Temperature-controlled transport is the part of logistics where “almost okay” does not count as okay. Food and pharma live within a narrow range of conditions: warm it up a bit—spoilage accelerates; freeze it a bit—structure or effectiveness is damaged; delay it at the dock—and the whole “refrigerated” idea turns into a souvenir. The worst part is that the cargo can look “normal” on the outside, while quality has already quietly left the building.
Typical issues here are not so much on the road as at the handoffs: loading with doors wide open, waiting at the customer, poor cargo preparation at the warehouse, no temperature logs, and shaky discrepancy reports at receiving. Let’s cover the key terms, practical delivery schemes, how to build cold-chain control, and the mistakes that most often get expensive.
What it is: continuous compliance with the required temperature regime along the entire path: warehouse → loading → transport → unloading → storage at the receiver.
How it’s measured: by having control points and actual temperature data across those stages.
Why it matters: if the chain breaks for 30 minutes at the dock, a “perfect drive” won’t save you. Temperature doesn’t respect KPIs.
What it is: the target range (for example, +2…+8 °C) and allowed deviations (if deviations are allowed at all).
How it’s measured: by product requirements (specs, instructions), contract terms, and receiving rules.
Why it matters: a “reefer truck” by itself guarantees nothing. You need to know what temperature you hold, for how long, and where you measure it.
What it is: cooling the cargo and/or the vehicle body down to the required temperature before loading.
How it’s measured: by pre-cooling time, reaching the target temperature, and a protocol/sensor readings.
Why it matters: refrigeration units are not designed to “cool down something hot.” They maintain a regime—they don’t perform miracles on demand.
What it is: a device or system that records temperature over time (a logger), sometimes with geolocation and alarms.
How it’s measured: by logging frequency, sensor placement, data accessibility, and protection against “accidental deletion.”
Why it matters: without logs, the dispute “was there a deviation?” becomes an exchange of beliefs. Beliefs are not calibratable.
What it is: the period when vehicle/warehouse doors are open and warm air enters the cold space.
How it’s measured: in minutes; often recorded in an operations log or inferred from sensor data.
Why it matters: in practice, the main enemy of temperature compliance isn’t the highway—it’s waiting at the dock “just 10 more minutes,” which turns into 40.
What it is: unit condition, sensor calibration, availability of bulkheads/dual-temperature zones, and sanitary condition.
How it’s measured: by documents, inspection, trip history, and an SLA for actions during incidents.
Why it matters: a reefer is a system: technology + process. “We have a reefer, it’s fine” is not proof—it’s a mood.
| Control point | What to check | Common problem |
|---|---|---|
| Warehouse before dispatch | Product temperature, time outside cold storage | The product “sat” in the picking area |
| Vehicle arrival | Body pre-cooled, cleanliness | A “warm” truck shows up |
| Loading | Speed, doors/gates, stowage | Long loading with doors open |
| In transit | Temperature logs, alarms | No monitoring; “found out later” |
| Unloading/receiving | Inspection, logs, discrepancy reporting | Signed without checking the logs |
When it fits: one product type with one temperature range, a route without many stops, reasonable lead time, stable receiving conditions.
Pros: easier to manage; lower setup risk; clearer control.
Limitations: if you have different product groups (frozen and +2…+8), one zone won’t cover it.
Risks: improper stowage (blocking airflow), no pre-cooling, long dock operations.
When it fits: combined delivery of different categories (e.g., chilled and “dry”), multiple customers, distribution routes.
Pros: flexibility; fewer trips; the ability to optimize “one vehicle” delivery.
Limitations: more complex setup; requires the right equipment; higher demands on stowage and control.
Risks: mixing regimes, incorrect sensor placement, disrupted airflow—then you don’t get two zones, you get one big problem.
When it fits: drugs with narrow ranges, high batch value, strict evidence requirements for compliance.
Pros: strong proof base; fewer disputed situations; higher process quality.
Limitations: more expensive; requires staff discipline; more paperwork and procedures.
Risks: if the process is formal (there’s a logger, but nobody reads it), the whole point disappears. “We record everything” is only useful if the data is actually used.
Scenario 1 (food): initial data — delivery of chilled goods at +2…+6 °C to multiple stores; frequent claims “it arrived warm.” Actions — introduced mandatory body pre-cooling, reduced loading time (pallets prepared in advance), added “door-open time” control and placed the sensor in the cargo zone. Result — fewer deviations, and disputed cases resolved faster thanks to logs.
Scenario 2 (pharma): initial data — shipping a batch of drugs within a narrow +2…+8 °C range; the cost of error is high. Actions — used loggers with recording, documented an action protocol for deviations, trained receiving to check logs before signing documents. Result — better controllability: if something happened, it was clear where and when. We’ve worked in this field for over 13 years, and the takeaway is simple: pharma loves evidence, not promises.
1) Is having a “reefer” enough to call it temperature-controlled transport?
No. You need a defined regime, pre-cooling, correct stowage, control of door-open time, and monitoring. The reefer is a tool, not a guarantee.
2) What temperature data is considered “proof”?
Logs with a clear methodology: where the sensor was placed, how often it recorded, who had access, and whether the record is intact. “The driver’s dashboard temperature” is useful, but not always sufficient as the only source.
3) What if you see a temperature deviation at receiving?
Don’t sign “with no remarks.” Record the readings, add a note in the documents, attach photos/logger data, issue an act/report, and notify responsible parties. In temperature logistics, speed of фиксация (recording) is half the win.