Cold Link Africa May 2018 | Page 9

NEWS INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN Serco completes large order of pharmaceutical bodies I n December 2017, Serco completed 54 refrigerated truck bodies for Virtual Logistics, a division of Adcock Ingram, for the health care giant to transport its pharmaceuticals to various parts of the country. The vehicles are on rental through Bidvest Car & Van Rental. The bodies were manufactured at Serco’s factories in Johannesburg and Durban and were fitted onto Isuzu trucks accompanied by Transfrig’s fridge unit. Bodies vary in length from 2.3m to 5.5m, to 7.2m and 8.5m, with the vehicles being welcome additions to Virtual Logistics’ current fleet. Features on the bodies include rear and side door access and Dhollandia tail lifts for easy offloading. Stringent distribution practices for pharmaceutical goods require that these highly sensitive products be transported in temperature-controlled vehicles, which Serco specialises in. The new refrigerated trucks will transport the company’s products to distribution centres and customers around the country. The deal was brokered through Bidvest Car & Van Rental where fleet executive Grant Fraser says Serco’s solid reputation in the market swung the deal its way. Fraser confirmed that all the trucks were put into use in The new Adcock Ingram vehicles built by Serco. December 2017. CLA