Efficient and time-sensitive transportation is the backbone of many industries. For the food, pharmaceuticals, and flower industries, perishable logistics services are fundamental, since they keep the business running and allow for proper delivery of sensitive freight.
Perishable logistics services refer to transporting refrigerated products that require temperature-controlled storage. Perishable goods are any product that deteriorates in time because of environmental conditions. Commonly, these products range from food, flowers, pharmaceuticals, and other chemical products.
Because these products are all time-sensitive, they require specialized transportation to ensure their integrity. Companies must be conscious and responsible when working with food and pharmaceuticals since, if not appropriately controlled, these products may deteriorate and would have to be discarded.
As mentioned, this type of service has an increased complexity. Hence, companies that must transport refrigerated freight must consider the right equipment and its specific regulations.
How do perishable logistics services work?
When products are time and temperature-sensitive, carriers must ensure suitable vehicles and equipment to avoid their deterioration. The great thing about refrigerated transportation is that it’s not just for food or pharmaceuticals; it’s that there are a wide variety of industries that require temperature-sensitive transportation and can benefit significantly from it.
For this type of transportation, trailers have built-in refrigeration systems that keep the products at the right temperature during their entire shipment.
Four major components for refrigerated transport
There are many aspects to consider when transporting food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and others. But these are the four major components of refrigerated transportation:
- Time
- Isolation
- Holding temperature
- Humidity
If these four elements are controlled during the entire process, you’ll ensure your refrigerated freight arrives in optimal conditions to its destination.
How do refrigerated trucks work?
Refrigerated trucks are composed of the compressor, condenser, isolation, and temperature controls. These four significant elements work together to maintain the temperature of the trailer and the freight’s integrity. If there’s any problem with temperature, alerts will appear on the system’s screens to notify the driver.
These trucks are cooled with ice with mechanical refrigeration systems powered by diesel, electric engines, or carbon dioxide.
It’s not all about temperature
Even though temperature is the most critical factor in refrigerated transport, humidity also plays a crucial role in the transportation process. Refrigerated trailers are also equipped with technology to monitor humidity and control it during the entire shipment. Just like temperature, humidity allows the goods to maintain its integrity until it arrives at its destination.
What are some of the benefits of refrigerated trucks?
These are some of the benefits that refrigerated trucks provide:
- Reduce waste
- Prolong lifespan of the goods
- Maintains and improves product quality
- Protects goods from insects and other animals
What are the most common industries that use perishable logistics services?
These are some of the industries that use perishable logistics services:
- Agriculture
- Cosmetics
- Dairy Producers
- Food Distributors
- Restaurants
- Beverage Processing
- Fine Art
- Chemicals
- Flowers
- Electronics
- Medical
- Pharmacy
- Manufacturing
At LGI, we specialize in refrigerated (reefer) and freight arrangement shipping. With a network of 15,000 plus carriers strategically positioned across the U.S., we quickly access our database of refrigerated freight & reefer carriers to get your frozen or chilled product to its final destination on time and within budget.
Or speak to someone on our team, call 713.957.4812 and get
ready to access a true third-party logistics provider!
