The freight shipping method that is focused on the transportation of products and foods with temperature controlled trailers is called refrigerated trucking. Well, refrigerated transportation is essential and crucial for the food supply chain, and as such it requires a great deal of care.
Nowadays, there are over 35 million container loads of refrigerated products being shipped on a yearly basis all over the world.
Thereupon, refrigerated transportation is performed by a specially designed trailer that has a built-in refrigeration system. This refrigeration system is built in the trailer with the aim to keep all products and loads in their pre-shipped condition. These days refrigerated transportation is considered to be the most common type of temperature controlled transportation.
Hence, reefer truck drivers these days are facing the biggest issue, which is maintaining the proper temperature in order for the shipment to arrive at the final destination in a good condition and on time during these summer days.
Nevertheless, by seeing the basics of reefer transportation we can notice that it is the safest means of food transportation and at the same time is remarkably easy and inexpensive in comparison to a few years ago!
So, let’s take a look at what I have prepared for you in this article!
The Role of Refrigerated Transportation
Nowadays refrigerated transportation represents a critical element of the cold chain logistics. Most compelling evidence about the importance of refrigerated transportation is the fact that food and consumable commodities cannot be transported with a conventional truck for 50 miles without any spoilage.
Refrigerated Transportation Fact: It is expected that the refrigerated transportation by 2020 will increase by $14 billion.
By all means, refrigerated transportation significantly improved after the World War II when the technology for cold chain logistics was dramatically improved. Straight proportionally the refrigerated transportation back then experienced rigorous standards and regulations.
It is important to realize that even these days it is almost impossible to create a 100% risk-free reefer trailers.
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Even nowadays it happens that a reefer trailer breaks down and causes costly effects.
But on the other hand, if monitored constantly reefer truck drivers can minimize the chances of these situations to take place in their world of trucks!
Refrigerated Transportation Challenge No.1: Outside Temperature
One of the very first challenges that people engaged in the refrigerated transportation are facing is the outside temperature. That is mainly due to the fact that when the outside temperature increases, straight proportionally it is leading the reefer trailer to be affected by the interior temperature.
As the sun rays are falling upon the metal of the trailer, it can cause a dramatic effect on the interior temperature, but only if the trailer itself is not properly calibrated to handle hotter temperatures. But if the temperature rises the product can become straight away inedible.
Thereupon, as I said previously only if the trailer is not properly calibrated to handle hotter temperature only then it will lead to spoilage. Yet, this problem can be mitigated, but that is not the only option.
Provided that you can see the importance of reliable monitoring systems in the refrigerated transportation.
After all, if your reefer trailer is not running properly, then the summer sun can spell disaster for your business!
So with that in mind, always perform pre-trip inspections and constantly monitor the temperature in the trailer.
Refrigerated Transportation Challenge No.2: Respiratory Temperature Changes
We can see that in the refrigerated transportation everything is inter-connected since the maintenance of the proper trailer temperature is imperative to the respiratory temperature changes of the goods that are being transported.
Moreover, the respiratory process is naturally increasing the heat, it can increase the heat to that level that it can warm up the reefer truck. So, that is why it is really important that reefer truck drivers bear in mind that some types of food do have a higher respiration rate than other types of food.
In spite of that, reefer truck drivers, as well as trucking company’s owners shall pay a special attention to heat which is caused by respiration. Different rates of respiration must be taken into account especially when a reefer truck is transporting different types of food and perishable goods. It is well known that at a lower temperature the respiration rates can be reduced.
Last, but not least, the easiest way that you can keep track of what is going on inside of the reefer all the time is by installing a designed monitoring system. That will definitely keep the food safe.
Refrigerated Transportation Challenge No.3: Infiltrative Heat
Part of the summer issues that refrigerated transportation is also facing with is the infiltrative heat. The infiltrative heat includes the flow of cold air that can easily be replaced with hot air, and all that can happen due to broken seals in the structure of the reefer trailer.
Therefore, full inspection of the trailer is of a great importance before any loading takes place. The full inspection should include the trailer, seals, doors, and temperature gauges. Heat can easily make its way during the loading and unloading process. That is why the loading and unloading should be performed quickly.
Refrigerated Transportation Challenge No.4: Only Load pre-cooled products
If you want to stay away from troubles and at the same time to stay compliant with all the rules and regulations you will have to check whether the loads that you are loading are pre-cooled. Let me be more specific why you should load only pre-cooled products, first of all, reefer trucks are designed to keep the perishable food and products at the loading temperature.
With this in mind, you should always check the internal temperature of the products before you load it into the reefer. For example, if you load some product which is hot at the time of collection, then it will end up to the final destination hot as well.
