How Home Delivery Is Changing Refrigerated Transportation
Todd Cawley | July 19th, 2022
Advancements in online shopping have changed how the modern consumer obtains goods. Specifically, the transition to online groceries and boxed meal kit services has transformed how the average person grocery shops. As consumers demand home delivery services, there are also ongoing changes in the refrigerated transportation industry. Home-driven requests have introduced a new market for cold chain logistics providers.
With more people in need of fresh food and home delivery options, refrigerated vans are now imperative to the grocery supply chain. Find out how refrigerated transportation has evolved to meet the increasing demand for home delivery services.
Improved Route Planning
The most effective way to ensure successful transportation is through route planning. A popular solution for refrigerated logistics transporters includes using more advanced systems to monitor the conditions of refrigerated vans and other small reefer trucks on their routes.
Technological Advancements
Since the timeline of consumers greatly influences home deliveries, refrigerated transportation must have technology that ensures preparedness. For instance, if a vehicle breaks down with perishable goods, then a system to track and monitor perishables can signal another vehicle in the fleet to complete the job.
The most effective refrigerated transportation system has a responsive and configurative mechanism to help the flow of logistics. If the first delivery attempt is unsuccessful, the transporter’s logistics system should reroute a different vehicle and alert the customer of the change within the original timeframe.
Home Delivery Demands
As the demand for home deliveries increases, so does the acceleration of refrigerated food inventory turn cycles. Refrigerated transportation must continuously advance to meet home-based needs. Consumers expect fresh groceries instead of frozen, and this means significant changes to the warehouses that ship these goods.
Logistics providers typically use the warehouse as the destination for refrigerated transportation. For home delivery, providers must conduct an end-to-end cold chain with refrigeration delivery on the last mile to reach the consumer.
Emerald Transportation Solutions is your one-stop shop for all your delivery vehicle needs. Explore our broad selection of insulated trucks, vans, and reefers to optimize your refrigerated transportation process today!
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What does under DOT mean?
Questions regarding DOT requirements come up often. 10,000 lbs GVW (gross vehicle weight) and over are commercial vehicles that fall under the Department of Transportation regulatory requirements.
What is the difference between GVW and payload?
GVW or Gross Vehicle Weight is the entire weight of the vehicle including the payload. The payload weight represents the amount of cargo you are hauling.
What is a self-powered unit and a vehicle-powered unit?
A self-powered unit has its own fuel source and will run independent of the truck. This is the heaviest and most expensive option. While vehicle-powered units run off the engine via a compressor mounted on the engine. These are less expensive and lighter in weight but you must run the truck or plug the electric standby into shore power.
What does K-factor mean and why is that important?
K-factor is a term that stands for the overall insulating value of the container (truck body). Quite simply the lower the K-factor the better the truck body will be able to maintain a given temperature and require less energy to do so.
How much lighter is a Poly Van vs a US spec body?
Poly Van bodies are very light. On average we estimate we are 75-150 lbs per foot lighter than a traditional sheet and post foamed in place body. These weight savings translates to less fuel burn and less CO2 emissions, along with added payload, the most important benefit.
