Cold Chain Tracking and Monitoring Market – 5th Edition Overview
The Cold Chain Tracking and Monitoring Market – 5th Edition report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com’s portfolio, offering a comprehensive view of how real-time tracking technologies are transforming temperature-sensitive logistics worldwide. The study serves as a critical intelligence resource for tracking solution providers, device manufacturers, cargo owners, logistics companies, telecom operators, investors, consultants, and public-sector stakeholders.
Spanning 180 pages, the report delivers in-depth market analysis, expert commentary, and five-year forecasts, equipping decision-makers with actionable insights to navigate the evolving cold chain ecosystem.
Importance of Cold Chain Monitoring in Global Logistics
Perishable goods such as food products, vaccines, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and electronics are highly sensitive to temperature fluctuations, shock, vibration, tilt, and light exposure. These products require strict environmental control throughout transportation and storage, commonly referred to as the cold chain.
To maintain product integrity, logistics providers rely on refrigerated trailers, intermodal containers, air freight unit load devices (ULDs), rail wagons, insulated cargo boxes, and pallet shippers. Globally, there are approximately 5.2 million refrigerated trailers and intermodal containers, with tens of thousands of temperature-controlled ULDs and rail wagons in operation.
Value of Real-Time Tracking and Monitoring Solutions
Real-time cold chain tracking solutions deliver continuous visibility into cargo location and condition, generating significant value for cargo owners and logistics service providers. Food waste remains a global challenge, with nearly one-third of food produced for human consumption lost annually. Up to 15% of this waste occurs during post-harvest transport, often due to unmanaged temperature excursions.
Without reliable temperature data during transit, supply chain managers lack the ability to identify risks early and prevent spoilage. Real-time monitoring addresses this gap by enabling proactive intervention and quality assurance.
Definition of Real-Time Cold Chain Tracking Systems
According to the analyst, a real-time cold chain tracking solution integrates data logging, satellite positioning, and wireless data communication with a centralized back-office platform. Devices may be installed directly on cargo-carrying units—such as refrigerated trailers, containers, ULDs, or rail wagons—or placed with the cargo itself.
Cargo tracking devices are typically single-use or reusable units attached to pallets or packaging, while container-mounted devices may be permanently or temporarily installed. The market offers a wide range of device formats and communication technologies to address diverse logistics requirements.
Market Size, Shipments, and Growth Forecasts
Shipments of remote tracking systems equipped with cellular or satellite connectivity for refrigerated cargo units reached approximately 865,000 units in 2024. Growing at a CAGR of 4.7%, shipments are projected to approach 1.1 million units by 2029.
Over the same period, the installed base of active tracking systems is expected to expand at a CAGR of 9.1%, rising from 3.1 million units in 2024 to 4.9 million units by 2029.
Growth of Cargo-Level Tracking Devices
Beyond container-based solutions, the use of real-time tracking devices and data loggers for general cargo applications reached nearly 4.5 million active units at the end of 2024. This segment includes both multi-use and disposable trackers.
As device costs decline and innovations such as smart labels and ultra-compact sensors enter the market, adoption is set to accelerate. The number of active devices is forecast to reach 14.7 million units by 2029, with annual shipments increasing from 6.5 million units in 2024 to 33.2 million units by 2029.
Competitive Landscape and Leading Market Players
The cold chain tracking and monitoring market is highly competitive and includes a broad range of technology providers. ORBCOMM leads the market by installed base, with more than 600,000 active tracking units deployed on containers and trailers.
Shipping giant Maersk operates the world’s largest refrigerated container tracking program, covering its entire fleet of approximately 360,000 reefer containers. Globe Tracker ranks among the top providers, having equipped Hapag-Lloyd’s full refrigerated container fleet with tracking systems.
Other prominent players in refrigerated container tracking include BoxPlus (COSCO Shipping Lines), Copeland, and Envotech, while refrigerated trailer tracking leaders include Schmitz Cargobull, Samsara, Spireon, EROAD, Krone, Powerfleet, AddSecure, and ZF’s SCALAR platform.
Refrigerated Cargo Tracking and Smart Label Solutions
In the cargo-level tracking segment, companies such as DeltaTrak, Sensitech (Carrier), Controlant, Tive, Frigga, and Copeland each operate hundreds of thousands of deployed devices. These solutions support multimodal transport, including air freight.
Additional solution providers include OnAsset Intelligence, Qualcomm, Tempmate, VISEMO, Onset, Escavox, and Trackonomy, while Sensos and Trackonomy are advancing smart label technologies. Logistics service providers such as FedEx, UPS, and Schenker also offer monitoring-as-a-service solutions.
Technology Trends and Industry Evolution
The cold chain logistics industry is rapidly adopting advanced real-time monitoring solutions capable of tracking multiple parameters, including temperature, humidity, location, shock, tampering, and light exposure. At the same time, AI-driven analytics platforms are emerging, enabling logistics providers to reduce manual monitoring while improving operational efficiency and service quality.
Real-time visibility is increasingly becoming a baseline requirement rather than a competitive differentiator within global logistics operations.
Key Highlights of the Report
- Insights from 30 executive interviews with industry leaders
- Comprehensive analysis of the refrigerated cargo tracking value chain
- Detailed review of global tracking initiatives
- Profiles of 76 cold chain tracking solution providers
- Market forecasts through 2029, segmented by application and technology
- Coverage of trailers, containers, ULDs, and rail wagons
Future Industry Trends
Key trends shaping the future of the market include factory-installed tracking systems, increased IoT adoption driven by shipping industry expansion, sustainability initiatives enabled by real-time monitoring, smart label innovation, network sunsets creating new opportunities, and the rise of shipment monitoring services.
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