LTL Refrigerated Transport
The choice of service for refrigerated transport depends upon the kind of products to be delivered, the size of the shipment and its weight. If you are a customer you must know the parameters to be applied for shipment of cargo so that you will be able to determine what particular type of service you should avail. If you are engaged in a business where you have frozen products and the amount of load will not fill up the entire truck, then it is best that you hire an LTL refrigerated transport service.
What is LTL Refrigerated Transport?
LTL is a term used for “Less than Truckload”. An LTL refrigerated transport consists of loads such as food, dairy products, pharmaceutical drugs and other perishable goods. Loads weigh less compared to Full Truckload (FL) which is the term used if the cargo uses the entire space of the truck. LTL refrigerated transport usually takes longer than a full truckload.
LTL refrigerated transport requires an LTL refrigerated vehicle. There are a number of refrigerated transport companies that specialize in LTL refrigeration transport. LTL vehicles are usually trucks that carry loads between 151 to 20,000 pounds. The procedure in the refrigerated trucking system is to collect different customers’ freight loads and combine these inside an enclosed trailer. When the trailer is full, the cargo will be carried to the central hub. The cargo will then be sorted out and transported to another truck. Since the transport of cargo takes quite longer, the loading and unloading of goods should be timely scheduled to avoid any delays. The cost of transporting the cargo will be shared with other customers. But if a customer wants the goods to be delivered as soon as possible, it is best to hire a full truckload transport service. However, there will be extra charges for the unused space.
The redistribution of cargo happens many times before it reaches its final destination. This process for an LTL refrigerated transport takes longer and there is a potential risk that the cargo might get damaged. In this case, LTL refrigerated transport should be handled efficiently to avoid such disaster. Since there is much loading and unloading to be done, refrigerated transport companies should adhere to the schedule of pick-up and delivery of the cargo. To provide safety during transport, temperature should also be monitored since many perishable goods are sensitive to temperatures. With the advancement of modern technology, refrigerated trucks are now equipped with computerized gauges. These equipments keep the cargo in accurate temperatures needed to maintain the necessary conditions.
LTL refrigerated transport faces several challenges, but it is the most efficient way for perishable goods to be delivered to different destinations. Right now, LTL refrigeration transport has grown because of many customers. Farmers and producers in the food industry are the frequent clients of LTL refrigerated transport. In fact, an LTL refrigerated transporters’ guide has been developed as a resource for customers who ship LTL refrigerated cargo within the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The guide provides origins, destinations and alphabetical list of carriers