Refrigerated shipments keep the supply chain up and running. Without them, our grocery stores and pharmacies are left unstocked to the detriment of the population.
As important as refrigerated freight is, it’s equally as complicated. So here’s everything you need to know about refrigerated shipping, how it works, and how we all benefit from it:
What Is Refrigerated (Reefer) Freight Shipping?
Refrigerated freight shipping involves using temperature control and temperature monitoring trailers to transport perishable goods that need to be transported and stored at specific temperatures to prevent temperature changes and spoilage.
These methods of transportation services are known within the logistics industry as “reefer” shipping and are a key component to supply chains all around the world. This is because refrigerated freight shipping is used to safely ship a whole host of essential items including fresh produce and fresh foods, seafood, dairy, vegetables, meat products, and pharmaceuticals.
While refrigerated freight shipping seems like modern technology, it actually has a long history. In the 1800s, large blocks of ice and salt were used to keep products cool during transport.
Unsurprisingly, this wasn’t the best method and led to the spoilage and food waste of products. Thankfully, reefer technology advanced in the 1900s into what we have today.
Benefits of Refrigerated Shipping
Refrigerated shipping offers a whole host of benefits to shippers and society as a whole. Let’s take a look:
High Demand:
The demand for refrigerated shipping is always high since it moves so many essential products. Furthermore, there aren’t many alternatives with the ability to impact future demand — so it’s safe to say that reefer shippingis here to stay.
Reliability:
Reefer trailers offer an unrivaled level of reliability. These trucks offer protection from rain, heat, and other elements to cargo. Most of them come with sensitive refrigeration systems that are used to set and maintain specific temperatures.
Finally, there are compliance policies and regulations in place to ensure that refrigerated shipping is consistently a safe and reliable method of shipping perishable goods.
Flexibility:
Reefer containers offer flexibility to transport a wide range of goods. Everything from pharmaceuticals to flowers, plants, cosmetics, and even fine art can be shipped by a reefer truck.
Since you’re easily able to set temperatures within the trailers, you can quickly transition from shipping spinach at one temperature to shipping strawberries at another temperature. Refrigerated trucks are also used to transport dry goods that don’t require refrigeration — all you have to do is turn off the cooling unit and you’re good to go.
Training:
Refrigerated shipping is a specialized area that requires specialized skills. As a result, drivers who are responsible for refrigerated trucks have the skills and training necessary to keep your goods safe and cool during their journey.
Tracking:
Many carriers offer GPS tracking capabilities for refrigerated trucks so that you can track your order in real-time. This helps give you the peace of mind that your shipment is on time, safe, and cool.
How Much Does Refrigerated Shipping Cost
While you may question if you can afford refrigerated freight rates, you really need to question if you can afford not to. The exact price of refrigerated shipping depends on several different factors including the size of the cargo, the weight, the distance, the temperature, and any other special handling considerations. Generally speaking, expect refrigerated shipping to cost anywhere between $30 to $150 for a standard-sized two to three-pound package.
With such a large range in prices, the best way to find a cost-efficient way to ship perishable goods is shopping around multiple different carriers. Reach out for quotes from different carriers and choose the one offering the best services for the best price.
At the same time, you need to be hesitant of extremely low prices that may indicate possible issues with quality and service.
How Do Reefer Trucks Work?
You need to understand how the trucks work to understand the benefits of reefer shipping. As it turns out, there’s more than meets the eye with a whole host of different components that work together to keep goods cool and safe.
There are three different components of reefer trucks: the compressor, the condenser, and the evaporator. The compressor draws in gaseous refrigerant and compresses it to effectively liquefy it.
From there, the refrigerant moves to the condenser and begins a heat exchange process.
Within the condenser, the warming liquid flows to the walls of the tubing before moving outside to the attached fins which then cool the outside air that comes in through the condenser fan.
The last step in the process involves the evaporator. After the refrigerant gives up its heat to the condenser, it is now a cool liquid going into the evaporator through a metering valve.
This metering valve is used to control the specific temperature. In the evaporator, the cool liquid refrigerantexpands to turn back into a gas that’s able to cool the space.
The reefer unit is just one component of a reefer truck. In addition to this unit, there’s also the insulated trailer box, the air chute, the air ride suspension system, and the tire inflation system.
The insulated trailer box is another particularly important component since cooling wouldn’t matter without insulation — all of the cold air would simply escape during transit. Most refrigerated trucks utilize polyurethane foam to protect the cool inside of the trailer from the hot outside air.
Most refrigerated trailers are 53 feet long but they also come in other sizes. Furthermore, refrigerated trailers come with a wide range of cooling capabilities. Some trucks are able to maintain a temperature as low as 85 degrees Fahrenheit while others can maintain a temperature as high as 104 degrees Fahrenheit.
How Are Refrigerated Trucks Powered?
There are several different ways to power a refrigerated truck, including diesel fuel, electricity, and solar power. Here’s what you need to know about each:
- A vast majority of refrigerated trucks on the road today are powered by a diesel engine that requires extra fuel. They are also subject to government regulations as they tend to make noise and produce exhaust when in operation.
- However, electric-powered refrigerated trucks are gaining popularity in the industry. These units rely solely on shore power with a voltage that ranges anywhere from 230 to 460. There are also lower voltage options available that are powered by batteries.
- Finally, solar-powered refrigerated trucks may be the way of the future. Solar panels can be installed on trucks and used to power the cooling unit. Using solar power can really cut down on diesel fuel costs that are incredibly expensive.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, refrigerated freight shipping is a vital, yet intricate, component of the supply chain requiring efficiency and expertise. As a result, you shouldn’t entrust any company with your perishable goods. Instead, you need to make sure that your logistics provider is reliable and experienced in this area with the best carriers in the business.
RPM meets all these qualifications and then some. RPM offers refrigerated freight shipping catering to various different industries including food and beverage, consumer packaged goods, chemicals, and agriculture. Thanks to a network of over 30,000 experienced and vetted carriers, we handle 15,000 shipments every month.
Our volume is just as high as our quality and reliability. In terms of quality, we are a Top Freight Broker as named by Transport Topics Magazine. We have a 98% on-time delivery rate because we know how important timelines and efficiency are for perishable goods.
We work hard to understand your business and meet your shipping needs — whatever they are. To find out more and receive a quote for your perishable products, reach out to our experts today.
Sources:
How Do Refrigerated Trailers Work? | Trucking Truth
Life Sciences: Protecting Your Pharmaceuticals | American Thermal
Power to the Reefers. | Frozen and Refrigerated Buyer
