Thermo King and Volvo Trucks First to Offer Refrigeration Unit Control Through the Infotainment System

An industry-first integration brings Thermo King refrigeration unit monitoring and control directly into the Volvo Trucks infotainment interface, making in-cab management easier, safer and more efficient for drivers and fleets.

Thermo King®, a leader in transport temperature control solutions and a brand of Trane Technologies, has partnered with Volvo Trucks to integrate transport refrigeration unit (TRU) management directly into the truck’s in-cab infotainment system. Available through Volvo Trucks’ “My Business Apps” service, this innovative application allows drivers to monitor and control their refrigerated cargo in real time without leaving the cab or relying on secondary mobile devices. Thermo King is the first in the market to offer this level of infotainment integration for TRUs, creating a new route for customers to access reefer data and controls through the truck ecosystem itself.

“The future of cold chain logistics is powered by connected intelligence, not just hardware. Digitalisation helps fleets protect uptime, increase operational visibility, support compliance readiness and make better-informed decisions across vehicles, drivers and cargo,” said Baris Akcora, Digital Solutions Portfolio Leader at Thermo King EMEA. “By bringing refrigeration management directly into the Volvo Trucks infotainment system, we are connecting the truck and the refrigeration unit in one integrated ecosystem. This collaboration brings digital intelligence into the driver’s daily workflow, helping address safety concerns around mobile phone use in the cab, simplifying day-to-day tasks and improving compliance oversight through a single interface.”

“My Business Apps is an important extension of our digital services in Volvo Connect, and integrating Thermo King’s advanced telematics marks an important step in expanding that offering,” said Annelie Norhav, Product Owner at Volvo Trucks. “Together, we are enabling fleets to use existing in-truck hardware and connectivity to improve the driver’s work environment. Thermo King’s digital architecture and expertise helped us deliver a unified solution for temperature-controlled transport, giving our shared customers a seamless, safer, and more complete experience directly from the cab.”

Enhancing Driver Safety and Operational Ease

Traditionally, managing temperature-controlled units requires drivers to either physically exit the cab to check the external human-machine interface (HMI) or rely on separate mobile devices like smartphones or tablets. Using personal mobile devices for work tasks has become increasingly complex due to strict GDPR regulations and the capital investments required for company-issued phones.

Designed for the practical realities of refrigerated transport, access to the TRU through the truck’s native infotainment environment provides drivers with a more convenient way to stay connected to the refrigeration unit while on the road. Instead of relying on a smartphone or tablet, they can view relevant unit information directly within the vehicle’s system without unnecessary disruption to the journey.

For transport operators, the value goes beyond convenience. The solution supports better visibility of refrigerated assets, smoother workflows and improved decision-making in real time.

Addressing the industry’s growing focus on cybersecurity, the in-cab application is built with robust end-to-end encryption. Unlike external physical interfaces, accessing the refrigeration system via the truck’s side display requires credentials and secure login verification. This closed-loop in-cab ecosystem ensures that only authorised personnel can view or modify cargo parameters, reinforcing fleet cybersecurity and protecting high-value, temperature-sensitive products.

The service is now available via the Volvo marketplace on trucks equipped with the latest side display (models from 2021 onwards). The initial rollout covers Australia and key European countries, including Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Finland, France, Hungary, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.