Tribe Transportation is expanding its fleet with 111 new 53-foot trailers equipped with Carrier Transicold X4 7500 refrigeration units to help it meet demand.

Tribe acquired Carrier Transicold TRU-Mount solar panels, which help to maintain the charge of the refrigeration unit batteries in addition to 100 Carrier Transicold ComfortPro diesel auxiliary power units (APUs) to help maintain cab climate control for its drivers.

“The new refrigeration units, with their high capacities, precise temperature control and proven reliability, are helping us to meet the exacting needs of our pharmaceutical and life sciences customers,” said Todd Gooch, Vice President of Transportation for the Gainesville, Ga.-based fleet.

Carrier Transicold X4 7500 refrigeration unit with solar panels.Photo: Tribe Transportation

For temperature monitoring and asset tracking, Tribe’s trailers are equipped with telematics devices powered by the refrigeration units’ batteries. Carrier Transicold’s high-performance TRU-Mount solar charging system supplements battery charging, helping to keep all trailers visible through Tribe’s telematics system. Native American woman-owned Tribe Transportation has more than 400 tractors and nearly 900 trailers, serving the refrigerated and deep-frozen freight needs of its expanding customer base.

“That’s a big plus for us,” Gooch explained, noting that in a drop-type environment where a trailer may be parked without the refrigeration unit running, the battery could lose its charge without the support of the solar panel. Tribe considers the panel’s secure mounting to the top of the refrigeration unit an advantage because it stays with the unit if it is relocated to another trailer.

“We haul everything from candy and produce to ice cream and cryogenic pharmaceutical products, and that unit serves us best over a wide array of customers,” Gooch said about the X4 7500 model, Carrier Transicold’s highest capacity trailer refrigeration unit.

The fully-featured ComfortPro diesel APUs provide air conditioning, heating, cab power, engine warming, and truck battery monitoring and charging. In addition to reducing engine wear and fuel consumption, the APUs improve comfort, which helps with driver retention.

“Tribe’s fleet expansion moves the cold chain forward to help ensure that medicines reach the people who need them,” said Bill Maddox, senior manager of product management at Carrier Transicold. “We are pleased to support this effort, at a time when it matters most.”