If you live in an area with cold winters, you undoubtedly know a thing or two about protecting yourself and your property from those seriously frigid temperatures.
You park your car in the garage, invest in some salt for the driveway, and bundle up in thick coats, hats, and gloves each time you venture outside. It can be a hassle, sure, but it’s the only way to protect yourself from turning into an icicle.
Certain shipments need freeze protection, too. And while we can’t outfit every pallet with its own stocking cap and mittens, many transportation providers do offer protective measures and services to keep freight from freezing.
Freeze protection can be a critical step in maintaining the quality, integrity, and efficacy of some freight types. At Anderson Trucking Service (ATS), we’ve helped give businesses across industries the peace of mind that their freight is traveling as safely and securely as possible — which often includes some degree (pardon the pun) of temperature control.
In this article, we’ll explain how freeze protection works, what types of commodities typically require freeze protection, and how to work most effectively with your transportation provider to plan your freeze-protected shipments.
By the time you’re finished reading this quick primer, you’ll be prepared to identify your own freeze protection needs and pursue effective solutions with your provider. Let’s get started!
- What is freeze protection?
- What freight requires freeze protection?
- How far in advance should I plan my freeze-protected shipments?
What is Freeze Protection?
Freeze protection is a temperature-controlled shipping service for maintaining the quality of goods with a freezing point of 32°F or lower. Freeze protection is particularly critical in the winter, when goods may travel through climates in which the exterior temperatures are below freezing.
Many goods that commonly require freeze protection normally travel on dry van trailers. Although dry van trailers are enclosed and therefore protective against elements like wind, rain, and snow, they offer little in the way of temperature shielding.
Still, while a dry van trailer is in motion, the goods inside may stay above 32°F; transportation providers may use additional measures like pallet covers or cargo blankets to further insulate the shipment.
But the trouble begins after nightfall. If that same dry van trailer is parked overnight, the temperature within will drop to whatever the temperature is outside — which, in northern states, can often be well below 32°F (or even below 0°F!) in the winter months.
Refrigerated trailers (“reefers”) present an innovative solution. Normally used to keep goods cold, reefer trailers are used in freeze protection to keep goods warm — or, more accurately, to keep goods warm enough that they won’t freeze.
In general, cold cargo can be broken down into three categories: Freeze-protected, refrigerated, and frozen. The graphic below illustrates the typical temperature ranges for each category of freight.
Freeze-protected cargo is often held warmer than refrigerated freight, but reefer trailers can range in temperature from -13°F to 77°F. That’s a spread of 90 degrees, which means shippers of freeze-protected freight can’t trust that one reefer’s standard holding temp will be the same as another’s.
While freeze protection services are primarily aimed at goods with a freeze point at or below 32°F, it’s important to remember that not all commodities have the same freeze point or temperature requirements. Shippers must know precisely which temperature(s) their products should be held at to best maintain their integrity.
Certain substances and chemicals will not freeze at 32°F, but will freeze if they reach temperatures below 26°F, 20°F, 12°F, etc. Others are even more sensitive and not to be held at temperatures below 37-42°F, depending on the commodity.
Other goods may require 24/7 temperature control via a process called cold chain management. These goods must travel through an unbroken “chain” of refrigerated environments during transportation, as they cannot reach temperatures outside a set range.
Whatever temperatures are optimal for keeping your freight at its best, those distinctions are important to communicate clearly and early to your transportation provider. Knowing the specifics will help them tailor a more precise solution, protect the integrity of your shipments, and prevent issues like cargo claims.
What Freight Requires Freeze Protection?
If freezing a commodity would negatively affect its quality or efficacy, it will require freeze protection during the winter months in northern regions.
As a rule of thumb, freeze protection is recommended for goods that will freeze at temperatures at or below 32°F if/when they are traveling through areas with ambient temps at or below freezing.
Goods that commonly require freeze protection include:
- Batteries and some electronic components
- Beverages, including alcohol
- Certain dried goods, like coffee, oatmeal, and flour
- Chemicals
- Cleaning products
- Cosmetics
- Dyes and inks
- Glues
- Oil-based products
- Paints
- Perishable foods and produce
- Pharmaceuticals
As mentioned previously, most of these commodities can safely move on dry van trailers outside of the winter months. It’s important for shippers to remember that compared to dry vans, reefer trailers are more specialized — and therefore more expensive.
Shippers should factor these higher costs into their transportation budgets earlier in the year to prevent sticker shock in Q4.
How Far in Advance Should I Plan My Freeze-Protected Shipments?
In general, shippers and their customers begin planning for their freeze-protected shipping needs as early as October, as "freeze protection season" runs from November through March.
Exactly how far in advance you’ll need to plan your shipments largely depends on when they will be moving and in what regions. The further north, the earlier that area will experience its first frost (and the colder its average winter temps are likely to be.)
If freeze protection is critical to maintaining the integrity of your freight (and the integrity of your supply chain), partnering with a transportation provider that can accommodate your seasonal reefer needs is likewise crucial.
Touch base with your provider in the early autumn to reaffirm your expected reefer capacity needs and talk through any concerns you may have. This will help your provider plan more effectively for the season ahead.
Aim to give your provider notice at least 1-2 days in advance of any shipments requiring freeze protection. This allows for enough time to secure the necessary reefer capacity.
Your provider will also work with you to confirm temperature requirements, load specifics, and other key details, so be prepared to provide that information.
Each freeze-protected shipment will be denoted as such on its bill of lading (BOL), which will indicate to the truck driver and consignee that the goods cannot freeze.
Safeguard Quality Throughout Your Supply Chain
Whether your freight consists of beverages, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, or electronics, exposure to freezing temperatures can compromise product quality and result in significant losses.
Freeze protection may come with a higher cost, but when factored into your transportation budget early, it can safeguard your goods and prevent costly damage.
By planning ahead and working closely with your transportation provider, you can ensure the availability of freeze protection services when needed. Communicating your shipping needs and specific temperature requirements early are essential steps to securing reefer capacity and preventing disruptions in your supply chain.
Going the extra mile to ensure that your products arrive in optimal condition not only protects your bottom line, but also strengthens the trust and reliability you offer to your customers throughout the winter months.
Of course, freeze protection isn’t the only way transportation providers keep cargo safe during transit. Check out our article Is My Cargo Safe? Freight Security Tips for Global Supply Chains to learn more about how to maintain the integrity of your goods at every stage.
