​How Italy’s leading tank container operator gained full fleet visibility with IMT telematics

Chemical Express manages 3,750 tank containers across Europe, transporting temperature-sensitive chemicals by road, rail, and sea. Before IMT, they estimated fleet positions based on transport orders and manual updates. Today, they know exactly where every tank is, what temperature the cargo is at, and whether heating is actually needed. The result: better planning, fewer surprises, and operational control that reaches from Naples to the North Sea.

The challenge of invisible assets

Chemical Express is an Italian company specializing in bulk liquid chemical transport. They operate across Europe, moving hazardous and non-hazardous products via multiple transport modes. Their fleet includes ISO tanks, swap bodies, and multi-compartment tanks.

Before implementing telematics, the company used fleet management software combined with geographical zoning. By assigning tanks to transport orders and dividing operations by country and region, they could estimate how many containers were in a given area.

The word “estimate” is key here. Francesco Mattozzi, Account Manager at Chemical Express, explains: “The main challenge occurred when tanks that were expected to be in a certain area were actually not there, due to human error, delayed updates, or simple oversight. This created inefficiencies in fleet planning, increased repositioning costs, and occasionally reduced our responsiveness to customer requests.”

For a company managing nearly 4,000 containers, even small inaccuracies multiply quickly. A tank assumed to be available in Rotterdam might actually be in Antwerp. A container expected at a depot could still be in transit. Each discrepancy means phone calls, delays, and sometimes empty kilometers.

Finding the right solution

The decision to adopt telematics came not from a single incident, but from a strategic realization. As Mattozzi puts it: “When technological progress made satellite tracking equipment more reliable and economically accessible, we understood that it was the right time to move toward a more accurate and automated solution.”

Mattozzi was the one who brought IMT to the company’s attention. “I read an article about IMT in a specialized bulk logistics magazine and found the solution very interesting. I then suggested to our technical department that we should get in touch with IMT to explore the opportunity further.”

Chemical Express evaluated multiple providers, comparing technical features, reliability, scalability, and service support. The deciding factors were the completeness of the service package and IMT’s professional approach. “Beyond the technology itself, we appreciated the consultancy approach, flexibility, and the ability to adapt the solution to our specific operational needs. That gave us confidence that IMT was the right long-term partner.”

What Chemical Express uses today

The company now uses three core capabilities: real-time geolocation, cargo temperature monitoring, and sensors on tank heating systems. These features provide full visibility over positioning and product conditions throughout the entire transport chain.

Temperature monitoring serves a specific purpose. Chemical Express transports many temperature-sensitive products where maintaining correct conditions is essential for product quality and customer specifications. But it goes further than simply tracking cargo temperature.

“Monitoring the loading temperature is particularly important,” Mattozzi explains, “as it sometimes differs from what was expected or agreed upon. Thanks to the IMT system, we can provide objective evidence of the actual loading temperature and justify any heating operations carried out during transport. This increases transparency and helps prevent disputes with customers.”

The heating sensor adds another layer of control. External heating at terminals and depots represents a significant cost. With real-time data on when heating is activated, for how long, and at which temperature levels, Chemical Express can verify invoices and make informed decisions about whether heating is actually required before the next loading or delivery.

“In some cases, this avoids unnecessary heating operations, saving time and preventing empty repositioning kilometers,” Mattozzi notes.

Chemical Express also uses custom reports built specifically for their operations. These depot reports provide clear overviews of tank positions, status, and rotation within specific locations. “They allow us to better analyze fleet utilization, improve container turnover, and optimize repositioning strategies. In practice, these reports support both operational decision-making and cost control.”

Finally, an API integration connects IMT geolocation data with the company’s truck GPS system. This allows them to see the position of both tanks and trucks on the same interface. “Having a unified view significantly improves operational coordination, reduces response time, and enhances overall visibility across our fleet.”

From logistics to sales: who works with the platform

The IMT platform is used daily across multiple departments at Chemical Express. Each team accesses the information relevant to their activities.

Logistics planners use it for fleet planning and optimization. The technical department monitors heating systems and maintenance aspects. Administration uses data for reporting and verification. Customer service benefits from real-time information when communicating with customers. And sales has access to accurate fleet data when discussing capabilities with prospects.

This cross-departmental adoption points to a broader shift: telematics is no longer just an operations tool. It connects departments and supports both operational and strategic decision-making.

When monitoring prevents damage

Beyond efficiency gains, the system has proven its value in risk prevention. Mattozzi shares a concrete example:

“On one occasion, thanks to IMT monitoring, we noticed that a heating station was using steam heating instead of hot water due to an operational error. Because we had real-time visibility of the temperature data, we were able to immediately alert the facility and stop the incorrect heating process. This prevented potential damage to the product and avoided possible customer claims or even significant financial losses.”

