SUPERVALU ROLLING OUT 20 TRUCKS WITH CHLORINE-FREE REFRIGERATION

CHRIS O'LEARY

MINNEAPOLIS -- Supervalu here is equipping 20 of its Minneapolis division trucks with chlorine-free refrigeration systems as part of an eventual fleetwide conversion.

The rollout follows an initial purchase of 18 transport refrigeration systems by Supervalu last year for a pilot program. Officials said they consider the new purchases a continuation of the pilot.

"I think [the units] will expand to other divisions," said Ronald Seekon, supervisor of fleet maintenance. "But we're not talking to any of them yet because we're still doing a test. We want to run the test and make sure we know what we're doing before we really jump into it."

Supervalu has so far purchased a new truck and trailer for each refrigeration system. But the wholesaler may begin converting trucks currently in use if it is satisfied with the pilot results.

Since Supervalu's refrigeration trucks are retired in 12-year cycles, a conversion of the entire fleet to the system, which uses the hydrofluorocarbon R-404A, could take several years.

"We've been happy with the results so far," Seekon added. "We'll continue the test with these 20 more units and see what happens, see how they work and how they stand up."

The majority of the Minneapolis division's 167-truck fleet still uses refrigerant systems with chlorofluorocarbons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons. The government-ordered production ban on CFCs, which will take effect Jan. 1, 1996, prompted Supervalu to begin converting to nonchlorine gases.

"The ban's going to be here, we're going to live with it here shortly," Seekon said. "The sooner [we start converting] the better. We might as well start testing. I think it's the wave of the future; we're not going to have a choice someday," Seekon added. The refrigerant system, from Thermo King Co. here, has so far compared favorably with the wear an average system goes through, with some units purchased in August 1993 having accumulated more than 2,000 hours on the road.

Seekon said there have been no problems maintaining a holding temperature with the new units.