Unlike regular transport, refrigerated transport requires ample preparation and detailed monitoring. Minor oversights could cause product spoilage and monetary losses. Below is a guide with some best practices for refrigerated transport to ensure your products arrive fresh at the market.
Understand Your Load
Most people presume that all kinds of loads are transported at similar temperatures. However, this is not the case. As such, it would be wise to conduct some research to determine the transportation temperatures of what you will be transporting. For example, meat requires colder temperatures compared to fruits. On the other hand, potatoes need warmer temperatures than fruits. You should also check the product life cycle. Once a product exceeds its life cycle, it begins to lose taste and colour. Therefore, it might not be appealing to your customers.
Use the Right Vehicle
Below are a few tips to help you choose a refrigerated truck:
- The refrigeration unit must be in excellent condition. Otherwise, it will not cool the products in transit.
- The refrigerated container should not have any cracks. They cause temperature losses and affect the functionality of the refrigeration unit.
- Assess the temperature ranges of the refrigeration unit. Ideally, they should be within those of the product you will transport.
- When transporting different products, the refrigerated container should have partitions to allow varying temperature zones.
- The truck must be in excellent mechanical condition. It ensures that products arrive on time.
Train Your Employees
The people charged with executing refrigerated transport should have adequate training on the job. For instance, they should clean the refrigerated container with approved disinfectant or hot water to eliminate contaminants that could damage the products in transit. Additionally, they should know how to handle products during loading and unloading. For instance, farm produce should be cleaned to get rid of spoilt products, pests, and dirt. Besides, the products should be packed in such a way to allow maximum aeration. As a rule, they should know how to maintain proper documentation to avoid disputes with clients in case of product spoilage.
Monitor the Vehicle in Transit
Refrigeration transport companies and their drivers should continuously monitor the load until it arrives at its destination. Typically, the driver should inspect the refrigeration unit to ensure it is functional. If the truck makes regular stops, the driver should know how to adjust the refrigeration unit to avoid temperature losses once the container is opened. If the vehicle makes overnight stops, the refrigeration unit should have an independent power source to keep it running when the vehicle is off.
You do not have to deal with the hassles of transporting perishable products on your own. Contact a refrigerated transport company and learn more about the convenience of stress-free transportation.
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