How to Ship Temperature-Sensitive Cargo: A 5-Step Guide
One of the many drawbacks of the retailing industry is the difficulty of handling long-distance deliveries. The quality of your products is put at risk, especially if you’re shipping organic materials or perishables. If you want to ship temperature-sensitive items, you need to secure a temperature-sensitive freight so your foods won’t degrade in value.
How to find the right shipping partner for temperature-sensitive goods
When it comes to finding a reliable third-party logistics provider, you must know if they can match your products’ needs. They should be capable of delivering products that require precision and sensitivity without decreasing their value.
In this article, we will guide you through a five-step guide when delivering temperature-sensitive items.
Step#1: Check your shipping company’s portfolio
The more delicate your goods are, the fewer chances you can take when choosing a shipping partner. Choose a company that knows the demands of your supply chain’s urgency and preferences.
You should check if they have previous experience in shipping freights with similar prerequisites. If they have a decent track record with related businesses in your industry, they might be a good fit for you.
Step#2: Review your shipping company’s services
It’s not enough to know the general services they offer. You should be familiar with their security measures, performance metrics, and equipment details to see if they can handle your freight. For temperature-sensitive goods, there are usually two possible options: complete temperature control and freeze protection.
Complete temperature control manages the humidity, precise temperature, and shipment visibility. It’s an option that works best for food and pharmaceutical products. On the other hand, freeze protection keeps goods above 32°F. It’s a service that works best for assorted chemicals and shipments of batteries.
Step#3: Book your carrier in advance
Unlike traditional shipping freights, refrigerated trucks are fewer in number. Because of this, you should always book in advance to make sure that you won’t have issues with delays on your shipments.
It would be best to plot out the load weight and dimensions of your products as soon as you can. Keep in mind that refrigerated containers have less space compared to traditional trailers. You should consult with your carrier to know the exact amount of space you can use.
Step#4: Provide the proper packaging for your goods
Although shipping services are responsible for the travel environment of your goods, you should still wrap your items using proper packaging. You should pack the right insulation material depending on the fragility of your items. Just like for regular shipments, you need to account for the added weight that these materials will contribute to your cargo’s total load.
Step#5: Prepare to load your products
Make sure that your shipping partner receives the right instructions on handling your products. If your products require specific temperatures or handling, you should communicate it to your shipping partner before loading. You should have a temperature-regulated area to store the items before your shipping partner takes them. Double-check the temperature before and after loading so that you can report any discrepancies in mishandling your goods.
Conclusion
Some goods have special needs, such as temperature-sensitive products. See to it that you prepare your temperature-sensitive goods for shipping by following this 5-step process. To secure your shipment, choose a dependable shipping company that can handle your items’ specific needs.
If you’re looking for the best logistics carriers in Monroe, North Carolina, RJS Logistics is the company for you. We have a seamless operation that serves the United States, Mexico, and Canada for a diverse set of shipping categories. Contact us for all your logistics needs!
