering businesses and grocery/meal drop-off companies would find it more challenging to deliver fresh goods or edible arrangements.

Floral Industry

The floral industry relies on temperature controlled environments when delivering potted plants and freshly cut flowers. Many floral and gardening shops use refrigerated vans and trucks to deliver fresh products to their customers. Without the advantages of a refrigerated transport vehicle, flowers and plants would wither and die faster. Virtually every flower shop would have to say goodbye to delicate deliveries of freshly cut bouquets.

 

Medical Supply

Many people forget that the medical supply industry utilizes refrigerated trucks and vans when transporting temperature sensitive substances and materials. Certain medicines often require chilled environments whether they are in the medical lab or not. This means the transportation of life-saving medicines would be non-existent without the advent of safe refrigerated transport. It would be harsh to imagine life without refrigerated trucks/vans, especially when taking into account hospitals full of suffering patients who cannot get access to the medicine they need.

Electronics/Technology

The electronics industry often requires cooler temperatures for their products. This is because items such as set-top boxes, modems, and servers operate best in air-conditioned/cooler environments. This helps prevent overheating and prolongs the life of that piece of technology. Companies that require onboard computers and servers would no longer be able to operate their equipment efficiently if they did not have access to a refrigerated truck, van, or trailer.

Ask The Experts

ATC has the expertise to provide you with all of your truck refrigeration needs whether the products need to stay fresh, cool, or frozen. We also offer dual temperature settings for folks that need a reefer to transport both frozen and fresh goods. These options allow smooth transportation for trucks delivering frozen meat and fresh dairy products.

Acquiring the right refrigerated truck or van depends on the services that you offer or the type of freight that will be delivered. We offer rooftop and nose mounted units for van and truck systems, designed to perform and built to last with top-of-line upgrades to keep up with the competitive nature of today’s delivery services. Life without refrigerated trucks and vans does not have to be a reality, just contact ATC to help with your product transportation needs.

The Importance of Customized Van Refrigeration

Many businesses have built their foundation on the performance of their specialized vehicles, particularly those that utilize truck and van refrigeration. As technology continues to grow, newer, more innovative methods are being developed to improve their efficiency. This includes using the most effective ways to customize reefers. There are several factors you want to consider while exploring customized truck or van refrigeration options:

Cargo Differences

Before customizing your cargo vehicle, you must consider what kind of refrigeration is needed. For example, frozen goods, dairy products, food, and floral services all require different temperature controls to maintain the product. It is important to recognize those needs in order to implement the right customization for truck or van refrigeration.

Equipment Needs 

There are several viable options that can help improve fuel economy and storage capacity. When it comes to customizing the interior of the vehicle, consider options like adjustable shelving, pre-kitting, wireless tracking, and dual cargo temperature controls.

Pre-kitting allows the drivers to consolidate their routes and lower truck inventory. This helps transition to smaller vehicles with better fuel efficiency and fewer maintenance costs.

Businesses today are taking advantage of technology growth and aligning their products or services to grow with it. Pre-kitting is a popular method of increasing revenue, saving on operation costs, and improving payload efficiency. 

Wireless tracking is another growing trend that allows operators to monitor their customized van refrigeration units. With this tool, they are able to keep track of the vehicle’s speed and idle time. Additionally, it helps keep track of fuel economy and the fuel cost needed to operate your fleet.

Compact Delivery Van with shelves using ATC8-RT for freshness in every Bakery delivery

Compact Delivery Van with shelves using ATC 8 Series for Bakery delivery

Temperature Adjustments

Customized van refrigeration does not have to be a difficult and confusing process that exceeds your wallet. Having a top-notch temperature display and system controller that saves on energy costs is only one of the customization benefits offered at Advanced Temperature Controls.

Mobile refrigeration has been able to keep up with advancing technologies, which includes ways of saving on energy costs while improving operational efficiency. With these types of customizations, you can easily track temperature variances with a digital temperature control system, with displays in the cargo area and in the cab. 

Digital temperature display and controller to ensure the desired temperature, always.

 

Proper Insulation

Proper insulation is an integral part of the customization process because it helps maximize desired temperature retention. Consideration in design to enable “the box” or cargo area to breath and vent moisture is necessary to prevent mold.

