Every day, food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, lab specimens, and chemicals make their journey around the world. To ensure their integrity, they must remain at a regulated temperature. Temperature-controlled shipping makes this possible.Sometimes called cold chain shipping or cold chain logistics, this shipping method ensures temperature-sensitive items arrive at their final destination without spoilage.
You don’t need to run a global conglomerate to invest in temperature-controlled transport. Any company that sells items like frozen foods and perishable goods must find a temperature-controlled shipping method that keeps their products from spoiling in transit. Here’s a primer on shipping temperature-controlled goods in any quantity.
What is temperature-controlled shipping?
Temperature-controlled shipping is the transportation of goods that require specific temperature ranges to maintain their quality, safety, or potency. To keep these goods at the desired temperature, the shipments require special equipment for temperature control.
For example, biological specimens, like live vaccines, might need to be kept at extreme temperatures, so they come packed in dry ice. Perishable foods, like fresh produce and dairy, must remain chilled throughout their supply chain journey, so these items are kept in cold storage and transported in refrigerated trucks. With careful planning and the right equipment, shippers can safely transport their temperature-sensitive cargo on time and in the necessary temperature range.
Ecommerce goods that require temperature-controlled shipping
Nearly every day, most of us make use of temperature-sensitive products—most notably the food we eat. If that food falls below a specific temperature, bacteria can colonize it, making it unsafe to eat. But food isn’t the only type of item that requires refrigerated shipping. Here are three categories of goods you must regulate temperature for throughout the shipping process:
Pharmaceuticals and health products
Many pharmaceutical products, such as medications and vaccines, have strict temperature ranges to preserve their efficacy and avoid degradation.
For example, online pharmacies ship insulin in chilled, insulated packaging to ensure it stays effective throughout transit. Many vaccines arrive as frozen shipments packed in dry ice. Cold chain shipments are essential for the safety and efficacy of these medical products.
This category also includes certain skin care items that need cold storage to maintain quality.
Perishable food and beverages
Many food items—such as dairy products, fresh produce, frozen meals, and seafood—require temperature-controlled logistics to prevent spoilage and ensure safety for consumption. Safe transportation of these food products requires trucks with refrigeration systems to help cargo remain fresh. Once these sensitive goods reach stores and restaurants, they have a limited shelf life before they start to spoil. For instance, a subscription box service delivering gourmet cheese must use temperature-controlled freight shipping to maintain a safe temperature inside the food.
There are specific considerations depending on the food item. Take oysters, for example. Island Creek Oysters, a multimillion-dollar company that supplies restaurants and consumers with fresh oysters, has different needs than businesses shipping fish. “Obviously, [oysters are] a fresh product and a cold temperature is critical because they’re consumed raw and you need to keep them safe,” says Chris Sherman, CEO of Island Creek Oysters, in an episode of the Shopify Masters podcast. “However, as opposed to, say, shipping fresh fish or even fresh meat for that matter, oysters are actually alive when we’re shipping them. The shelf life is actually pretty good … so we have a little bit more time to play with.”
Fine art and related materials
Fine art, antiques, and certain materials, like adhesives or chemicals, can warp, crack, or deteriorate in extreme temperatures. Art dealers and museums often consult with shipping experts to determine what special handling, if any, will allow the safe transport of these delicate items. For instance, if your ecommerce art gallery ships oil paintings and sculptures, you’d follow comprehensive guidelines to protect these artworks from extreme heat and cold.
Ways to control the temperature of a package
- Insulated packaging
- Cold packs
- Dry ice
- Active cooling systems
- Time-optimized delivery
- Temperature-controlled shipping services
As a shipper, you have many options to control the conditions of your temperature-sensitive freight. Some involve emerging technologies while others use methods that have existed for centuries. Here are some good distribution practices for shipping and handling temperature-controlled cargo:
Insulated packaging
Materials like insulated liners, foam, and thermal bubble wrap can reduce heat transfer within your shipping container (and also reduce costs, compared to high-energy alternatives).
Cold packs
Include frozen gel packs or ice packs in your shipment to keep the package cool.
Dry ice
For ultra-cold shipments, consider using dry ice (solid carbon dioxide), which can maintain sub-zero temperatures for extended periods.
Active cooling systems
Specialized containers or boxes with built-in cooling systems provide precise and sustained temperature control for high-value or sensitive shipments.
