Global supply chains rely on logistics providers to transport goods safely and efficiently. In many cases, this is a relatively simple matter of loading products into a truck or onto a boat and sending them to their destinations. However, some products require special attention. Chemicals, foods, medicines and more need to stay within specific temperature ranges to stay safe and viable.
This is where temperature-controlled logistics comes in. These techniques use advanced climate control technology to ensure that goods are kept within safe temperature ranges throughout their entire journey. In this article, we will walk you through the basics of temperature-controlled logistics and how it works so that you can make sure your company’s goods are delivered safely and securely.
What Is Temperature-Controlled Logistics?
Temperature-controlled logistics — also known as cold chain logistics — refers to the storage and transportation of goods that are sensitive to specific temperatures. Typically, these goods need to be kept cold, though the degree of cold varies from product to product. For example, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stipulates that vaccines must be kept between 36 and 46 degrees Fahrenheit. Meanwhile, fresh meat should be kept at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent the growth of bacteria. Frozen items, such as ice cream, frozen meat or certain pharmaceuticals, should be kept at 0 degrees Fahrenheit.
Climate-controlled transportation and storage make it possible to preserve these items as they travel, opening up new possibilities for global trade. Vaccines can be shipped around the globe, and fruits native to specific regions can be enjoyed by people in countries on the other side of the planet. Climate control technology must be used at every stage of the shipping process, from the moment a product is manufactured to the moment it lands in a consumer’s hands.
Temperature sensors, cryoshipping containers, specialized vehicles and other advanced technologies facilitate temperature-controlled logistics. International and national standards and regulations also govern the transport of temperature-sensitive goods.
Types of Temperature-Controlled Logistics
Temperature-controlled logistics can be categorized based on how they control the climate and which transportation methods they use. Each type is designed to provide value for different products and satisfy different shipping needs.
The major climate control methods are:
- Active shipping systems: This method keeps temperature-sensitive goods cool by lowering the temperature of the area around them. Refrigerators and air conditioning units are some of the most common active shipping systems. In many cases, a combination of these systems is used. Active shipping systems are highly valued for their ability to keep goods cool over long distances, and they are often used for high-value items, like vaccines and medications.
- Passive shipping systems: This method keeps temperature-sensitive goods cool by insulating them from the heat around them. Dry ice, special packaging materials and layering techniques are used heavily within passive shipping systems. Insulation tends to be less effective over long distances, so passive shipping systems are often used during last-mile delivery to transport food and other temperature-sensitive goods short distances.
In some cases, both systems are used in tandem to ensure a product remains within the proper temperature range. For example, gel packs may be used inside refrigerated trailers to keep sensitive pharmaceuticals within the appropriate temperature range.
How Temperature-Sensitive Goods Are Transported
The primary shipping methods are:
- Refrigerated automobiles: These are vans or trucks with compartments dedicated to the refrigeration and transportation of temperature-sensitive goods. Often, these refrigeration units are powered by the vehicle’s battery or a separate diesel engine. Temp-controlled trucking tends to be the go-to option when companies do not need to ship sensitive goods overseas.
- Refrigerated air freight: Aircraft are equipped with compartments that can refrigerate temperature-sensitive goods. Unlike automobiles, however, they facilitate intercontinental trade by being able to fly over oceans. They also decrease delivery times significantly.
- Refrigerated cargo ships: These ships are another option for shipping temperature-sensitive goods long-distance or internationally. Containerships can also transport refrigerated containers.
Each option can be combined with passive shipping systems, such as dry ice and gel packs, to enhance cooling.
Key Technologies in Temperature-Sensitive Logistics
The technology that supports cold chain logistics has radically evolved over time, and that progress shows no signs of slowing down. Some of the most important technologies in the industry include:
- Real-time tracking and monitoring programs: Internet of Things (IoT) technology has radically transformed the logistics industry, and that includes temperature-controlled logistics. Through a network of sensors and smart devices, logistics providers can track shipments in real time and update stakeholders on the estimated time of arrival. These systems also make organizing shipments far easier, as the sensors can locate and keep track of specific packages and containers.
- Automated order allocation and route optimization systems: When an order is placed, automated order allocation systems kick in. They quickly identify available inventory that can satisfy the order, which expedites shipping and minimizes manual errors. The fastest path from the warehouse to the final destination is then identified and optimized by a route optimization system. This system helps the logistics provider avoid unnecessary bottlenecks and get the goods to their destination efficiently.
- Remote temperature monitoring and control systems: Once the order is shipped, logistics providers can closely monitor and control the climate control systems. This remote monitoring technology allows them to make adjustments and keep tabs on climate control systems in case of accidents or malfunctions.
- Advanced refrigeration technology: Over time, climate control technology has grown more compact and more powerful. This progression has allowed smaller refrigeration units to cool larger shipments and lower temperatures. It has also increased the time that passive shipping systems can keep temperature-sensitive goods cool. New technologies are emerging as well, such as vapor chambers, which have been used to cool sensitive electronic components during shipping.
Items That Require Temp-Controlled Transport
More items are temperature-sensitive than you might expect. Items that require temperature-controlled transport include:
- Fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Meat, such as steak and poultry.
- Dairy items, such as milk and cheese.
- Seafood, such as shrimp and sardines.
- Frozen foods, like ice cream.
