Refrigerated transport, also known as conditioned transport, is the transportation of temperature-sensitive goods where the correct temperature is actively maintained. Think of fresh food, pharmaceutical products or flowers: all products that lose their quality when they get too hot or too cold. Thanks to refrigerated transport, these products remain fresh, safe and usable throughout the transport process.
How does refrigerated transport work?
In refrigerated transport, goods are transported in specially equipped vehicles or containers with built-in refrigeration systems. These systems ensure that the temperature remains constant regardless of the outside temperature or duration of transport. The temperature is precisely set and continuously monitored. This allows fresh products to remain below 7 degrees, medicines to be transported between 2 and 8 degrees, and frozen products to remain around -18 degrees, with no deviations.
This type of transportation requires not only the right technology, but also careful planning and handling. When loading, unloading and possibly transferring goods, it is crucial that the cold chain not be interrupted. Any moment of exposure to an inappropriate temperature can lead to loss of quality or even spoilage.
What products require refrigerated transport?
Refrigerated transport is indispensable in industries where temperature directly affects the safety or quality of a product. In the food industry, this includes meat, fish, dairy, fruits and vegetables. In the pharmaceutical sector, vaccines, insulin and other temperature-sensitive drugs depend on a stable, refrigerated environment. Flowers, plants and certain chemicals also require conditioned transport.
The advantages of refrigerated transport
Refrigerated transport makes it possible to deliver products in top condition, even over long distances. Constant temperature control keeps shelf life optimal, product quality guaranteed and the risk of wastage minimal. Companies that work with fresh or fragile products are able to make reliable deliveries thanks to refrigerated transport, strengthening trust and continuity in the chain.
What makes refrigerated transport different from regular transport?
Where regular transport focuses on speed and volume, refrigerated transport is all about control and accuracy. The technology in refrigerated trucks or containers is advanced, with real-time monitoring and automatic adjustments when needed. In addition, drivers are often specially trained in handling temperature-sensitive loads and routes are tailored to the nature of the product. So it’s not just a matter of transporting, but of managing.
Why Van der Helm tells about this
Although we do not offer refrigerated transport at Van der Helm, we encounter it frequently in practice. Many of our customers operate in industries where conditioned transport is a link in the overall supply chain. By sharing our knowledge, we help you understand the importance and operation of this form of transport. This enables you to make better choices in your logistics processes, whether it involves cooperation with specialized partners or optimizing your own chain.
Want to know more?
Are you curious about what role refrigerated transportation plays within your supply chain or do you have questions about organizing temperature-sensitive transportation? Then get in touch with us. We are happy to think along with you and help you find the right way within logistics.