Considerations When Choosing A Refrigerated Transport Company
Posted on: 7 October 2022
As a farmer, one of your challenges would be transporting perishable products to your markets. It is especially so if you intend to sell the products to markets far from your farm. Refrigerated transport companies are your best bet at ensuring products arrive fresh to the market regardless of the distance. Below is a piece detailing what to consider when hiring a refrigerated transport company.
Specialisation
Examine the company's expertise in moving your produce. Ideally, consider companies that move similar products and with an excellent reputation with their clients. It guarantees that the company understands the measures to take to ensure that your products arrive at the market fresh. For instance, most agricultural products, such as fruits, vegetables, and legumes, need cleaning and sorting before transport. The exercise helps remove dirt, pests, and bacteria that could accelerate product spoilage during transport.
Hygiene is an essential concern when transporting meats. For instance, the loading crew must observe proper packaging techniques. Besides, they should not mix raw meat with ready-to-eat products. They must also uphold hygienic practices to protect the meat from contamination. They must also inspect the meats and remove any damaged parts. Specialised refrigeration transport companies also know the temperatures to transport when moving your perishables. Moreover, they observe proper documentation to ensure they can trace the point of contamination if some of your products go bad during transport.
Range of Services
The company should offer a wide range of refrigerated transport services. For example, if you intend to make small shipments, the company should offer less than truckload (LTL) services. On the other hand, the company should organise international freight if you plan to transport the perishables abroad. This way, you avoid the rigorous documentation involved when exporting items. In other cases, you need a company that offers storage services. This way, you have an inventory in storage to cater to the needs of your clients when you do not have ready products at the farm. The general principle is to consider companies that offer various cold transport and storage services. This way, you avoid the hassles of dealing with third parties as you expand your farm business.
Transport Conditions
The refrigerated transport company must have friendly and flexible conditions. For instance, the company should allow you to adjust your load based on the farm output. Moreover, it must insure items in transit and offer compensation if the products spoil due to the company's negligence. Finally, the company should provide a reasonable quote considering the current economic situation.
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