Winter Shipping Practices for Safe Deliveries
Last summer, we explored the challenges brands face in shipping during the hottest part of the year and how best to transition from the winter season to the summer season. Now, let’s take a look at what you need to know about shipping during these cold, wet months.
TSS Thermalist
December 28, 2023 | Sustainable Leadership
You might be thinking, “Hey, it’s winter, I don’t need thermal packaging to keep my products cold!” But for most cold chain shipping, it’s not simply about keeping the product cold. It’s about keeping the product at the right temperature, and too cold can be just as damaging as too hot. Implementing the right winter shipping practices is crucial for businesses looking to maintain the integrity of their temperature-sensitive shipments during the colder months.
Take pharmaceuticals, for instance. For many vaccines and biologics, a range of 2-8°C is ideal. This range helps extend the shelf life and prevent damage to ingredients. This is also a very difficult range to maintain. If the temperature tips below freezing, it can damage protein-based products. Likewise, blood must be refrigerated within the range of 2-6°C. Plasma, however, requires storage at -30°C.
Flowers are another industry that require strict temperature ranges. For most cut flowers, the ideal range is from 33-35°F. Tropical flowers, on the other hand, require shipping temperatures at 50-55°F.
How to prepare your shipment for cold weather
Step 1: Choose your material
When choosing insulating packing materials, consider factors such as budget, space, time constraints, mode of transport, and temperature specifications for the shipment. For instance, perishable food items have different insulation needs compared to medicines requiring specific temperature maintenance.
Options like Renewliner, made from 100% recyclable PET, are ideal for thermal performance while also being high sustainable. Check with suppliers to determine the R Values of available packing materials, as a higher value indicates better insulation and protection against cold. Additionally, be aware of any regulatory requirements for specific cold-weather packing materials for certain goods and verify such requirements to ensure compliance and effective protection during transit.
Step 2: Package it
Enveloping the boxes or merchandise with blankets can provide a barrier against the cold, potentially mitigating the risk of freezing. Further, elevating boxes and goods onto pallets offers insulation through the air cushion between the material and the floor, preventing the cold floor from affecting the temperature of the goods.
When feasible, avoid placing sensitive materials in direct contact with the walls of the truck or container. If certain parts of the shipment are more susceptible to temperature variations, relocate them toward the center of the container or truck to minimize exposure to external temperatures.
Step 3: Schedule it
Schedule shipments of items susceptible to freezing to on weekdays to avoid transit over weekends. Trailers may be left outside during weekends, exposing products to freezing temperatures while awaiting the next move. Coordinate the timing of your shipments with your service provider, as certain carriers may have specific days when they do not pick up freight.
Make sure your delivery schedule has a little extra time, accounting for potential last-minute route adjustments due to factors like road closures, hazardous conditions, and delays. Cold weather-related road issues can not only result in shipment delays but also escalate fuel costs, especially if alternate routes become necessary.
Stay informed about weather conditions and forecasts. Utilize a comprehensive logistics software with live weather data capabilities. If you rely on a logistics software service, assess its weather-related features. If cold weather is likely to impact your routes frequently, consider subscribing to a weather reporting and forecasting service.
Prepare for contingencies and have a contingency plan. When collaborating with a third-party logistics provider, inquire about the precautions, safeguards, alternatives, and guarantees they offer. Maintain a list of alternative carriers for your routes in case your primary provider experiences unacceptable delays or cancellations. Familiarize yourself with alternative routes and transport modes that can be employed if the preferred options become unavailable at the last minute.
TSS offers multiple high-speed packing solutions for large cold-chain shipments. Your temperature sensitive materials will be insulated from the elements and the tamper-evident seals will give your customers confidence in the safety of their shipment. Once your customer has received their shipment, the PET liners can be recycled or they can join our reuse program.
Our Renewliners offer a sustainable and economical alternative to bulky EPS Cooler Boxes. The thermal performance of Renewliners is just as effective as Styrofoam, but much more sustainable since Renewliners are made with waste from the current waste stream. Renewliners are also compression tested for maximum protection in harsh handling environments.
For smaller shipments use our DuraShield Envelopes or RenewMailers. Perfect for short overnight shipments, this space saving design can save on shipping costs with absolute security, while minimizing warehouse costs. For larger quick shipments, try our DuraShield Box Liners.
Our Kangaroo Mailer is a compact and cost-effective shipping solution that controls convection, radiation, and conduction. In a test, our 12×14” Kangaroo Mailer was equal to a 8x6x4” EPS Cooler, and outperformed a 8x6x7” EPS Cooler by 4 hours.
Whether you’re shipping tropical flowers to the freezing Midwest or transporting life-saving medicine across various climates, TSS has the cold chain solutions you need.
Renewliner
DuraShield Envelope
