In March 2024, Hubei Shengda Automobile completed the delivery of 40 multi-functional agricultural product transport vehicles to Xiangyang Agricultural Products Distribution Center. This cooperation is aimed at solving the problems of high loss rate and poor timeliness in the transportation of fresh agricultural products in Xiangyang and its surrounding rural areas, which have long plagued local farmers and distributors.
Xiangyang, known as the "granary of Hubei", produces over 2 million tons of vegetables, fruits, and aquatic products annually. However, the underdeveloped rural transportation infrastructure and lack of specialized vehicles have led to a staggering 15%-20% loss rate during transportation. For instance, strawberries, a high-value crop, often suffered 30% spoilage due to inadequate temperature control and excessive vibration. Traditional trucks used by the distribution center lacked insulation, had weak suspension systems, and couldn’t handle the uneven rural roads, making it difficult to transport delicate products like live fish and leafy greens.
The multi-functional transport vehicles developed by Hubei Shengda feature several innovations. The dual-zone temperature control system allows independent settings: 2-4°C for vegetables in the front compartment and 5-8°C for fruits in the rear, reducing respiratory activity and extending shelf life by 3-5 days. The compartment uses a carbon fiber composite material, 15% lighter than steel but with 20% higher load capacity. A 5mm thick EPDM buffer layer lines the interior, cutting vibration by 55%—critical for eggs, which now have a breakage rate below 1% compared to 8% previously.
A real-time IoT monitoring system tracks temperature, humidity, and ethylene levels, sending alerts via a mobile app if parameters deviate. The foldable hydraulic loading platform, with a 2-ton capacity, reduces loading time by 40% and lowers labor costs. Since deployment, the distribution center’s loss rate has dropped to 5%, saving approximately 8 million yuan annually. Farmer satisfaction surveys show a 40% increase in trust toward the distribution network.
Ms. Li, the center’s operations director, noted: “These vehicles have revolutionized our supply chain. We can now deliver fresh produce to urban markets 2 hours faster, and the quality is visibly better. Hubei Shengda’s after-sales team provides monthly maintenance checks, ensuring 98% vehicle uptime. We’re negotiating to add 30 more vehicles with expanded cold storage capacity next quarter.”