How the need for refrigerated courier services is so key

Moving chilled goods is essential in a huge number of industries and businesses, from restaurants, to hospitals, to labs and so much more. From meat and seafood, to chemicals and pharmaceuticals, there are lorries on the road all over the place with very highly advanced refrigeration technology in place to help keep vital items cool and fresh. No expense has been spared in getting this to work and in making sure businesses are able to operate to a high level and degree for the end user.

Chilled courier transportation is simply vehicles which are refrigerated to ensure a temperature-calibrated environment. In the UK, this is a big market with firms offering this service nationwide as well as across and on the continent.

A service only rising in demand

The global demand for chilled refrigerated courier services is increasing, as is the expansion of e-commerce services and business-to-business chilled and frozen goods. This is as more and more people are selling goods online. More and more people are now selling items such as fish, wine, beer, even organic food. Much of this has really come to life in the wake of COVID with more and more people now out to shop local more.

How it looks to fare post-COVID

Since Covid-19, the demand for courier services has shot up as more and more people demand speedy, instant delivery to their homes and offices. That means there is currently a lot of potential for starting a courier business, as you can take full advantage of the key external drivers contributing to the industry’s growth. These include a huge rise in online spending, fuelled by the pandemic. It’s also predicted that over the next few years, the market for courier and express delivery will continue to grow, rising by 54% between 2019 and 2023.

The ever present market for next day courier services

If you want to challenge any courier business, big or small, you will be aiming to deliver goods by the next day. This service is incredibly popular with consumers and offered by the majority of courier services, including the big players. It’s ideal for short-notice delivery requests and the first choice for the younger demographic of online shoppers. Think Amazon, champions of the next day delivery. The value of online retail sales in May 2021 was 58.8% higher than in February 2020, meaning the demand for next day delivery services has increased massively over the past year.

How refrigerated transport has now come a long way

In the early days of refrigerated trucks, there were many issues with quality control. The goods weren’t able to travel for long distances without getting spoiled. Now, innovative technology and temperature controls make it easy to transport these items. Trucks are also more energy and fuel-efficient than past models. New developments have also led to cold chain logistics for these reefer freights. This is to ensure the safe and efficient practice of transporting refrigerated goods. Here is more about cold chain logistics and how it’s impacting the transport industry.

It is not just a type of service for food items

This includes items like produce, dairy, seafood, and meat. Chocolate and baked goods can also get ruined by higher temperatures and humidity. These freight carriers also follow proper FDA standards for handling and storing food. This makes them ideal for grocery and food meal delivery services. As well as restaurants and food warehouses who need to transport large cargos of food that can spoil. Besides food, these services also ensure the safe transport of other refrigerated goods. This includes cargo from pharmaceutical, environmental, and beauty industries.

These cooling carriers work well to protect medicines or vaccines that need to stay at a certain temperature. Certain hazardous chemicals that may be combustible should also get transported with refrigeration. Artwork and antiques are other goods that should be temperature controlled. High humidity and temperatures above 80 degrees can damage art.

You can choose between chilled and frozen temperatures

Refrigerated trucking gives more control over the temperature and humidity levels during transport. You can keep cargo chilled or frozen, based on what you need to transport. Some carriers also have the ability to control different temperatures within the truck. They use different zone settings for better temperature control. These companies take great care into keeping your goods at the exact temperature. This keeps items from perishing. This is especially important in warm and sunny climates. It’s also ideal for longer distances where goods can easily spoil.

Be aware that there will be some added costs to incur

Transporting refrigerated items will likely cost more than dry goods. As dry cargo is not sensitive to temperature. This is also due to refrigerated transport services being more of a niche industry. Not all courier services offer this type of transport. Nor do they have the technology and capacity to manage these services. Higher fees are also due to the cost of cooling the units for transportation. Trucks feature a special design with freezer units and extra insulation. They may also involve special compartments to keep items safe during transport. There is also extra care that goes into handling more sensitive cargo. This is to meet sanitary needs and delivery timeframes. These type of transport services are also in high demand. They are subject to higher rush transport service fees as well.

This is also very compliant as it can save food waste

Using reefer freights to transport goods is better for the economy. This is due to less food getting ruined and thrown away, as it’s kept at ideal temperatures. This means less loss for businesses and manufacturers. This is especially important since fresh foods are becoming more preferred. People are choosing foods without preservatives and added chemicals. Temperatures over 40 degrees can promote bacteria growth on food. This means it’s more likely to develop salmonella and E. coli. This makes refrigeration essential for transporting these foods. It also ensures food arrives fresh and gets safely handled when moving from point A to point B.

Overall – what you need to take into consideration

With refrigerated transportation, temperature, quality control, and timing are everything. You want a courier service that is reliable, experienced, and efficient. Temperature monitoring is also important for maintaining the quality of your cargo. Skills in proper packaging and handling techniques are also essential. Tracking services and notifications also help keep the customer well-informed on their delivery. As a service overall, it has for sure come a long way and it has got a lot better over the years.