Nowadays, the market and the consumers ask for more demands regarding the quality of goods and products, including perishable goods. So, to secure the goods’ quality while being shipped, every retailer or manufacturer should know the best way to transport these perishable goods. Transporting goods, particularly perishable goods, is a complicated process and needs more careful handling.
To keep the excellent condition of fruits, vegetables, meats or fish imported or exported from other countries. It is also crucial to understand the best methods to ship these perishable goods aside from properly handling them. Generally, it requires a complex, quality system throughout the entire transportation process, but will surely benefit you in the end.
Vehicles for Transporting Goods at Controlled Temperatures
So, how to transport perishable goods? Unlike other items, perishable goods are generally stored and shipped on vehicles with a controlled temperature system. Below are some shipping vehicles build to keep your perishable products at their ideal temperature and condition.
Isothermal
This type of vehicle has isolating doors, walls, floor and ceiling, which control the exchange of heat between the exterior and the interior part of vehicles.
Reefer
If you transport refrigerated goods, then a reefer or refrigerated trailer is the right option. Generally, it has a non-mechanical cold source system that can minimize the interior temperature and maintain it for an average 30ºC to -20ºC exterior temperature.
Freezer
Some perishable goods require a high freezing point to maintain its quality and condition. If it is also your case, then getting a shipping carrier with a cold production mechanism is one of the tips for shipping your perishable goods that requires a consistent temperature between -12ºC and -20ºC.
Best Way to Transport Perishable Goods
Among all products and items being shipped, perishable goods are among the most widely distributed products across the world. They are being delivered to retail stores and food establishments almost every day. However, delivering these goods also entails several challenges, so as a manufacturer, knowing the best way to transport perishable goods is a must.
Besides, perishable goods can quickly rot and spoil during their trip without proper handling and temperature measures. To prevent this from happening, you should also consider some helpful tips for shipping perishable goods so you can properly handle your goods.
Below are some tips on how you should handle and keep the freshness of your perishable goods.
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Pick the right packaging.
Using the right packaging is vital when shipping your perishable goods. Not all perishable goods are suited to one type of packaging. So, you should familiarize yourself with these packaging types. It is one factor that will help you keep the freshness of goods for consumption and distribution.
Packaging varies greatly depending on the food type. For frozen goods, you should prepare packaging with a fair amount of insulation to maintain the cold temperature. On the other hand, for fruits, vegetables and baked goods, you need to wrap them in plastic or foil to keep them fresh for preparation and consumption.
To make an ideal container, you may use cardboard boxes for packaging. Wooden crates and steel containers can also be useful, but they work best for heavier and larger loads.
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Add ice packs.
If you are shipping cold perishable goods, one of the best ways to transport them is by adding ice packs. These ice packs will keep your packaging cool to prevent spoilage.
Plus, it will provide a much-needed drop in temperature to keep it fresh. You can either use gel ice packs or dry ice. If you want reusable and an easy to freeze ice, go for gel ice packs and use dry ice if you want long-lasting ice and reduce the amount of moisture present.
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Keep your goods secure.
Once you have wrapped and insulated your perishable goods properly, the next thing to do is keep them secure. You should prevent your goods from moving around the container while transporting.
Make sure that all the bindings outside the packaging are fixed, tight and secure. Failure to do so will affect the quality of your product as it will be shaken. You can secure the goods in a palette or container, mainly when transported by land or sea.
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Pick the right mode of shipping.
When your package is ready to be shipped out, you have to choose the best methods to ship perishable goods to deliver them safely to their destination. Most perishable goods are transported using vans and trailers since they have their cooling systems to keep your products fresh.
On the other hand, if you will transport goods internationally, an ocean or air freight is your option. Besides, airplanes and ships are used for long-distance hauls. They also have controlled-temperature systems in place to keep your goods safe and fresh. By picking the right shipping method, you can have the most efficient delivery of your goods.
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Choose the best 3PL service provider.
Besides picking the best way to transport perishable goods, choosing the right delivery service is also crucial. You need a logistics partner that would help you transport your perishables timely and in good condition. To get the best delivery experience, choosing 3rd Party Logistics services is the right choice.
3PL companies do not only ship your goods, but they also manage, handle and secure them to keep them safe and in good shape during the whole process.
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Plan the delivery route and schedule.
All perishable goods only have a limited shelf life, which means that they can rot or spoil during the shipping process, so the transport should not be delayed along the way. Fortunately, it is possible to prevent this from happening. If you entrust your goods to your logistics company partner, they can plan the delivery routes and the time to prevent the goods from getting compromised.
Related article: The Basics: Transport Natural Gas by Truck
What are the Best Methods to Ship Perishable Goods?
On top of mastering how to transport perishable goods, you should also pay more attention to the best shipping method for your goods. There are several ways to ship your perishable goods, it can be by land, air, or ocean.
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By Land
Trailers good for transporting perishable goods since they have various cold systems, which use ice or dry ice more often. On the other hand, trains are also best for transporting perishable goods. They have an isolating lining and a special system for refrigeration, loading, and unloading goods. Trains typically used dry ice to keep goods fresh.
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By Air
If you are shipping goods internationally, by air is the best way to transport your perishable goods. Each airport has a special area used solely for handling perishable goods where the temperature is controlled. Also, they have refrigerated chambers and freezers for these goods. Besides, they provide customs inspection to ensure that the goods are kept at the optimal temperature.
The products most commonly shipped by air are:
- Fresh goods (fruit, vegetables, meats, etc.)
- Frozen goods (fruit, concentrates, fruit pulps, etc.)
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By Ocean
Aside from reefer trucks, ocean freight also offers refrigerated ships that are fully equipped with temperature systems to circulate air properly. You may also transport goods using refrigerated containers.
If you ship by the ocean, they provide a “temperature requirement sheet” before transporting your perishable goods to indicate the temperature, and goods must be kept in a refrigerated container.
The products most commonly shipped by the ocean are:
- Fresh goods (fruit, vegetables, meats, etc.)
- Frozen goods (fruit, fruit pulps, concentrates, meats, etc.)
Why is it Crucial to Secure Your Perishable Good When Transporting?
Keeping your perishable goods at the right temperature is crucial for ensuring your goods’ safety, quality, condition, and cold chain. Since perishable goods are made fresh, people expect that fruits, vegetables, meat, seafood, or dairy products are also served and offered fresh in the marketplace.
It should have an appetizing appearance and are safe to eat. If you failed to transport your perishable goods in the best way, the goods will suffer from textural degradation, discoloration, microbial growth etc. These problems can affect not only you but also the retailers.
Bottomline
Apart from other items, perishable goods are some of the most common types of freights being delivered every day. That’s why it is crucial to know the best way to transport your perishable goods. Since you need to keep them fresh all the time, understanding all the necessities on how will you transport perishable goods is also plays a vital role in your business.
Besides, living standards and economic specialization demands continue to grow every day. Therefore, the demand for perishable goods logistics also needs to improve. We understand that transporting your perishable goods can be challenging, especially with the growing competition in the marketplace, so Roadlinx is here to help.
There is no perfect way to do this perishable goods transportation, but you can strike a balance transportation process if you can master the different shipping ways. With that, you can secure your products while keeping all costs under control.
If you are looking for a shipping company to handle your perishable goods, you may consider Roadlinx. You may call us at 905-760-1141 for further information or to request a free quote.
