In the relentless push to optimise last-mile delivery we often speak about speed and convenience – metrics that dominate boardroom discussions and customer satisfaction scores alike.
Yet behind those headlines lies a more nuanced reality. One shaped by the design and dependability of the vehicles themselves.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought many operational truths into focus. Among them was the discovery that vans could, when pushed, go further – not just in miles, but in years.
Image: CoolKit
The standard three- to four-year replacement cycle gave way to necessity; fleets began to stretch their assets into a fifth year or beyond. This shift, once unthinkable, has left a mark.
It’s no longer heretical to imagine commercial vehicles staying in frontline service longer, provided they’re built to cope. That’s a significant ‘if’.
Temperature-control: Where the last-mile counts most
A refrigerated van is a finely tuned system, with performance dictated as much by ambient conditions as by engineering. Nowhere is this more critical than in pharmaceutical logistics, where maintaining precise temperatures is a highly regulated requirement.
MHRA compliance requires that sensitive goods arrive in perfect condition, and in the last mile, that obligation is most vulnerable.
Frequent door openings, multi-drop schedules and unpredictable urban traffic expose temperature-sensitive goods to constant fluctuation. Unlike trunk routes, where conditions remain stable for hours, the last mile delivers a rapid sequence of environmental changes that refrigeration systems must constantly battle.
Even short temperature excursions can render high-value pharmaceutical loads unsalvageable – turning a delivery failure into both a regulatory breach. That’s why insulation integrity and refrigeration stability matter most when the journey’s almost done.
Urban settings only heighten the challenge. Deliveries into ULEZ zones or congested city centres demand more than ever from temperature-controlled vehicles – navigating restrictions and frequent door openings all while maintaining stable conditions inside the load space.
Whether transporting pharmaceuticals, where narrow tolerance bands make every fluctuation critical, or high-value foods where spoilage and brand reputation are on the line, reliable refrigeration performance is fundamental in the last mile.
This is where a broader conversation around sustainability begins. The rise of electric vans is rightly lauded for eliminating tailpipe emissions, especially in cities where air quality is a major concern.
But there’s an overlooked irony: many of these so-called zero-emission refrigerated LCVs continue to emit refrigerant gases with a global warming potential thousands of times higher than CO₂.
A single kilogram of some commonly used refrigerants can equate to over two tonnes of CO₂ equivalent.
That contradiction can’t be ignored. It’s why CoolKit actively pursued zero-emission refrigeration solutions through our partnership with pbx, bringing its ecos M24 system to the UK.
These units offer genuine emissions reductions – a step we believe is crucial if urban logistics is to meet both its service and environmental obligations.
Image: CoolKit
Productivity: the final piece of the puzzle
It’s easy to focus on what happens at the customer’s door when considering rising expectations around delivery speed, but for fleet operators, the real challenge often begins much earlier: in how vehicles are specified, built and prepared for a hard-working life.
During the supply chain disruption of recent years, many operators found themselves running vehicles long beyond their original replacement cycles. What was once considered unthinkable – extending commercial vehicles into a fifth year or beyond – is increasingly seen as viable, provided those vehicles are built to cope.
And that’s the crucial point: longevity isn’t a given, it’s engineered. In refrigerated transport, one of the biggest threats to longevity is insulation degradation.
Lower-cost materials may offer attractive upfront pricing, but their performance declines steadily under real-world conditions.
Studies have shown that some common insulation materials can lose 15–20% of thermal efficiency every year as gases escape and moisture ingress takes its toll. Over a seven-year period, degradation rates of up to 19% have been recorded, steadily increasing fuel consumption and placing greater strain on refrigeration systems.
This matters, particularly in sectors where tight temperature control isn’t optional.
The greater the thermal loss, the harder the fridge unit has to work – driving up energy use, increasing wear and ultimately raising the risk of temperature excursions that could compromise sensitive payloads.
That’s why CoolKit takes a different approach. By carefully selecting materials, applying controlled build methods and working directly with OEM partners to protect structural integrity, CoolKit’s conversions are designed for performance on day one and consistency years down the line.
It’s an investment in longevity – one that pays dividends through lower running costs.
Residual value also weighs heavily in these decisions. Conversions that are too narrowly specialised can limit a vehicle’s appeal in its second life, reducing flexibility for redeployment.
The balance lies in creating solutions that serve today’s operational needs while retaining adaptability for future use – something CoolKit’s conversion principles are built around.
*Statistics according to The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
Author: Rupert Gatty, Chief Executive, CoolKit