High-performance van refrigeration units most often utilize the top of the line high-density foam insulation to gain that reputation. Having proper insulation in your reefer prevents exterior temperatures from getting in while preventing interior temperatures from escaping.

Insulation maintains the desired temperatures for quality cargo refrigeration needs and protects products from getting contaminated or damaged by preventing air, heat, or moisture from getting in.

ATC16-RT evaporator inside a nicely lined cargo area. Part of the refrigeration system inside this MB Sprinter.

Lined reefer cargo van

Roof Mounted versus Nose Mounted Systems

If you are using small, medium or large vans or trucks, customizing your reefer with a roof mounted unit would be the ideal choice. Having a delivery fleet of frozen products, soft drinks, or dairy products that use vans, for instance, would require certain specifications. The amount of insulation and recommended temperatures of the products during transport would need to be taken into account. Furthermore, the average outdoor temperature and the amount of heat the products actually give off will need to be considered. Once these factors are figured out, the amount of refrigeration for the unit can be decided.

For larger boxed trucks or trailers a nose-mounted refrigeration unit would be recommended and requires unique reinforcements in the front wall to support the weight or the unit.

Direct drive refrigeration units are great for food service delivery, dairy treats, and floral services. With customized van refrigeration from Advanced Temperature Controls, you will not have to worry about having fewer options than a diesel powered system. Operators will have just as many benefits, like easy access temperature controls, great fuel economy, and smooth operation.

Choosing Van Refrigeration Solutions

 Advanced Temperature Control (ATC) understands the importance of customized van refrigeration. We specialize in tailoring #reefers to fit cargo and operators specifications and needs. Keeping up with advancing technologies is tantamount to meeting the demands of a growing industry. Mobile refrigeration is a competitive market and Advanced Temperature Controls offers customized solutions to fit the needs of any fleet. Meeting all regulatory and safety requirements for delivering fresh or frozen products won’t be a hassle when you have the right customized van refrigeration solutions.
Find the Dealer nearest you or call ATC at 833-878-5282 for more information.

How To Find A Refrigerated Truck You Can Trust?

Refrigerated Transport-What should you look for in a refrigerated truck to create the best conditions for effective transportation of fresh and frozen goods?
Westbrook Refrigerated Fleet uses ATC nose mount refrigerated systems
Refrigerated transportation of goods can be a complex process. When you are dealing with the transport of perishable goods such as food or temperature sensitive products such as pharmaceuticals, you need to ensure the products arrive on time and in the best condition. During transit, the product needs to remain in a stable condition to ensure its freshness. Choosing the most reliable and efficient refrigerated truck unit for effective delivery of goods at a controlled temperature is crucial to your business operation.

Besides finding the right refrigerated truck and a reliable driver, there are other factors to consider. When it comes to perishable goods and refrigerated shipping, there is no acceptable margin of error in terms of safe delivery:

●   Pay attention to the impact of insulation on the interior dimensions

A refrigerated truck might measure 23 feet depending on the doors, insulation package, and features specific to the truck. Therefore, for a vehicle that can accommodate a forklift pallet loading, or can handle two side-by-side pallets inside the box, a five-inch insulation wall might not work. It is important to ensure there is proper insulation at all times.

●   Choosing the right door system

The door system you choose makes the difference between a contract that loses money and making an effective delivery.  Some people will want roll-up doors because of their ease of use. However, that may translate to temperature control problems or higher operating costs especially if the unit is not properly fitted and/or well-insulated.

Reefer Van - Lined cargo area of Ford Transit with ATC F18 root top system

Reefer Van – Lined cargo area of Ford Transit with ATC F18 root top system

Depending on the product being transported, the refrigerated truck may require special equipment like hangers for meat or storage compartments for pharmaceuticals.  Dividers and curtains, particularly the fully adjustable curtains are recommended, as they save on fuel and help maintain an optimal temperature during transportation and also throughout the day.

   Curtains, Dividers, and Hangers

For those transporting split cargos, the divider boards for freezer and chiller mats come in handy. They are useful since each of the boards have different purposes. One side of the door system would be ideal for loading or unloading each temperature unit separately.