Time-optimized delivery
Ensure you fulfill items’ temperature requirements by using express shipping options and avoiding delays (like weekends or holidays).
Temperature-controlled shipping services
You can outsource your temperature-sensitive shipments to a company that specializes in cold chain logistics solutions. These businesses may offer refrigerated trucks, boats, aircraft, and warehousing, helping you ensure product integrity throughout the delivery process.
Tips for temperature-controlled shipping
- Optimize your shipping times
- Use reliable tracking and monitoring tools
- Partner with trusted shipping carriers
- Comply with applicable regulations
To improve your temperature-controlled shipping processes, start with these four strategies:
1. Optimize your shipping times
Ship early in the week to avoid delays over weekends. When possible, choose expedited delivery options to minimize transit time. This will lower your packages’ exposure to temperature fluctuations.
For Island Creek Oysters, the best option is to ship items as quickly as possible. “People are picky about dates and … the core challenge is maintaining that temperature in the packaging,” Chris says. “That’s really the primary driver for why everything really goes overnight. We can make sure that that product is staying below 45 degrees for its entire journey. Once we get into two or three days, it’s a little more questionable.”
2. Use reliable tracking and monitoring tools
Incorporate GPS tracking and temperature-monitoring devices to track shipments and maintain visibility over temperature conditions during transit. As Chris says, “We have monitoring in each package to make sure that when the end user gets it, they can check to make sure that temperature has been maintained.” Among other things, these devices help you identify and resolve issues promptly if a shipment encounters unfavorable temperatures.
3. Partner with trusted shipping carriers
Only entrust your sensitive shipments to proven carriers. These companies have the necessary infrastructure for refrigerated transport and specialized handling. This includes major logistics providers like FedEx and UPS, which offer cold chain services for sensitive shipments.
4. Comply with applicable regulations
Familiarize yourself with local and international standards for temperature-sensitive goods, including packaging standards and labeling requirements. For instance, some countries may regulate the shipping temperatures of raw meat. Pharmaceuticals often require adherence to guidelines set by organizations like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or International Air Transport Association (IATA). Research these standards before shipping.
Challenges of temperature-controlled shipping
Temperature-controlled shipping can be a high-stakes endeavor. If your products ever fall out of an acceptable temperature range, you may have to ditch the whole shipment. Here are four challenges that ecommerce merchants must be aware of as they delve into the world of temperature-sensitive shipping:
Inclement weather
Extreme temperatures or unpredictable weather conditions can disrupt the maintenance of proper shipping temperatures, risking product quality. To counter this, use insulated packaging and real-time temperature monitoring devices. Partner with carriers experienced in navigating inclement weather to help you mitigate risks and preserve product integrity.
Hazardous materials
Some temperature-sensitive products, such as pharmaceuticals or chemicals, may fall under the category of hazardous materials, requiring compliance with strict regulations for packaging, labeling, and transport. When transporting such goods, choose carriers specializing in hazardous material shipping. Ensure all needed documentation, such as safety data sheets (SDS), is accurate and up to date.
Less-than-truckload shipments
For smaller shipments, such as single-pallet loads, you may need to use less-than-truckload (LTL) shipping, where goods share space with other cargo. This creates a temperature control challenge, as your shipment may experience inconsistent conditions. Fortunately, there are temperature-controlled LTL services. Specialized carriers offer these services, ensuring proper insulation and priority handling of shipments.
Managing costs
Temperature-controlled shipping often incurs higher costs due to specialized packaging, expedited delivery, and carrier services. You can address this by opting for packaging with reusable materials, consolidating shipments to reduce per-unit costs, and only using specialized services for specific shipping needs. Not every package will need end-to-end refrigerated shipping. Some may do just fine with a frozen gel pack.
Temperature-controlled shipping FAQ
How do you ship temperature-controlled items?
To ship temperature-controlled items, use insulated packaging, cooling agents like gel packs or dry ice, and temperature-monitoring devices. Whenever possible, partner with reliable carriers that offer refrigerated or expedited shipping services. These steps help ensure product integrity throughout the shipping process.
Does FedEx have temperature-controlled shipping?
Yes, FedEx offers extensive temperature-controlled shipping in various containers. Visit the FedEx website for more information.
What is the best type of material to control temperature in packages?
The best type of material to control temperature in packages is insulated materials, such as thermal liners, foam, or vacuum-sealed panels. These materials minimize heat transfer and maintain consistent internal temperatures.