How to keep perishable cargo fresh and compliant

 

Transporting perishable goods like food, pharmaceuticals or biological materials requires precise temperature control to prevent spoilage and maintain safety standards. Goods must be kept out of the “temperature danger zone” (5°C to 60°C), where bacteria can thrive. Refrigerated trailers like reefers provide reliable, temperature-controlled environments essential for safe and compliant transit.

 

X2 (UK) offers a range of refrigerated transport options – including reefers, freezer trailers and chiller trailers – to protect perishable cargo. Our expert logistics team will keep your goods fresh and compliant with perishable cargo regulations, delivering your goods in optimal condition.

 

X2 (UK): The trusted solution for perishable goods transport

At X2 (UK), we have long and extensive experience managing perishable cargo of all types. Our vast pool of temperature controlled vehicles, including chiller trailers and freezer trailers, is designed to offer a comprehensive range of transportation solutions.

 

Adhering precisely to the Perishable Cargo Regulations (PCR) set by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), we meet stringent global standards for cold chain management. This means your goods are not only handled with care, but follow the latest protocols to ensure compliance.

 

With our expertise spanning everything from food and healthcare to pharmaceuticals and hazardous materials, we offer dependable temperature-controlled solutions that businesses can count on.

The basics of perishable cargo logistics

Transporting perishable goods often involves the use of specialised packaging such as insulated foam containers with watertight liners, to maintain product integrity during transit. Once correctly packed, the most common forms of transportation include:

Reefers and Refrigerated Trailers

Equipped with advanced cooling systems, reefers keep internal temperatures stable, making them ideal for transporting food and pharmaceuticals over long distances. They can operate using ice, dry ice or mechanical cooling, maintaining ideal temperatures throughout transit.

 

Reefers are available in a variety of sizes and types, with standard reefers able to accommodate between -30°C and 30°C, and high cube super freezers capable of keeping contents at around -60°C during transit.

Chiller Trailers

Chiller trailers are used for transporting goods that require cooling, but not freezing. They’re used for chilled foods like dairy, cold-pressed juices, certain medication and live plants. The trailers maintain a consistently low specific temperature, and are ideally suited to preserving items’ quality.

Depending on demands, chiller trailers can usually be set at any temperature between 2°C and 10°C.

Freezer Trailers

Specially designed for transporting goods that need to remain frozen, freezer trailers are equipped with powerful compressors. They keep items such as pre-packaged meals (pizzas, lasagnes etc), meat and poultry, and certain chemicals at the correct temperature. The trailers maintain extremely low temperatures, maintaining the integrity of temperature-sensitive items that require sub-zero conditions.

 

Freezer trailers have the capacity to be set between -20°C and +10°C, depending on client requirements.

Trains with refrigeration systems

Refrigerated trains are an efficient and cost-effective solution for bulk transportation of temperature-sensitive goods over long distances, such as between major cities or across countries. Equipped with advanced refrigeration systems, these high-tech trains maintain consistent temperatures throughout the journey.

However, refrigerated trains are not door-to-door solutions, since they rely on established rail networks and predefined routes. To complete the supply chain, they often need to be integrated with temperature-controlled trailers for first-mile and last-mile transportation, delivering seamless delivery to the final destination while maintaining the required conditions. This combination of rail and road logistics provides a reliable and sustainable solution for long-haul refrigerated transport.

X2 (UK): The ultimate in cool logistics operations

For cost effective, compliant perishable goods transport, X2 (UK) delivers the resources, expertise and experience you need. Get in touch with our team today and discover how we can manage the reliable transportation of your temperature-sensitive cargo.