The global marketplace is increasingly becoming interconnected. For this reason, efficient transportation of goods is necessary for industries, and temperature controlled shipping or cold chain logistics on sensitive goods have made this development possible. According to the Globe Newswire, the global cold chain logistics industry is projected to grow at a 3.9% CAGR from 2023 to 2031, reaching a valuation of US$ 304.2 billion!
Despite the numerous benefits, the industry isn’t without downfalls. Here are the pros and cons of temperature-controlled shipping and everything you need to know. Keep reading!
Advantages of Temperature-Controlled Shipping
Temperature-controlled shipping has many benefits. Let’s explore a few.
1. Extends the Shelf Life of Perishable Goods
Picture having tonnes of perishable goods or pharmaceuticals to deliver globally. How do you transport the cargo over an extended time while ensuring the quality remains intact as it transverses the various climates across the globe? Temperature controlled shipping is the answer. It extends the shelf life of your goods by keeping them within the required temperature over long distances.
2. Allows Regulatory Compliance
Typically, the food and pharmaceutical industries have strict guidelines on safely transporting perishable goods, such as food or medicine. Wonder why? Well, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 48 million people get sick from foodborne diseases annually in the US, 128,000 end up in the hospital, and 3,000 sadly pass away!
Temperature-controlled shipping keeps the cargo within the legally required standards. Sticking to the recommended rules and regulations enables companies to adhere to rules that ensure goods’ safety. As such, you eschew likely legal consequences and lawsuits.
3. Expands Your Market Reach
Let’s agree. Most perishable goods have a short shelf life. The science behind this phenomenon is that bacteria thrive around 40 ° and 140 °F. For this reason, such goods can’t access global markets quickly before they lose value or become harmful for human consumption. That’s where temperature controlled shipping comes to the rescue. It keeps the temperature constant and unsusceptible to exterior changes. It allows transporting perishable goods over long distances, reaching new regions, and expanding your market reach far from your production.
4. Preserves Product Quality
Mostly, shipping products take days on the sea. For this reason, perishable goods such as fresh produce or pharmaceuticals, without temperature control, may quickly lose their quality and usefulness. Ensuring that such goods are kept at the ideal temperature maintains the integrity and quality of sensitive goods.
5. Ensures Customer Satisfaction
As mentioned, temperature-controlled shipping will ensure your goods reach you in good condition. Whether it’s foodstuffs, medicine, or other temperature-sensitive items, you’ll appreciate receiving them while still safe to use. The last thing you want is to deliver spoiled goods. Without temperature control, most perishable goods meet the same fate of damage. When the quality is intact, the customers are satisfied.
Disadvantages of Temperature-Controlled Shipping
Besides temperature-controlled shipping advantages, it’s also essential to check potential drawbacks. Let’s get into it.
1. Higher Costs
Let’s face it. Temperature-controlled shipping is a little pricier than regular shipping. Primarily, this is due to the extra costs associated with specialized equipment, monitoring devices, higher energy consumption, and insulated containers. Also, it takes a lot of human resources to ensure your goods are in good condition while in transit. Such expenses add up to a significant cost, and its ripple effect trickles down to the client.
2. Inherent Risk of Equipment Failure
To ensure your goods are in peak conditions while on board, temperature controlled shipping relies on equipment, such as refrigeration units, to maintain the ideal temperatures. Equipment failure or malfunction quickly leads to temperature deviations, automatically compromising the safety and quality of your perishable goods on board.
In Summary
Let’s agree. Temperature-controlled shipping benefits outweigh the disadvantages. It ensures that your goods (perishable and pharmaceuticals) reach their intended destination without losing value or consumption safety, saving you a lot of money in the long run. For this reason, it becomes easy to expand into new markets quickly as a business. Although you’ll be required to pay more than regular shipping, it’s worth every penny.
Check out the Tall Grass Freight website for temperature controlled shipping services and needs. Your goods will get to the destination in good condition!