Cold Chain Logistics –  Guide to Temperature-Controlled Transportation

When it comes to perishable foods, pharmaceuticals, and other temperature-sensitive materials, you have an entirely different set of requirements when shipping your goods. Even the most durable trucks are subject to temperature and weather changes that can affect the materials transported. In addition, considering delivery windows are tight when transporting perishable items, costs tend to go up, and so does the stress of getting your items to where they need to be without perishing. Therefore, regardless of what you are shipping, you must ensure temperature requirements are met for all your deliveries. Our team of experts compiled a guide if you are new to temperature-controlled shipping or have questions about handling your freight of sensitive goods, as well as a few tips for setting you up for success.

What is temperature-controlled transport?

Temperature-controlled transport is any transport that takes place within a specific temperature or temperature range and uses unique mechanisms to protect the goods from being transported. It includes all processes for preparing orders, transporting, and delivering goods under special cooling conditions.

Common temperature-controlled freight

There is an extensive range of products that need to be temperature controlled. Here’s a closer look at some of the many categories that temperature-controlled freight covers:

Food – The most obvious and most prominent of temperature-controlled freight. It includes fresh fruits and vegetables, flowers, herbs, and meats.

Frozen Foods – Frozen dinners, meats, and ready-to-prepare foods can spoil, lose their flavor, and often morph into unsellable products when they melt.

Confectionary Products – Include candy, sugar, chocolates, and baked goods stored at various temperatures. For instance, the ideal temperature range for transporting or storing chocolate is 55 degrees to 65 degrees.

Health & Beauty – Certain makeups, hygiene products, soaps, and lotions must be temperature controlled to keep from melting or having some of their qualities — odor, texture, and color — diminished by extreme temperatures.

Nutritional Supplements – Among these products — vitamins, shakes, snacks, and syrups — some items can degrade faster and lose effectiveness when exposed to excessive heat, light, humidity, or oxygen.

Medical Items and Pharmaceuticals – This includes everything from pills to vaccines to lab kits to test products and some equipment. The timely arrival of an unspoiled product can be significant because these items can sometimes be life-saving.

Limitations of temperature-controlled shipping

When shipping goods sensitive to temperature variations, there are a few limitations the shippers should be aware of. First, Reefer containers will likely have less capacity since space is dedicated to refrigeration equipment and additional insulation. This can reduce the space available for cargo inside the trailer.

Research, your provider

Choosing a provider to meet your specific shipping needs is essential when on such a strict timeline. You and your provider must think of things thoroughly and understand peak times and tight delivery windows.

Essential factors to consider in your climate-controlled shipping provider:

Strong relationships with retailers for higher efficiency to distributors

Offers multiple temperature-controlled services

Operate consistently

Provide visibility and accurate reporting

Have fair and consistent rates

Partner with Taylor today

#TeamTaylor can help ship your temperature-controlled shipment today. With a vast network of reliable temperature-controlled shipping carriers and over 171 years of experience, our team knows the ins and outs of the cold chain industry. So before your logistics manager’s temperature reaches a boiling point, contact the experts at Taylor to keep your company in a thriving climate.