'Tis The Season For Reefer Deliveries
The Christmas ham needs a ride too!
I was going to write this article about the struggles and pain points of LTL reefer shipping, but I am not an expert on LTL reefer and opted to write about the broader Reefer market (Truckload) and keep it Christmas-themed! ??
As we get closer to the Christmas season, consumers across the country are prepping food for festive feasts with family and friends. (see that alliteration?)?
Already making room in my second stomach for all the Christmas cookies coming soon ??
Demand for hams, turkeys, and specialty items continues climbing – the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates over 5.5 billion pounds of ready-to-cook turkeys to be sold during the Christmas season this year, a 0.94% increase from the 5.22 billion pounds we saw sold in 2022.
(We're using pounds here instead of $$ to adjust for inflation.)
While shoppers can easily order extras online, delivering these refrigerated items poses some hoops to jump through, in terms of the logistics behind it all. The “reefer” trucks transporting these goods require meticulous monitoring and handling to maintain safety and quality.
As a quick refresh: Refrigerated trailers, or “reefers”, use self-contained refrigeration units to actively regulate airflow and temperature ranges within the cargo area.?
Reefers maintain environments between 34-36 degrees Fahrenheit (℉) for frozen loads or 36-40 ℉ for chilled freight - this precise climate?control preserves the quality and safety of perishable foods and other temperature-sensitive goods.
Under Pressure
Perishables like ham need stringent temperature control, ranging from 34 to 36 ℉ to prevent spoilage and foodborne illness.
If cargo area temperatures exceed 400 ℉ for over 2 hours, bacteria can multiply, and products become hazardous for consumption.?
With 12% of all damaged foods produced lost annually due to a lack of proper temperature management, any provider specializing in reefer shipping must actively regulate the environment and be mindful of this balance.
State of the Reefer Market
The surge of online grocery shopping continues driving demand to help explain the reason behind increases in domestic reefer volumes.?
Winter holidays like Christmas alone account for 11% of annual tons moved, adding pressure during late November and December.
The reefer segment mandates extensive monitoring via sensors, telemetry, and data analytics providing real-time visibility. Any disruption or deviation gets rapidly flagged for intervention before substantially impacting the load.
Equipment matters too – carriers that specialize in delivering Christmas hams or pies often operate advanced reefer fleets with features like remote temperature adjustments that maximize cargo protection.?
Shippers aiming for on-time, damage-free arrival of perishable loads must vet partner refrigerated capabilities closely.
Staying Cool Under Pressure
In addition to precise temperature regulation, reefer shipping calls for extra quality cargo care on top of it all. Fragile refrigerated goods need protection from load shifting that could easily occur when frequently opening trailer doors at each stop.
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Many reefer cartons also have defined time or temperature thresholds before contents warm excessively. To avoid heat infiltration, drivers must prioritize palletized skids first while minimizing exposed air space inside trailers.
Seasoned carriers understand how to select appropriate packaging, strategically configure mixed loads, and sequence deliveries to maintain the critical chill.
What’s at Stake?
Shippers experience nearly $750 billion in damaged goods annually, with perishables accounting for almost 30% - meaning over $200 billion worth of food ends up unsaleable.
Within refrigerated categories, frozen meals and meat suffer the most spoilage claims, while fresh fruit has elevated damage rates likely due to sensitivity.
Clearly, there’s ample opportunity to improve reefer shipping outcomes through advances in trailer technology, loading configurations, in-transit monitoring, and more.
Omnitracs research reveals nearly 37% of refrigerated loads show major fluctuations or spikes above ideal temperature ranges - clearly, enhanced reefer management stands to reduce waste and financial risks for producers.
Delivering Deliciousness
While the Christmas ham ultimately lands on grocery shelves or families’ dinner tables, most consumers remain unaware of the behind-the-scenes transportation coordination ensuring safe passage from producer to plate.
As you get together and enjoy festive feasts with loved ones to wrap up 2023, consider the refrigerated carriers and logistics experts working diligently – including on Christmas – so your meals arrive as they should:
fresh as the first winter snowfall!
(...that has yet to arrive for Christmas in the otherwise-snowy Fargo ND) ??
Stay Safe and Merry Christmas from Rocket Shipping!
Don't Leave Your Reefer Strategy Out in the Cold!
Reefer shipping isn't our specialty, but we know a few folks who love moving LTL reefer. If you are an LTL reefer shipper, let’s start a conversation today and discuss ways to consult with your team.
This article was collaboratively written by “LTL Observers” - a collective of industry veterans spanning the carrier, shipper, 3PL, and tech provider spaces who are willing to report their findings and share opinions.
Want to get involved with these opinions we release? We'd love to add you to the line-up to make sure we're including a diverse set of LTL observers. Contact us today.