Why ATC Offers the Best Truck Refrigeration Services

ATC has been in business for over 25 years. Our specialty lies in the manufacture and engineering of direct drive mobile refrigeration and heating solutions that ensure safe and efficient delivery of your frozen and fresh products.

Our state-of-the-art truck refrigeration products are continuously updated to meet the needs of our extensive market in the USA and Canada. Through our dealer network, we also offer installation and on-going service support. At ATC, we give our clients peace of mind and confidence that supports all your mobile refrigeration and heating needs. 

Master Upfitter for refrigerated sprinter van

Finding the right Master Upfitter to convert your Mercedes-Benz Sprinter into a refrigerated Sprinter Van can be a difficult task if you are not sure where to begin. The certification programs for Master Upfitters is an intense process that requires real dedication from those involved. That is because a Master Upfitter is an expert in their specific trade, having committed themselves to keep up with Mercedes Benz’s most current Upfitting regulatory standards.

What is involved in obtaining a Master Upfitter Certification?

A Master Upfitter is an expert in their specific trade or specialty, which means time, effort, and dedication are needed to achieve that certification status. Becoming an expert in your trade involves gaining a critical understanding of the field which is gained through hands-on experience in that specific trade. In order for an Upfitter to build safely on a refrigerated van, like a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, they must have the most up to date knowledge on reefers to deliver the best solutions.
 As a certified Master Upfitter, ATC Truck Refrigeration is a member of this exclusive network of Master Upfitters.As a certified Mercedes-Benz Master Upfitter, ATC Truck Refrigeration is a member of this exclusive network of Master Upfitters.
For example, being familiar with the 360-degree interior of a soon to be refrigerated sprinter van is very important. This is because an Upfitter needs to know if you require shelving units or partitions to keep your reefer as organized as possible. From there, they must recognize the most efficient way to Upfit your sprinter van to deliver a top-notch integrated refrigeration system. These are just some of the solutions that a Master Upfitter can do to help your business grow. Keeping your refrigerated sprinter van organized with the most energy-efficient integrated refrigeration system will save your business time and money.

The Mercedes-Benz Refrigerated Sprinter Van

Mercedes-Benz offers some of the best worker lineup cargo vans available, their Sprinter vans feature dual-stage diesel engines and excellent cargo volume. This is the perfect combination needed to begin investing in your custom-made refrigerated sprinter van. Mercedes-Benz is best known for its reliability and its cargo vans are designed with spacious interior standing height and a best in its’ class payload.
Their sprinter vans are built to last and considered one of the most advanced commercial vans for high-performance and excellent fuel savings. They are built to withstand the toughest operating conditions and are made with an optional 4 wheel drive. All these features offered by the Mercedes-Benz cargo vans are excellent reasons to custom make yours into a high-performing, long-lasting refrigerated sprinter van.
In order to have the best quality, Upfit for your sprinter van makes sure that a certified Master Upfitter has been consulted. They are experts in their trade, having committed time to get certified through the proper Mercedes-Benz Master Upfitters Program.

Advanced Temperature Control (ATC) Refrigeration Solutions

If you are looking for the best place to custom make your refrigerated sprinter van, then consider ATC Transport Refrigeration Solutions. They have a wealth of experience in truck and van refrigeration units, custom jobs, and fleet management. They also deliver excellence in van and rooftop systems and can transform your Mercedes-Benz Sprinter or Metris into a powerful refrigerated sprinter van. ATC has decades of exceptional service in designing and custom fitting powerful mobile refrigeration units. If all you need for your Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van is a simple, yet reliable refrigeration solution, then ATC can meet all your needs.

ATC and Master Upfitters

ATC is a certified Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Master Upfitter which means an ongoing commitment to current practices for body and equipment guidelines. In order to deliver the highest quality in refrigeration solutions, Upfitter’s are committed to self-certification in the Mercedes-Benz Master Upfitter Program.

Benefits of Master Upfitters

ATC has been providing high-performance in truck and van refrigeration units for decades. Since they are a certified Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Master Upfitter, they offer combined knowledge of their industry and the Master Upfitter program. Essentially, you can gain an amazing amount of refrigeration solutions because of the combined expertise of ATC and their members of the certified Master Upfitters program.
Whether you need a refrigeration solution for your floral business or want to upgrade your current unit, finding the right experts to help will make all the difference. If you are looking to expand your business while saving time and money, consider bringing your Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van to ATC for a custom refrigeration Upfit. There you will have access to refrigeration solutions from the experts at ATC as well as the expansive network of Master Upfitters.