This example illustrates how continuous monitoring moves beyond passive tracking toward active risk prevention. The data does not just tell you where your assets are. It tells you when something is wrong in time to intervene.

Implementation: faster than expected

For many fleet operators, the concern about implementing new technology centers on disruption. How long will it take? How complex is the integration? Will teams actually use it?

Chemical Express found the process smoother than anticipated. “IMT provided clear guidance, customized support, and training, which made adoption easy for all departments involved,” Mattozzi reports. “We were fully operational within a few weeks. The combination of a user-friendly platform and dedicated support allowed a fast rollout across the fleet and teams.”

Beyond technology: the partnership

When asked to describe the collaboration with IMT in three words, Mattozzi chooses: “Reliable, professional, and supportive.”

“The collaboration is highly professional and cooperative,” he explains. “IMT is proactive in understanding our needs, flexible in customization, and always responsive to requests or questions. The partnership goes beyond technology; it is about operational support and continuous improvement.”

The biggest gain

When asked to name the single biggest gain from IMT telematics, Mattozzi’s answer is clear: “Full operational visibility. Having precise, real-time information about location and temperature allows us to make proactive decisions, reduce risks, and improve service reliability.”

For companies considering telematics, he offers this advice: “Invest in telematics early and choose a partner who offers not just technology but also professional support and customization. Real-time data and transparency can transform operations, improve customer trust, and reduce risks.”

And his final assessment of IMT’s role in their operations? “IMT has become an essential tool for us, connecting departments, improving decision-making, and supporting both operational and strategic goals. For companies managing large fleets or temperature-sensitive cargo, it is truly a game-changer.”

Want to see what visibility looks like for your fleet?

Share your fleet size and cargo types with Bernard. We will show you how real-time tracking, temperature monitoring, and custom reporting can work for your operations.

Bernard Heylen is Sales Director at Intermodal Telematics, where he helps transport operators in chemical logistics gain operational visibility through telematics.

The chemical sector is under pressure. Margins that looked comfortable two years ago are now tight. Companies that ran profitable operations are cutting staff and questioning every line item. If you operate tank containers for chemical transport, you feel this pressure directly. Your customers demand lower rates while your own costs keep climbing. Fuel, maintenance, labor, none of it gets cheaper. In times like these, small inefficiencies you could ignore before suddenly matter. A lot. 

In this blog, Bernard Heylen explains how telematics helps transport operators protect margins by eliminating costs that add up faster than most people realize.

The costs hiding in plain sight

When margins are comfortable, you can absorb some waste. A tank sitting empty for an extra few days? Not ideal, but manageable. A heating station bill that looks high? You pay it and move on.

When margins tighten, those small losses become real problems.

Take demurrage. After two free days, an empty tank costs 40 euros per day. If you don’t know exactly when a tank empties, you pay for days you shouldn’t. A tank that sits unnoticed for a week? That’s 200 euros wasted on a single asset. Multiply that across a fleet and you’re looking at significant annual costs.

Or heating costs. A tank needs to stay for example at 41 degrees. It cools in transit and goes to a heating station. Sometimes heating stations charge for longer than the actual heating time. You get billed for hours you didn’t use. Sometimes heating charges make up 50% of the total invoice, and you have no way to verify if it’s justified.

These aren’t operational failures. They’re visibility gaps. You can’t optimize what you can’t see.

Why the crisis makes digitalization urgent, not optional

Some operators assume digitalization is something you invest in when times are good. A nice to have for when budgets allow.

The opposite is true.

When every euro counts, you need to see where money leaks out. Telematics gives you that visibility. Real time data on temperature, location, and status means you know exactly when a tank empties, when it needs heating, and where it sits idle.

That knowledge translates directly into cost control. When a tank empties, you see it nearly real-time. Your planning team can assign the next job immediately instead of discovering two days later that the tank was available all along. Those saved demurrage days add up fast. As a result, you have a better turnaround time of your tanks.

For heating verification, you see exactly when the product temperature dropped and how long it took to reheat. That lets you check if the heating duration on the invoice matches reality. When a station charges for eight hours but your data shows the tank was back at temperature after five, you have grounds to challenge the bill.

Here’s the key difference: telematics prevents costs before they occur, rather than helping you find problems after the damage is done. That preventive effect is what makes the difference in tight markets.

In a sector where margins are under pressure and job cuts are happening, that kind of saving isn’t just helpful. It keeps operations viable.

Efficiency isn’t about working harder

When margins drop, the instinct is to push harder. Run more loads. Cut more costs. Work longer hours.

That approach has limits. There are only so many hours in a day, and your team is already stretched.

Telematics changes the equation. Instead of working harder, you work smarter. Your planning team sees the whole fleet in one dashboard. Your operations team gets alerts when something needs attention. Your finance team has data to verify invoices and negotiate rates.

