Things You Need to Know When Shipping Perishable Goods

How to Ship Perishable Goods and Foods – Businesses, which ship produce, medicines, food products, or other perishable products, need to focus on maintaining the proper temperature from the time the product is shipped until its delivery. The temperature has to be evenly maintained when the products are in transit or it can lead to spoiling of the goods, which in turn can cause harmful effects to the end customer. 

The mode of the shipment depends on the size of the business and goods which need transportation. Based on these, companies can send their products via mail, or larger shipments are often sent via reefer trucks. Whatever option is chosen, businesses need to comply with the rules and ensure that the best practices are maintained throughout.  

So, how do you ship goods or food that is perishable? Let’s learn more about it.

Tips for shipping perishable goods

The delivery of perishable goods in smaller quantities can be sent via mail as they directly reach the customers. However, care and planning are required to ship frozen goods or floral products over email. Check out these few tips by our experts, which will make your job easier:

Improve your product knowledge

How well do you know your products? If you have to ship a perishable product, you need to have a clear understanding of its shelf life and the temperature it needs to be stored. By knowing this, you can pick the right shipment partner and packaging, and ensure that the product remains fresh until it reaches the end customer. 

The right container/packaging

Businesses can now pick from a wide range of temperature-controlled containers available to ship perishable goods. If the transit time is quick, you can even use styrofoam boxes as they keep out heat. These boxes can be used along with the regular packing boxes to keep the products fresh and free from damage. Insulated liners can also be used for added protection. 

The cooling agent

Once the perishable product is all packed, you also need to protect it by using a cooling agent that helps maintain the temperature while in transit. For example, If you deal with frozen products you can use dry ice, and can use ice packs for refrigerated products. Note – if you are using dry ice, you also need to label your packaging accordingly. 

The delivery time

Another factor you need to consider when shipping a perishable product is the shipping time. Businesses need to choose a shipping partner who can deliver the products as per the time specified. It is also necessary to balance the speed of the shipment with the cost. The cost of shipping a product overnight can be much higher when compared to 1-day or 2-day delivery. 

If you wish to provide economical shipping options, you need to choose 2-3 days shipping method and ensure the products can remain safe and fresh until they reach the customer. 

Delivery of perishable goods using reefer trucks 

If you are new to the world of cold storage and frozen food shipping, the term reefer truck might sound alien to you. Reefer trucks are used by businesses that need to transport perishable products in large quantities. These trucks are equipped with cooling systems that maintain the needed temperature inside the vehicle. The temperatures can be adjusted based on the product being transported. 

Modern reefer trucks come with amazing features and are diesel-powered. Smaller vans with temperature control are also available for smaller or limited shipping needs. 

The reefer trucks have an internal technology that allows the driver to monitor the temperature of the storage room continuously. This way, the products remain fresh until they reach the warehouse, and then the customer or client. 

When do you need a cold truck?

Businesses that need an affordable option to transport their frozen or perishable goods can opt for reefer trucks. These trucks are valued by many businesses thanks to the features of humidity and temperature control which undoubtedly ensure the freshness of the products. 

Companies that ship frozen foods regularly make use of reefer trucks so that the products remain frozen. However, a shipment of fresh produce is also done using refrigerated trucks so that it does get spoilt or contaminated. Cold trucks are in use in the food or beverage industry, but are also used in various other industries as well. 

Some of the goods that can be shipped using the frozen or cold trucks are,

• Dairy or meat produce
• Frozen foods
• Baked goods
• Medicines 
• Chemicals
• Antique or fine art that needs humidity control
• Cosmetics
• Essence or perfumes
• Flowers or floral arrangements 

The advantages of choosing a reefer truck to ship perishable goods

Reefer trucks offer various advantages, which are otherwise not offered by other shipping methods. Some of these are listed below: 

The cost advantage – More goods can be shipped all at once, which cuts back on the time, cost and packaging. 

Ideal to ship short distances – Businesses can easily focus on local deliveries, which can be done quickly with the products remaining fresh.

Larger shipments can be handled with ease – Reefer trucks come with various options and are perfect for even large shipments. These are ideal for businesses that deal with high quantity clients. As all the shipments will be sent at once, it makes it easy for the client and the businesses to send or receive all at once, instead of in different packages. 

Temperature control – As mentioned earlier, reefer trucks come with the feature of temperature control which ensures the freshness of the product. 

Now that you understand how perishable goods can be shipped, make sure you choose a reliable and best logistics Company, who can provide you with a fleet of reefer trucks.