It is no secret that perishables are some of the driving forces in the food manufacturing industry. Hence, they are always in demand. Now, this is where perishable shipping comes into play. Perishable shipping is the movement or transportation of perishables — goods that can easily decay or spoil — from one location to another.
Carriers and transporters in the perishable shipping industry encounter challenges that can lead to loss of food freshness and quality or spoilage before arrival, leading to an undesirable situation for all parties involved. As you keep reading, you will uncover these problems and discover practical solutions you can use to control the situation.
Problems with Perishable Shipping
Ensuring that perishable goods get to food manufacturers safe and fresh is no easy feat, as handlers encounter challenges trying to make this happen.
Below are some of the common challenges associated with perishable shipping.
Maintaining the Temperature-Control During Transportation
As a driver handling the delivery of perishables from one location to another, it is essential that you know the different requirements of each item while transporting them. Perishables like food or fruits require specific resources to maintain their appearance and avoid spoilage.
Hence, drivers must ensure the temperature in the vehicle is well-suited to the perishable goods at all times to preserve their integrity and ensure they remain usable on arrival.
Monitoring the Temperature During Transportation
In most cases, drivers make stops every now and then to monitor the temperature of the perishable goods and, other times, to ensure the vehicle remains in tip-top shape. This, in itself, is disadvantageous even though the intention is good, as frequent stops lead to delays in transit time. Therefore, there is a need to find a way(s) to cut out these delays.
Delivering Perishables on Time
Besides the stop-and-check moments, a few other disruptions can lead to delays in the delivery of perishable goods. They include a lack of suitable equipment, congestion, road shutdown, and weather.
Avoiding Cross-Contamination of Food Items
Different food items are sometimes transported in one truck without ideal preparation, giving room for cross-contamination. As the name suggests, cross-contamination is the transfer of harmful bacteria or contaminants to perishable food items from other perishable food items, making them unfit for use. In cases of cross-contamination, all the contaminated food items or raw materials are discarded, leading to waste of food and losses.
Keeping the Costs Under Control
Keeping the costs in check when shipping perishables is an uphill struggle because these food items require efficient and quick transportation. Therefore, the cost involved is most times on the high side.
Solutions to Reduce Perishable Shipping Spoilage
Since we have thrown light on the problems, it is high time we rescue the situation. Without further ado, below are four effective solutions for reducing spoilage associated with the perishable shipping world.
Plan Ahead
Want to be one step ahead of any possible perishable shipping challenge? Start making plans already. Planning ahead of the delivery day is an eye-opener. It gives you foresight, helping you tackle problems in the present so that they don’t disrupt transit on the day of shipping. You can never go wrong with putting plans in place before perishable shipping.
Adjust Delivery Routes
Adjusting your delivery routes is one of the results of effective planning. It is important to confirm if there is traffic or shutdowns before going through any route. Doing this will help you decide if the route is “a go” or if there is a need to consider another route that wouldn’t delay the transit.
Select Logistics Services That Expedited Delivery and Use Express Shipping
There are different shipping options to explore in different scenarios. However, when it comes to perishables, there are only two shipping options worth considering, namely Expedited delivery and Express shipping. This also influences your decision-making when selecting a logistics service provider. In other words, any logistics service provider you opt for must offer expedited delivery or express shipping, or both services. Furthermore, if you find a provider offering both services and have to choose one option, you should pick express shipping.
Here is why: Expedited Delivery means quicker than the standard delivery or shipping time. The standard shipping time ranges from three to seven working days, while expedited delivery, on average, takes between 2 to 3 working days. On the other hand, express shipping can happen on the same day, the next day, or two days. Even though it is the most expensive, it is the quickest shipping option in today’s world.
Utilizing Technology to Reduce Food Waste
Technology has rubbed off on every industry across the globe — and the perishable shipping industry is no exception. Nowadays, monitoring temperatures and reducing food waste during shipping is easier and more convenient, thanks to technological advancements.
Below are a few technological additions to the shipping industry.
Biosensors
Biosensors or Biological Sensors are devices that measure biological or chemical reactions by producing signals corresponding with the concentration of an analyte in the reaction. With these devices, drivers or transporters can rest assured that the temperature will always remain suitable for the food items.
RFID Readers
Radio Frequency Identification Reader — popularly known as RFID Reader — is a device used to pick up information from RFID tags, used to track or monitor individual items. Food manufacturers can use this device to track the movement of food items every step of the way. This makes them less worried and more assured about the safe delivery of their perishables or raw materials.
Find Certified Carriers with GoShip
If you want to rest easy during transit, work with certified carriers of perishables. And truth be told, finding the best options can be challenging since uncertified carriers have mastered the art of persuasion.
But with GoShip, you can cut through the deception and discover the best carriers for your perishables or raw materials — certified carriers with individuals that understand the intricacies of delivering your goods safely and fresh.