Despite advances in shipping technology, transporting food is still mostly done by truck. Trucks transport food across a network of thousands of roads, ensuring fresh food can be shipped from one region or state to another. It’s a long-standing, reliable solution for transporting food.
Keep reading to learn more about the process of transporting food via trucks.
Issues With Transporting Food
There are some risks to transporting food via trucks. One of the challenges includes driver shortages. There is a shortage of new drivers entering the workplace, along with older drivers retiring.
Another is the environmental impact. While transporting food has gotten a bad wrap for its environmental impact, the actual impact is much smaller than originally thought. Food transport isn’t nearly as detrimental to the environment as consumer shopping trips or transporting food via planes.
So despite its issues, using trucks to transport food is still viable.
Frozen Food Transportation
A lot of food can’t be grown or sourced locally. This is due to different regions having different climates and growing seasons. Highly populated areas such as major cities simply require more food, making it impossible to source enough food locally.
That’s where the cold chain comes in. The cold chain is the term for an uninterrupted transport of perishable foods using refrigerated trucks and storage facilities. The cold chain allows food from all over the nation and globe to be delivered to you locally — produce from California, seafood from Alaska, beef from Texas — all can be delivered safely and effectively to your local grocery stores and restaurants.
Without refrigerated transport, food distribution would look very different.
The Challenges of Keeping Food Fresh During Transit
Transporting food that requires refrigeration presents its own unique set of challenges. It’s very important to get it right. Consumer trust and food safety can easily be compromised if food is not stored and transported at the proper temperature every step of the way.
There is no one-size-fits-all temperature solution for all foods. Different foods require different storage temperatures. Temperatures not only need to be regulated but also monitored for consistency.
That’s where trucking technology comes in. Real-time temperature tracking systems can inform drivers about improper temperatures.
There are also the legal requirements of transporting food. In the U.S., the Food Safety Modernization Act was put in place to prevent foodborne illnesses. Violating the FMSA could lead to warnings, expensive product recalls, audits, and temporary or permanent suspension of food facilities.
Looking for a Food Transport Solution?
You may have had issues in the past with finding safe and capable drivers. Or maybe you need a warehouse and cross-dock storage. Maybe you’re looking for solutions for transporting food.
That’s where Genex comes in. We offer a variety of different storage and cross-dock options, including refrigerated storage. We also have refrigerated trucks for your cold chain food transportation needs.
If you’re looking into how to transport frozen food, we can help. Contact us today to get a quote on your next shipment.