The result? You handle the same workload with fewer surprises, less wasted time, and lower costs.

That efficiency compounds. Every tank you move faster. Every heating bill you catch. Every demurrage charge you avoid. Small improvements add up to significant margin protection over time.

What operators who wait are missing

Some operators delay investing in telematics because they’re not sure about ROI in a tight market. The calculation seems risky when budgets are under scrutiny.

But the real risk is waiting. Every month without visibility means paying for inefficiencies you could eliminate. Heating invoices you can’t verify. Demurrage charges you absorb because you didn’t know a tank was ready.

That’s why timing matters. The operators who invest now are the ones who come out of this period stronger. They have lower costs, better data, and more control over their operations. When the market recovers, they’re already optimized and ready to scale.

The operators who wait are still trying to catch up, still paying for waste they could have eliminated years earlier.

Controlling costs starts with knowing where money goes

You can’t control costs you can’t measure. Telematics makes the invisible visible.

It shows you which tanks sit too long, which heating stations overcharge, which routes waste fuel, and which processes drain money without adding value.

Once you see that, you can act. Not with guesswork or assumptions, but with data that tells you exactly where to focus.

In a sector where margins are under pressure and every euro matters, that visibility isn’t a luxury. It’s how you stay competitive.

Want to see where your operation is losing money? 

We’ll map your demurrage, heating and idle time losses in under 30 minutes. Schedule a call with Bart or Bernard and share your fleet size and current challenges.

Bernard Heylen is Sales Director at Intermodal Telematics, where he helps transport operators in chemical logistics eliminate waste and protect margins through real time visibility.

Transporting temperature-sensitive goods is no easy task, especially when your cargo includes cryogenic materials, flammable liquids, chemical goods, and fuels. As a Fleet Manager, you know that maintaining the right temperature is crucial—not only for product quality but also for safety. Improper handling or temperature fluctuations can trigger serious risks, including a reaction called “polymerization,” which can lead to dangerous situations if not closely monitored.

What’s polymerization and why does it matter?

When some materials get too hot or aren’t handled with care, they can start to “polymerize.” This reaction can cause intense heat, pressure build-up, and even explosions. Imagine the risks if this happened inside a tank during transport! That’s why it’s vital to prevent these reactions with the right monitoring tools.

Common triggers for dangerous reactions

Despite best efforts, certain factors can still trigger polymerization in sensitive materials. These include:

• Overheating: The most frequent cause of polymerization, often due to high temperatures in depots.
• Exposure to sustained high temperature or improper thawing.
• Contamination: Residues from previous cargo or rust in tanks can spark reactions.
• Oxygen changes: Some chemicals rely on oxygen to stay stable. Using nitrogen to remove oxygen can destabilize these products.

How telematics can help

Telematics technology is a game-changer for managing your fleet’s safety. It lets you monitor temperature conditions in real-time, so you can catch and resolve any issues before they become hazardous. Here’s how it works:

1. Set Temperature Limits: You can set specific thresholds for each type of cargo in a web-based platform. If a tank’s temperature reaches these limits, you’ll receive an immediate alert.
2. Instant Alerts for Quick Action: Sensors gather cargo temperature data constantly. If the temperature goes beyond the safe range, you’ll get a notification on your mobile phone and an email, allowing you to take action before it’s too late.
3. Accurate, Automated Logging: No more relying on drivers to log temperatures manually every few hours. With telematics, temperature data is logged automatically, and you can access it anytime to review or analyze trends.
4. Different Temperature Sensor Options: Choose between different types of temperature sensors that measure from the tank wall or go straight into the cargo, depending on your specific needs.

The benefits of tank telematics for your fleet

With tank telematics, you’re adding an extra layer of safety to your fleet. The combination of hardware and software ensures that you’re in control of each tank’s temperature conditions, minimizing risks of polymerization and other temperature-related issues. By digitizing your fleet, you eliminate human error, improve safety, and ensure that your sensitive products arrive safely at their destination.

Ready to learn more about how telematics can transform your fleet management? Follow IMT on LinkedIn for the latest insights and updates, or check out our case studies to see how we’ve helped other companies elevate their fleet safety and efficiency.

IMT wishes you all prosperity, success, and robust health for 2024. May your endeavours in business & telematics continue to thrive, and may the new year bring new heights of achievement. We are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead and looking forward to another year of collaboration, growth, and shared achievements!

Past week we had the pleasure to take 150 of Eurotainer’s customers into the exciting world of tank telematics. From tank containers for liquids, gases, and cryogenic gases to small portable tanks, it was all on-site for multiple training sessions. These sessions provided the visitors with hands-on experience and insights into the equipment, components and the latest tank telematicssolutions. Multiple sessions showcased our solutions, and engaging discussions filled the evening session of the TCClub.