Many businesses must deal with shipping items that are either perishable or temperature sensitive by nature. This could include food stuffs or drugs, both of which must be kept in a consistent environment to avoid being spoiled.
When sending such items, it is essential to find a courier that offers these specialist services at a cheap rate. However, the courier alone is not responsible for perishable items arriving in the right condition. This also lies with the business.
Businesses must do all they can at their end. This means providing proper packaging to keep the items inside at an optimum temperature, while also carrying out adequate research into couriers. This can be done by the following means.
Label Correctly
This may seem self-explanatory, but if parcels are not labelled as containing perishable or temperature sensitive items, it is unlikely that they will be handled as such. To ensure they are treated with care, label all shipments correctly. This could simply state ‘temperature sensitive’ or ‘perishable food stuffs.’ Both will tell handlers to take extra care during transit.
Include Insulation
Packaging is always a big issue for businesses, particularly when considering costs. However, when shipping items of a sensitive nature, price should not be the main concern. This is because providing proper insulation is essential. This could include lined boxes to maintain low temperatures, polystyrene, or gel and cool packs for additional temperature control.
Fast Services
When shipping items that are sensitive, it makes sense to use the fastest options available. While this may be more expensive, ensuring parcels are in transit for as little time as possible will help to reduce the chances of spoilage. As such, choose express services where you are able, so that they arrive at their destination quickly.
Experienced Courier
Every courier offers different services. However, for perishable shipments, you require specialist delivery. This means choosing a courier with adapted vehicles and carefully trained staff. Therefore, before selecting your carrier, ask about their equipment and previous experience in this area, to make sure they are able to carry out your requests.
Advance Booking
The majority of bookings a courier will handle are for standard parcels. This means that the number of refrigerated shipping vehicles may be limited. To make sure your items arrive in their proper condition, book in advance where possible. This will ensure that the necessary equipment is available and ready to go.
Shipping temperature sensitive items requires more time and research than other shipments. However, selecting the right courier and packaging is paramount, making this is time well-spent.
