Refrigerated Transport: Key in the Logistics of Sensitive Products
In recent years, refrigerated transport has seen exponential growth due to new processes in this sector and the rise of refrigerated logistics.
What do we mean by refrigerated transport exactly? Refrigerated transport is the type that carries out shipments with specific temperature control requirements. In other words, it needs to be maintained at a certain temperature to ensure that products arrive in perfect condition at their destination.
Certain vehicles are already equipped with built-in refrigeration, i.e., they are responsible for maintaining and transporting all products or goods at the optimum possible temperature throughout the entire route.
What is the cold chain in refrigerated transport?
The cold chain deals with the transportation of temperature-sensitive products within a supply chain that must undergo a specific cooling and thermal packaging method.
Refrigerated transport is also intended to protect and offer security to all the products that are moved in each shipment of goods.
For example, depending on the level of perishables to be shipped, a specific shipment can be made from one point to another.
The possibility of being able to transport perishable foodstuffs generates a great economic growth and development, which is why it is currently done at a national and international level.
What type of vehicles are used in refrigerated transport?
Refrigerated transport at national level has special measures depending on the dimensions of the different products to be transported. It is necessary to make special reference to the security of the merchandise and its control to be able to carry out a correct transfer.
All these measures are regulated in the Agreement on the International Carriage of Perishable Goods and on Special Vehicles. This was approved in Geneva in the 1970s.
The following vehicles are considered to be part of refrigerated transport:
- Isothermal vehicle: This type of vehicle has an insulated roof, walls, doors and floor, as it allows the temperatures of the exterior and the interior of the vehicle itself to filter through.
- Refrigerated vehicle: It is similar to the previous one, but has its own cold source. What does this mean? This means that it regulates the temperature inside the vehicle down to -20 ºC.
- Refrigerated vehicle: This vehicle has a constant cold production device that regulates individually or collectively. The temperature can be constantly regulated and can range from -12 to -20 ºC.
- Heating vehicle: With this vehicle, we refer to a self-contained heat source capable of maintaining a constant temperature not lower than 12°C.
What type of goods are transported in refrigerated transport?
Many companies use temperature-controlled transport for shipping their goods to meet their specific needs.
The sectors in which this trend has been most noticeable are food, chemicals, agriculture, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.
What should be taken into account when hiring a company?
When choosing a company that offers refrigerated transport services, it is essential to pay attention to the following points:
- Ensure that the unit is cooled prior to loading and that the temperature inside the vehicle is regulated.
- Check that the goods are packaged and correct before shipment.
- The goods should be loaded onto the vehicle as soon as possible to avoid breaking the cold chain and to prevent the doors from being left open for too long.
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