System Loco: How Can IoT Tech Tackle Cold Chain Failures?

Healthcare supply chains face mounting pressures from internal market demands and external disruptions. Medical device manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies need rapid delivery whilst managing regulatory compliance and security threats.

Temperature-controlled logistics present particular challenges for vaccine distribution and pharmaceutical transport. System Loco has developed capabilities to address these requirements through technology that provides visibility and maintains compliance throughout the cold chain.

The company has deployed systems to counter cargo theft, which threatens the healthcare industry with significant financial losses. Healthcare organisations require solutions that protect high-value pharmaceutical shipments whilst maintaining the integrity of temperature-sensitive products throughout transit.

Pharmaceutical tracking intelligence

System Loco is an information technology and services company that operates in healthcare supply chain management. The firm has deployed three million IoT tracking devices globally since 2016, providing shipment-level intelligence for perishables, valuables and pharmaceuticals.

The company offers real-time data on location, condition and handling through its tracking systems and IoT devices. Healthcare organisations use these tools to monitor vaccine shipments and pharmaceutical products that require strict temperature control.

Pharmaceutical companies face unique challenges in maintaining product efficacy during transport. Biologics, vaccines and specialty medications often require storage within narrow temperature ranges. Any deviation can compromise drug effectiveness and patient safety.

System Loco works with Real-Time Transportation Visibility Platform partners to provide condition monitoring and end-to-end visibility throughout the cold chain. The technology monitors product quality, security and compliance for transcontinental vaccine deliveries and regional pharmaceutical distribution.

Edge-intelligent sensors detect temperature shifts and humidity changes in real time. When conditions deviate from required parameters, the system sends immediate alerts to clients, allowing intervention before products degrade.

Connected monitoring systems

The company uses GPS, Wi-Fi, cellular and low-power wireless technology to track shipments through refrigerated containers and cross-border transit. Healthcare clients can monitor pharmaceutical products at every stage of transport.

System Loco holds more than 70 airline certifications and more than 65 country certifications for cold chain operations. The company provides automated audit trails through NIST-certified technology, which generates tamper-evident logs, time-stamped environmental data and digitally signed chain-of-custody records.

This documentation capability could mean faster regulatory processing and inspection readiness for pharmaceutical companies. Healthcare organisations can access traceable records at any point during shipment. Regulatory bodies including the FDA and EMA require comprehensive documentation for pharmaceutical transport, making automated compliance tracking essential for manufacturers.

"Cargo theft is at an all-time high in 2025, costing the industry hundreds of millions. And the reality is—there's no single silver bullet," Orlando Candelaria, SVP of Business Development at System Loco says on LinkedIn.

"The strongest defence is a layered approach – starting with physical security, then adding technology, trained people and operational discipline," Orlando says.

"I see the same truth every day. Locks and deterrents matter, but without real-time visibility and intelligence, you're still operating blind. When you combine both, you move from reactive tracking to proactive control – giving shippers, carriers and logistics providers the ability to stop issues before they escalate."

"The key takeaway? We're stronger together. Collaboration between tech providers, carriers, risk managers and security teams is the only way to stay ahead of increasingly sophisticated threats," Orlando says.

Preventing pharmaceutical losses

System Loco addresses financial losses that affect healthcare supply chains. The logistics industry faces between US$30bn and US$50bn in annual losses from stolen shipments, according to the company.

Temperature deviations during pharmaceutical shipping result in US$35bn in annual losses for the industry. The food industry experiences similar losses, with more than US$35bn in global spoilage each year.

The company uses visibility technology and real-time alerts to reduce these losses. In February, System Loco and Cargo Signal recovered a stolen pharmaceutical shipment after thieves removed a trailer whilst the driver rested.

The shipment passed its delivery point without arriving, triggering an alert at Cargo Signal's 24/7 Command Center. System Loco's tracking devices enabled authorities to locate and recover the trailer.

The incident demonstrated how location intelligence could mean faster recovery times for stolen medical supplies and pharmaceutical products. Authorities returned the shipment to carrier control following the tracking data.