For more information call ATC at 1-833-878-5282 to hear how we can help your refrigerated delivery needs.

A Brief History of Van Refrigeration

It is hard to imagine life as we know it today without delivery vehicles, and in particular, the compact refrigerated vans. Before the emergence of mobile refrigeration, ancient cultures used to cut ice from frozen lakes, ponds, and glaciers to meet their refrigeration needs. Today’s growing demand for intra-city delivery of refrigerated products has solidified the importance of the compact van and ATC’s products for van refrigeration.

The Early Days

During the early days of mobile refrigeration, perishable freight was transported using the railroad. In the mid-1800s, the Massachusetts Western Railroad company was attempting different ways of keeping cattle meat from spoiling by transforming rail cars and trailers into ice boxes. Several methods were attempted, one of which was filling trailers with ice which however ended up causing discoloration to the meats. It was not until 1851 that the Northern Railroad Company developed the first insulated boxcar, however, it was only able to function in colder weather and climates. These limitations motivated other railroad companies and farmers to develop a more functional ice boxcar that could be used through all terrains for transport.

Refrigerated rail cars were first patented in 1873 to support the growing beef industry.

1873 refrigerated rail car – Image is the property of Refrigerated Specialists Inc

In 1877, an inventor Gustavus Swift brought forth the idea of cooling an entire car by having the air circulate through the boxcar and through the ice itself. In 1878, Andrew Chase developed a well insulated, ice-based trailer with a ventilation system. He placed the ice in the roof compartment and this method allowed the chilled air to flow down, keeping the whole boxcar cool. Both methods of ice-based mobile refrigeration were adopted and brought success to companies like the Union Stock Yard and Chicago Slaughterhouse. In addition to transporting to local areas, they were able to transport meats across the country without worrying about spoilage.

The Growth of Mobile Refrigeration

The ice being used in the early days was cut out of bodies of water and had to be quickly transported, but other discoveries were being introduced in order to lessen the burden of collecting ice. Different cooling methods, like dry ice, were being implemented, which expanded companies that specialized in transporting perishable freight because they were able to send their products across the state. These methods especially took off when the combustible engine in automobiles took center stage.

Eventually, by the 1940s, ice-based transport methods began getting replaced by mechanical refrigeration systems. This brought rise to the first manufacturer to develop mechanical mobile refrigeration, U.S. Thermo Control Company. By WWII the methods for refrigerated transport were adopted by ships and airplanes. This made it possible to transport frozen goods as well as medical supplies, like blood for transfusions. Later on, van refrigeration and truck refrigeration, also referred to as reefers, helped spread the growth of the frozen foods industry.

Van refrigeration spread as its popularity grew among transport, farming, and food companies who sought more efficient and faster ways to sell their goods. They no longer had to rely solely on railways and trailer/boxcar refrigeration, especially with the advent of the interstate highway system. Van refrigeration and other reefers at this time continued to experiment with different cooling methods, some utilizing evaporated liquid gas while others used coolant systems.

Maintaining Temperatures

The cooling mechanisms used since the early days have continued to improve because the maintenance of temperature is vital. Without proper cooling and temperature control, meat would spoil, ice cream would melt, fruits and vegetables would rot, flowers would wilt, even medical supplies would be compromised. Regardless of what kind of freight is being transported, you want to ensure that proper insulation and ventilation methods are used for van refrigeration. This means having ready access to temperature control systems before, during, and after transport. Maintaining proper temperature control is especially important when considering the distances that the freight will have to go, whether it be for local or international transport.

Contact Advanced Temperature Control (ATC) Refrigeration

 ATC Truck Refrigeration specializes in proper temperature solutions, customized reefers, and van refrigeration units. Our systems are designed to perform and built to last and feature an InCab control to set and monitor the cargo area temperature. The refrigerated solutions offered will meet all your needs whether you are transporting frozen entrees, tropical plants, or beer, wine, and other beverages. Contact us for more information on our systems.

Which Truck Refrigeration Solution is Right for you?

