Page 23 - Logistics News June 2019

Cold Chain Logistics

a refrigerated fl eet requires
signifi cant capital investment,
specially trained drivers, increased
liability and a greater risk for close
inspection.
Cold chain operators are eager
to fi nd new strategies to reduce
costs. In retail, requirements for
smaller, more frequent orders
are driving the use of multi-cell
trailers – refrigerated trailers in
which insulated curtains are hung
at intervals to create diff erent
temperature zones. This approach
enables a cold chain 3PL to include
frozen and chilled goods in the
same shipment.
But consolidating into a multi-
cell trailer isn’t always possible.
Because of the space and handling
costs of managing the insulation,
it works best for dedicated
equipment rather than a common
refrigerated carrier.

Customer habits persist as
the cold chain’s weakest link
The biggest obstacle for many
cold chain operators is the one
part of the supply chain they
don’t control: The moment
products are placed in the
consumer’s shopping cart
or tendered to a health care
provider. Despite considerable
expense and eff ort to move the
item across hundreds of miles
through multiple hand-off s, a
product that sits too long in
a cart, a hot car or a poorly
regulated freezer can degrade
in quality, a condition that often
gets blamed on the manufacturer.
Ensuring pharmaceuticals, food
and other chilled goods retain
their integrity and safety remains
a moving target for cold chain
operators. Globalisation, tightening
regulation and changing consumer
demand continue to alter the
scope of the task, while driving
the need for technology, effi ciency
and security. •

June 2019 | Logistics News 21