A chiller technician looking for a job can’t possibly miss the refrigerated transport industry. According to an economic outlook report, the chiller transport industry will grow from USD 15.5 billion in 2019 to a staggering 26 billion dollars by 2025. With this phenomenal growth outlook, there is an increased demand for refrigeration mechanics.
Refrigerated Transport and Logistics
The refrigerated shipping industry is intermodal. It comprises specially designed and temperature-controlled trucks, also called reefers, those ship goods. The trailers have a built-in system that helps regulate the climate and preserve the shipment. Apart from trucks, reefer ships, or air rides, these reefer trailers often carry perishable cargo such as
- Meat and by-products
- Pharmaceutical products
- Fruits and vegetables
- Chemicals and many more
Cold chain refers to the supply chain of the cold transporting industry. In the first phase, the perishable commodities are stored in cold storage. Various temperature-control and freezing methods are applied to preserve the inventory. Later they are packed in insulated containers or refrigerated trailers and transported to the final destination.
There are two types of reefer units installed in the trailers.
- Freezer
- Refrigerated
Perishables food, fruits, meat, and vegetables that are temperature sensitive are kept in refrigerated containers with a temperature range of 3°C to 10°C. In contrast, other products such as pharmaceutical dairy products and dangerous goods that might harm if kept at high temperatures are loaded in the freezer with a temperature below 1°C.
Refrigeration transportation industry in UAE
Apart from the luxurious lifestyle, what else comes to mind when thinking about UAE? The hot climate! And that is where chiller transport is most needed. The UAE’s ventilation and refrigeration industry will grow from $1.87 billion in 2019 to almost $3 billion in 2030. As a result, the market of reefer vans is also going to expand.
Numerous companies are operating in the reefer container freight segment in the UAE.
The attraction for refrigerated transport Technician
Cold chain logistics has numerous aspects like cold warehousing perishable goods, chilled cargoes, refrigeration systems, equipment, management, freezer containers, CBA CGM tracking, and monitoring, etc. As a result, various problems arise, which requires a technically skilled crew.
As mentioned earlier, the growth in this industry is skyrocketing. The size of the market is going to double in the UAE alone by 2030. Thus more and more service providers will hire workers in the coming years.
The cold chain management requires expertise ranging from power supply to technical engineering staff, reefer unit supervisors, container and warehouse operators, and trucking services and mechanics.
Responsibilities of chiller transport Technicians
The responsibilities of mechanics include
- Work according to the compliance standard
- Install and repair various refrigeration systems
- Performance of preventive maintenance of the machinery in the warehouse
- Testing of the air-conditioning in the cold rooms to maintain low temperatures
- Look after the leaks in the storage container and carriage
- Maintain the generators as a backup for problems in the power supply to the evaporators and the condensing unit
- Look after the stocks of Carbon-dioxide
- Temperature monitoring of freezers
- Mechanics for the freight services
- Cutting, bending, and connecting pipes for the water system and leakage control
- Knowledgeable about gauges
- Adjust various levels of various types of equipment
- Operate the cold room
- Operate Ammonia cooling system
- Knowhow of water-cooled chiller
- Operate Walk-in freezer and other complicated assembled machines
- The humidity control mechanism of the refrigerated freights
- Mechanical maintenance of the reefer trails
- Understand the process of defrosting, condensing, blast freezer
- Maintenance of compressor in a trailer unit
Requirements and Salaries for refrigerated trucks and vans technician
According to various job listings analyzed, the employers require some necessary skills for hiring technical staff. The superior skills required is the knowledge of HVAC or various chiller tools. The experience of installation and repair is essential. Certification can make your resume stand out amongst the applicants.
Good observation skills are also essential. This skill is necessary for the diagnosis of faults in machinery and refrigeration units. The mechanic should read the blueprints and understand the diagrams of the systems in cold storage facilities and storage containers.
Apart from the technical skills, the staff must be able to read manuals and guidelines. This skill is vital to following instructions in letter and spirit without any risk of miscommunication or misunderstanding.
Good managerial skills are also crucial for higher positions such as a warehouse or storage facility supervisor or shipment coordinator.
Let’s talk about the best part of the pie – the salaries. The salaries range from $28,000 to $59,000 depending on the expertise. The salary shows a growing trend as one progresses in the job and gets to a higher position. Your qualification also has a significant impact on the wage. Nowadays, there is a growing trend of certified mechanics, and the competition is getting tougher.
Bottomline
In a nutshell, the refrigerated transportation industry has high growth potential. As a result, the outlook for technician jobs related to the chiller industry is steadily growing globally and in the UAE. Thus, people associated with or interested in this field must buckle up and prepare themselves for the high paying technical jobs in the area. Indeed it will change their lifestyle and standard of living.
