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Shipping perishable goods demands a higher level of precision and care than standard freight. From fresh food to pharmaceuticals and other temperature-sensitive products, maintaining the right temperature, using proper packaging and ensuring timely delivery are critical to preserving quality throughout transit.
By understanding the unique requirements of perishable shipping, businesses can protect product integrity, meet customer expectations and reduce costly spoilage or delays.
So, what should your business know before entering the world of perishables — or scaling your current operations? Let's break down key best practices for shipping and packaging these sensitive products.
Packaging Perishable Goods Properly
A shipment of perishable goods is only as good as the packaging it's in. Pack it properly, and your delicate delicacies will arrive unscathed. Pack it poorly, and your perishables will quickly live up to their name. A few tips to follow:
- Extra space is your enemy. Pad your packaging to minimize movement and shifting during transit. Try to fill any extra space with bubble wrap, crumpled paper and similar cushioning materials.
- Many perishables are temperamental about temperature. If your items are temp-sensitive, refrigeration and insulation are the name of the game. Frozen items should be placed in sturdy, insulated containers and packed with dry ice or gel packs. It's also a good idea to place items that can thaw or melt inside containers with non-permeable plastic liners to contain any liquids and prevent soggy outer boxes.
Smartly Ship Perishable Goods
Most perishable goods have a limited amount of time before they can spoil and even become dangerous. Some extra thoughtfulness with how you choose to ship them goes a long way.
- Whether you're utilizing freight shipping to move fresh foods or medical supplies, ensuring the ideal temperature conditions for your perishable goods throughout the entire journey is crucial. Work with a 3PL that has a diverse carrier portfolio that provides reliable refrigerated freight shipping solutions tailored to your specific requirements.
- Want to be extra sure? This is where insurance comes into play. The cost of insuring your perishable shipment generally pales compared to the cost of replacing a spoiled shipment. Adding insurance to your next perishable goods shipment is easy and cost-effective.
- As you've likely concluded, shipping perishable goods can be a potential minefield if you're not careful and informed. Partnering with a trusted shipping advisor like JEAR Logistics is the ideal way to navigate the lucrative but treacherous waters of perishable goods. Our shipping experts have years of experience partnering with businesses and finding shipping solutions for all their unique needs.
- Regardless of the type of perishable goods you need to ship, chances are your JEAR Logistics team has seen it before. They can help you craft the perfect freight shipping strategy to get your perishables from point A to point B without any issues.
Ready to partner with a perishable shipping leader?
Master perishable shipping with JEAR Logistics, a proven 3PL partner. Our decades of expertise, extensive network of pre-vetted temperature-controlled carriers, and tailored freight solutions eliminate guesswork while protecting your margins. From reefer capacity to protect-from-freeze optimization, passive packaging strategies and FSMA/GDP compliance, we deliver the carrier relationships,TMS technology and real-world guidance shippers need to succeed.
Skip the solo struggle. Right-size every shipment, win budget battles and ship confidently. See our expertise in action with our Titan Farms Case Study.
Ready to optimize? Contact us today.