Finding the right truck refrigeration solution can be difficult if you are not sure which reefer will provide you with the most benefits. Direct drive refrigeration units are not only easier to use, but they are also environmentally friendly and more cost-effective than the alternatives. ATC reefers are excellent for delivering products that may include fresh produce, flowers, dairy products, frozen food, pharmaceuticals and other temperature sensitive freight.

Choosing the most practical refrigeration solution depends on the size of the vehicle and what it will be transporting. The right truck refrigeration solution can be installed on your van, truck, or trailer using either of the two most common methods, nose mounted or roof mounted condensers. Both systems have the customary in-box evaporators for easy maintenance access. All ATC systems feature digital temperature controls inside the cab area for monitoring and controlling temperatures during transport.

There are several factors that come into play when considering which unit will meet your needs. Once the following factors are taken into account, choosing the most practical refrigeration solution can be determined.

  • The size of the van, truck or trailer,
  • The amount of insulation your vehicle has,
  • The required temperature of products during transport,
  • The average temperature outside, and
  • The number of door openings in a delivery day. 

Truck Refrigeration solutions

Nose Mounted Units
Nose mounted means the refrigeration unit is installed on the outside of the box, on the front wall.
Typically used for medium-to-large sized delivery boxed trucks and trailers to support a variety of applications.

Nose mounted means the refrigeration unit is installed on the outside of the box, on the front wall. Typically used for medium-large sized delivery boxed trucks and trailers to support a variety of applications

Roof-Mounted Units
Roof-mounted refrigeration units are ideally used for small, medium or large vans.
Low profile aerodynamic condensers with optional roof-mounted electric standby.
Compact Refrigerated Sprinter Van with ATC 16RT Series

Many businesses are looking to add smaller more fuel-efficient vehicles to their delivery fleet. ATC’s compact, low profile rooftop refrigeration system is perfect.

Choosing a refrigeration system that fits your needs for reliability does not mean the process has to be extremely complicated. You want a refrigeration system that will save you on your upfront purchase cost as well as ongoing operating costs. ATC features units that are cost-effective with low-cost replacement parts and easy to service.

Advanced Temperature Control (ATC) 

If you are not sure where to look or have questions about what kind of unit you need, contact Advanced Temperature Control (ATC) Truck Refrigeration. ATC has over two and half decades of experience in providing updated truck refrigeration products that will meet your needs in today’s competitive delivery markets. If you want low maintenance, cost-effective, reliable refrigeration systems check out the products that ATC has to offer.
Whether you are transporting floral products or frozen meats, ATC can customize your refrigeration system to suit your needs. On top of providing customized installation, we offer top notch customer service support for questions or further assistance with your fleet of refrigerated trucks.

Corporate video and testimonials

ATC launches its Youtube channel with corporate video. Click here to view.
For more insight to ATC, read MACS member profile interview with President David Thurgood. Check out what our customers have to say about us in our testimonials. 

ATC manufactures Transport Refrigeration systems for Rooftop and Nose mount applications. Call 833-878-5287
ATC is a certified Mercedes Benz Sprinter Master Upfitter
Listen to Mercedes Benz Vans Greg Innes on ATC

Testimonials

ATC Ontario Dealer Aircon Services & Reefer Sales
Aircon Sales and Reefer Sales
President Dave Chilvers
ATC Refrigeration Customer Big Country Raw
Big Country Raw
Owners Rob & Geraldine Brouwer
ATC Refrigeration Customer Rosa Flora
Rosa Flora Ltd
Operations Mgr Ralph DeBeor


President David Thurgood talks ATC

Arctic Traveler Canada (ATC) – M.A.C.S member profile for Sept/Oct 2016 edition

By Marlon Posen, VP member relations and marketing

Arctic Traveler Canada of Burlington, Ontario, Canada, has been an active member of MACS – Mobile Air Conditioning Society since 1986. MACS talked with the company President, David Thurgood for an overview of the organization.

David explained, “We currently operate under 3 distinct names: Arctic Traveler Canada, which specializes in serving the mobile heating, air-conditioning and filtration industry”, Advanced Temperature Control or ATC, which specializes in the design and manufacturing of transport refrigeration systems; and Custom Coils Canada, which specializes in the design and production of refrigeration coils for both mobile and industrial air-conditioning customers.” ATC is headquartered in Burlington, On, with branches in Mississauga, ON, and Montreal, QC.

