A real-time engine load control system for a transport refrigeration system of a refrigerated transport unit comprising: an engine control unit of an electronically controlled engine configured to provide power to the transport refrigeration system, wherein the engine control unit is programmed to control the electronically controlled engine; and a transport refrigeration system controller connected to the engine control unit, the transport refrigeration system controller being programmed to obtain real-time transport refrigeration system information and being programmed to regulate operating conditions within the refrigerated transport unit; the transport refrigeration system controller including an electronic control unit data processing component that is programmed to process the real-time engine load information, wherein the engine control unit is programmed to send real-time engine load information to the transport refrigeration system controller, the transport refrigeration system controller is programmed to compute a load control parameter for controlling a system load of the transport refrigeration system based on at least one of the real-time transport refrigeration system information and the real-time engine load information, characterized in that the transport refrigeration system controller includes: a load control component that is programmed to compute the load control parameter for controlling the system load of the transport refrigeration system based on at least one of the real-time transport refrigeration system information and the real-time engine load information; an electronic throttle valve control component that is programmed to use the load parameter to generate a preliminary electronic throttle valve control command for controlling an electronic throttle valve of the transport refrigeration system; a transport refrigeration system load demand component that is programmed to determine a transport refrigeration system load demand; and a temperature control and transport refrigeration system protection component that is programmed to generate an electronic throttle valve control command based on the preliminary electronic throttle valve control command and the transport refrigeration system load demand. an engine control unit of an electronically controlled engine configured to provide power to the transport refrigeration system, wherein the engine control unit is programmed to control the electronically controlled engine; and a transport refrigeration system controller connected to the engine control unit, the transport refrigeration system controller being programmed to obtain real-time transport refrigeration system information and being programmed to regulate operating conditions within the refrigerated transport unit; the transport refrigeration system controller including an electronic control unit data processing component that is programmed to process the real-time engine load information, wherein the engine control unit is programmed to send real-time engine load information to the transport refrigeration system controller, the transport refrigeration system controller is programmed to compute a load control parameter for controlling a system load of the transport refrigeration system based on at least one of the real-time transport refrigeration system information and the real-time engine load information, characterized in that a load control component that is programmed to compute the load control parameter for controlling the system load of the transport refrigeration system based on at least one of the real-time transport refrigeration system information and the real-time engine load information; an electronic throttle valve control component that is programmed to use the load parameter to generate a preliminary electronic throttle valve control command for controlling an electronic throttle valve of the transport refrigeration system; a transport refrigeration system load demand component that is programmed to determine a transport refrigeration system load demand; and a temperature control and transport refrigeration system protection component that is programmed to generate an electronic throttle valve control command based on the preliminary electronic throttle valve control command and the transport refrigeration system load demand.