Broughton Transport adds Krone reefers for European meat freight

Broughton Transport Solutions has added two Krone Cool Liner refrigerated semi-trailers to its fleet, increasing temperature-controlled capacity for chilled and frozen meat movements across the UK and continental Europe.

The Wiltshire operator runs 65 tractor units and 115 trailers across general haulage, pallet distribution and refrigerated transport. Three Krone trailers were already in the fleet, so the latest purchase extends an existing equipment relationship rather than introducing a new supplier.

Both additions are configured for a single temperature and for regular refrigerated work over longer routes. Their specification centres on insulation, flooring and load restraint, reflecting the need to protect food cargo while the trailer withstands repeated loading, cleaning and international mileage.

Krone’s Duoplex Steel body uses sandwich panels with a steel outer skin and PVC-coated interior. The insulated structure helps separate the cargo space from ambient conditions while providing surfaces designed to cope with intensive commercial use.

Insulation works alongside the refrigeration system rather than replacing it. The cooling unit has to remove heat entering through the body and introduced when doors open, so thermal performance can influence how hard the equipment works to maintain the required set point.

International meat transport can expose a trailer to substantial changes in outside temperature during one journey. Loads may also remain inside during waiting periods and rest stops, making body integrity and door sealing important alongside the refrigeration unit itself.

The floor has been specified for repeated forklift loading and is tested to EN 283 requirements for axle loads of up to 5,500kg. Durable flooring reduces the risk that intensive pallet handling creates damage that takes the trailer out of service or complicates cleaning.

Interior condition is particularly important in food logistics because damaged surfaces can trap moisture or make hygiene procedures more difficult. Equipment durability therefore supports both availability and the practical requirements of maintaining a clean refrigerated cargo space.

Two pairs of recessed load-restraint rails have also been fitted in the sidewalls. Meat loads can be dense, so temperature control does not remove the conventional need to prevent cargo movement under braking, acceleration and cornering.

Krone equips the lower sidewalls with 285mm aluminium protection strips in areas likely to be struck during pallet movement. The bodies also carry EN 12642 Code XL certification, providing a defined structural standard for load security.

Broughton managing director Toby Ovens said the company selected the trailers around build quality, durability and operational flexibility. The specification reflects the practical demands of cold-chain road transport rather than a major change in the company’s network.

Two additional trailers are modest within a fleet of 115, so the purchase should not be interpreted as a large capacity expansion. It instead increases specialist refrigerated availability within a mixed transport operation that already serves chilled and frozen customers.

Small fleet additions can allow operators to match capacity more closely with contracted demand while observing how a particular trailer specification performs under real routes before committing to a larger replacement programme.

Refrigerated trailers also require more supporting maintenance than a conventional dry box because body seals, insulation, doors, floors and refrigeration equipment all contribute to whether the unit remains suitable for temperature-sensitive food.

A defect that might be manageable on general freight can make a reefer unavailable until repairs are completed, particularly where the fault affects temperature control or hygiene. Manufacturer support and parts availability therefore carry greater operational weight than the purchase price alone might suggest.

That support becomes more important on European work because a failure may occur far from the operator’s own workshop. Equipment standardisation and access to service networks can reduce the time required to return a trailer to productive use.

Cold-chain fleets often grow through incremental purchases of this kind rather than through large one-off orders. Each extra unit increases available capacity slightly, while the underlying operating requirements remain unchanged: maintain temperature, protect the load and keep the trailer available through intensive daily use.

Broughton’s two new Cool Liners add a small amount of specialist capacity to that system. Their contribution will be measured through reliable utilisation over chilled and frozen meat routes rather than through the size of the fleet order itself.