Lets talk Transport HVAC and Refrigeration - MACS interview with ATC President for the Sept/Oct editionThe mobile business was a spin-off from a commercial refrigeration company in 1960, and through a series of events evolved into its current form, with design, manufacturing, service and distribution capabilities, all with the mobile A/C or refrigeration industry. The company has been family owned, although day to day operations have been turned over to professional staff outside the family.

David told us, “Our business, which is almost entirely related to parts, components or systems sales, is evenly split between the distribution of A/C or heating component parts and the Advanced Temperature Control refrigeration systems. However the Advanced Temperature Control refrigeration systems are becoming a larger portion of the business due to the increased popularity of the European-style high-roof extended vans.

To support system sales, our facilities in Mississauga and Montreal are capable of completing aftermarket systems installs as well as repairs, but this is generally limited to unique or uncommon A/C systems.
For our parts distribution business, we exclusively focus on heavy duty, off-road, bus or specialized air condition repairs; we don’t get involved in any automotive repairs.”

Lets talk Transport HVAC and Refrigeration - MACS interview with ATC President for the Sept/Oct editionWhen asked about any unusual customer requests, David recalls; “One of the more unique projects we worked on was creating an air conditioning system for an armored vehicle operations in the Middle East. We developed a custom A/C system, working around space and equipment constraints, ultimately adding two independent systems working in conjunction with the factory A/C system.

Once designed, we collaborated with the vehicle manufacturer to complete air conditioning performance testing in an environmental test chamber on a prototype vehicle.”

Arctic Traveler has been doing business for 56 years; we asked David what he sees as the most successful part of the company. The Advanced Temperature Control product line has experienced rapid growth over the part several years. We have recently been approved by Mercedes Benz as a preferred Up-Fitter for the Sprinter and we are working hard to strengthen our dealer network and increase our market share.”

What does David wish every customer knew about his company? “That is our ability to design transport refrigeration systems, or that we have an active coil manufacturing business. The transport refrigeration product line is gaining more visibility throughout the USA as we expand our dealer network, ad our coil operations gives us greater flexibility to meet unique and short-run coil demands from many different customers.

In offering advise to his peers in MACS, David suggests, “Focus on growing your business based on your strengths and what makes your company unique and not what everyone else is doing.”

David explains the long participation as MACS members; “Just as the name says, the great thing about MACS is its focus on mobile air-conditioning which 100% matches our business focus. The issues and topics MACS is dealing with relate directly to our business. We attend MACS convention every year, because it is a great opportunity for training, networking as well as being introduced to new products.”

On April 28, 2017, Arctic Traveler has generously agreed to host a MACS heavy-duty and off-road mobile A/C clinic at their Mississauga location. Mark your calendar to join them for this informative training clinic.

Refrigerated Vehicles Date Back to 1949

Humans have been having refrigerated food for centuries. Ancient civilizations such as the Chinese, Hebrews, Greeks, and Romans placed large amounts of snow into caves and storage pits to preserve food longer. In the 1800s, frozen ice blocks were carried around in the back of wagons and sold to people and businesses to preserve food. The first successful mechanically refrigerated vehicles were introduced by the ice cream industry in about 1925.

It wasn’t until 1949 that Frederick McKinley Jones invented an automatic roof-mounted refrigeration system for long haul trucks and railroad cars, to make sure food stayed fresh. Jones was inspired to invent the system after talking with a truck driver who lost his whole cargo of chicken because he couldn’t reach his destination before the ice melted.

Refrigerated Van and Trucks were originally designed to carry perishable freight and are the reason we enjoy fresh food every day but did you know these vehicles are also used to carry arctic animals safely from their homes to zoo’s, protect paintings and art from significant damage by ensuring low temperature and humidity; nurseries and florists to ensure cut flowers would last longer; bakeries, medical supplies, and a morbid application to preserve human bodies in the morgue. 


Read more on
 The History and Impact of Refrigeration and for more information on Refrigeration systems, call the Direct Drive Reefer Specialist, Advanced Temperature Control.