- Flowering plants, such as ginger, and other agricultural goods.
- Wine and alcohol.
- Industrial chemicals and hazardous materials.
- Vaccines and pharmaceutical products.
- Paintings and other artwork that can be damaged by heat and humidity.
- Sensitive electronic components and devices.
The specific temperature range that will protect each item in storage and during shipping will vary. However, each one should be handled carefully and precisely to protect the health of customers and their communities, especially in the case of food, beverages, hazardous materials and pharmaceuticals.
The Temp-Controlled Logistics Shipping Process
Temperature-sensitive goods still follow the standard logistics flow. They start out with the manufacturer before being stored in a warehouse and shipped out to the consumer who placed the order. Each step has to be adjusted to accommodate the temperature needs of these items. The shipping process looks like this:
- Manufacturing: Once the goods are assembled or produced by the manufacturer, they need to be quickly transported via passive shipping containers or refrigerated automobiles to storage. The transition between transport and warehousing can temporarily expose goods to temperatures outside the acceptable range. So long as the goods are unloaded and refrigerated smoothly and efficiently, this is not an issue.
- Warehousing: The storing stage is relatively simple. Temperature-sensitive goods must be kept in a climate-controlled area that can protect them from heat and humidity. Multiple areas may be needed to accommodate the different temperature ranges that the goods must be kept at. Backup power systems should also be installed so that the items stay cool in the event of an outage.
- Shipping: When it is time for pickup, both the warehouse’s refrigeration units and the active or passive shipping systems must be fully functional. Goods should be loaded safely and efficiently, and temperature settings should be double-checked to ensure that the goods remain protected from heat. Temperature monitoring and control systems should also be utilized to ensure items remain in safe ranges throughout the shipping process.
- Consumer: The final step of the process typically involves collaborating with another business to ensure that the temperature of the goods can be maintained once they have left the possession of the logistics provider. The unloading process should be handled with the same caution and efficiency that it was in the previous stages, but now the goods must be transferred into the possession of their new owner. They need to have refrigeration and/or insulation technology on hand to protect the goods and ensure they remain safe and usable.
Best Practices for Temperature-Controlled Cargo
Temperature-sensitive goods must be handled with precision and caution throughout the cold chain logistics process. The systems and processes around these goods are just as important, ensuring that the product reaches the consumer while retaining its quality and functionality. Vital medicines, food and fine art all rely on these processes, so they must be maintained and optimized as much as possible.
Some of the best ways to improve cold chain logistics include:
- Preshipment planning and risk assessment: Before shipping, assess the potential risks to temperature-sensitive goods. The limits of the available technology, especially passive shipping systems, can pose problems over longer distances, so accommodations must be made to ensure the items arrive without spoiling or sustaining damage. International shipping and road closures can also impose delays, so these eventualities need to be addressed as well.
- Vehicle and storage inspection, cleaning and maintenance: Professionals must also evaluate the health and functionality of refrigeration units and other climate control technologies. System failure can significantly harm the logistics provider’s finances and reputation. Cleaning and maintenance must be conducted on a regular basis to minimize this risk.
- Loading and unloading process optimization: Loading and unloading are core parts of every logistics process, but they are especially important in temperature-controlled logistics. Chemicals, frozen meats and more have adverse reactions when exposed to improper temperatures for too long, so activities like loading crates onto forklifts and unloading them onto the backs of trucks need to occur as fast as possible while adhering to the relevant safety regulations. Warehouse management systems can optimize these processes.
- Accurate record-keeping to track inventory and ensure legal compliance: Keeping track of temperature-controlled deliveries and the attached processes allows for superior inventory management, process optimization and systemic legal compliance. Companies can leverage various software programs for each aspect of the logistics process, including warehouse management systems and IoT technology.
Challenges in Transporting Temperature-Controlled Freight
Cold chain logistics is not without limitations and challenges. Logistics providers dedicate time and effort to minimizing or outright overcoming these challenges, but they still present potential issues for logistics providers and their partners. For example:
- Infrastructure gaps in new markets: Emerging markets may have infrastructure gaps that place extra burdens on logistics providers. In some situations, they may need to provide temporary access to refrigeration units and passive shipping systems to ensure temperature-sensitive goods get where they need to go.
- Supply chain disruptions: Supply chain disruptions, such as those caused by international tariffs, can also present challenges for temperature-controlled freight carriers. Paying attention to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS) and other tariff schedules can help with planning and avoiding these sorts of disruptions. Other events that can cause supply chain disruptions include natural disasters, geopolitical events, labor issues and cyberattacks.
Risk impact value assessments can help identify challenges like these and mitigate risks for cold chain logistics providers. In some cases, the only option is to adapt to the situation as it arises.
Partner With EMO Trans for All Your Temperature-Controlled Logistics Needs
Temperature-sensitive cargo requires robust climate control infrastructure, and EMO Trans has that infrastructure. We are a global logistics provider with offices on six continents and the ability to transport goods via land, sea and air. Since 1965, we have been helping companies like yours secure the goods they need at a pace that supports their goals. Whatever your goals, we tailor our logistics services to support them, and we emphasize sustainability while we do it. We also use Track & Trace technology in our customer portal to keep you updated on your shipment.
To learn more about our cold chain logistics services, request a quote today or call us at any of our offices worldwide.