Food and Beverage Shipping Services
Whether you’re a small farm shipping out produce or meats, or a growing frozen food company wanting to widen your distribution, shipping of food products is a matter of the highest priority in the food and beverage industry.
Ensuring that each shipped food delivery arrives on time and in good condition can make or break your relationship with preferred vendors, and can have a significant impact on your bottom line.
Choosing the best food shipping company will help you optimize your food service logistics, so you can focus on making your products the best they can be.
Food Shipping Across the Country with FreightRun
If you want to ship your food products across the country, you need a partner who understands how to provide food-grade transport, and food shipping services, as well as the laws and logistics surrounding shipping food across state lines.
FreightRun works with an extensive network of freight carriers that provide food transportation services, and we know how to manage food logistics so that your food stays fresh, all the way to its destination.
Choose the Best Food Shipping Service
There are numerous food and beverage logistics companies (food and beverage companies) to choose from across the US. Therefore, while choosing the right partners for food and beverage shipments is essential, we understand that the task can be overwhelming.
That’s why FreightRun has a nationwide network of trustworthy freight shipping companies for you to choose from.
We’ll work with you to find the partner who best fits your needs, and we can even help create supply chains involving multiple freight companies for long-distance food shipments.
No matter what your shipping needs are, FreightRun can help you create a seamless food supply chain for getting your products to your customers, and be sure that food safety will be our highest priority.
Which Food Truck Transport will be Used?
Different food-grade products require the use of different types of shipping container food trucks to ensure food safety. For example, you can ship non-perishable items, such as canned or boxed goods, in dry freight trucks, since they don’t require any specific temperature to maintain freshness.
That being said, the packaging is still important for shipping food across the country, because proper packing ensures that your food containers (i.e. boxes, cans, bottles, barrels, etc.) aren’t damaged along the road. Since many vendors won’t accept dented cans or damaged boxes, it is imperative to package each freight load properly, taking into account the contents of the full truckload.
Fresh and frozen food shipping usually requires temperature-controlled trucks for food transportation. Temperature-controlled trucks can handle both full truckloads and LTL freights, and allow you to choose the temperature you want your food stored.
Some temperature-controlled freight trucks enable you to choose different temperatures for different compartments on the truck, while others require all food on the freight to be shipped at the same temperature. Fresh and frozen foods can also be transported on insulated trucks, using dry ice, but this can be a less reliable shipping method for maintaining freshness.
Temperature-controlled trucks can also carry non-perishable foods, but keep in mind that refrigerated trucks tend to be more expensive to use. You’ll want to discuss your food supply chain logistics and beverage logistics with a certified professional at FreightRun before determining the type of food truck transport you want to use.
How to Pack Food for Shipping
Assuming you're shipping food that doesn't require refrigeration, there are a few things to keep in mind when packing it up to ensure food safety.
First, make sure the food is well-sealed. If you're using plastic containers, wrap them tightly with tape. If you're using glass jars, screw the lids on tightly and then wrap the entire jar in another layer of plastic wrap or bubble wrap. This will help to keep the food from leaking and prevent breakage.
Next, pack the food in a sturdy box. Line the bottom of the box with crumpled newspaper or packing peanuts to cushion the food and help prevent breakage. Arrange the food items in the box so that they are snug but not too tightly packed; you don't want them shifting around during shipping. Finally, close up the box and seal it with tape.
When shipping perishable food, there are a few extra steps you'll need to take. First, pack the food in an insulated container with a cold pack or ice pack. This will help keep the food cold during shipping. Place the container in a larger box, again packing it snugly with crumpled newspaper or packing peanuts. Seal up the box and label it clearly as containing perishable items.
With these tips in mind, you can ship food safely and securely!
Factors Affecting Food Transportation Costs
When shipping your food products, you’ll need to take your budget into account. Three main factors influence the cost of shipping food in the United States. They are:
How Much Food Are You Shipping?
Most freight companies start with a minimum of 150 lbs. For LTL trucking services take into account not only the volume of food you’re shipping but also the weight, as many food shipping companies use both measurements to determine a price.
The Types of Food You Are Shipping
Shipping fresh or frozen foods is generally more expensive than shipping dry goods, due to the added food and beverage logistics associated with these products.
Foods that require refrigeration at very specific temperatures may be even more expensive, and require the use of trucks with multiple temperature-controlled compartments.
How Far Are You Shipping Your Food Products?
Shipping food across the country will naturally be more expensive than local shipments. Not only will food shipping companies take distance into account when creating a price, but cross-country shipments will usually involve multiple freight trucking companies, increasing the price overall due to truck transitions and complicated logistics.
What are the Difficulties in Food Logistics?
There are two main obstacles when it comes to food and beverage logistics in the food and beverage industry. No matter what kind of food you’re shipping, distance is a primary concern.
Shipping food across the country not only comes with more difficulty maintaining timely deliveries; because most freight companies don’t travel across the country, you’ll need to develop a food supply chain involving multiple food logistics companies to get your products to your customers.
Luckily, the professionals at FreightRun have years of experience working with our network of food shipping companies to create seamless food transportation services for food and beverage companies, no matter how far your products are traveling.
If you are shipping fresh or frozen food, another obstacle presents itself. On top of meeting customer needs and deadlines, you also need to make sure that your produce and meats remain fresh, and that any frozen products aren’t permitted to thaw during shipment. By working with our food logistics managers, we can help you choose the best reliable service to meet your needs, and create a transportation route that ensures your products arrive fresh and ready to hit the shelves.
Companies in need of an alcohol shipping service may face another obstacle with the many laws and regulations surrounding interstate alcohol shipments. For more information on how to ship alcoholic products, check out our page on Shipping Alcohol.
3 Mistakes to Avoid When Shipping Food and Beverage
When you're shipping food and beverage products, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure your products arrive fresh and intact.
Here are three mistakes to avoid when shipping food and beverages:
1. Not using the right packaging materials
If you're not using the right packaging materials, your products could be damaged in transit. Make sure to use sturdy boxes and packing material that will protect your products from bumps and jostling.
2. Not packing properly
If you don't pack your products properly, they could shift around in transit and become damaged. Be sure to pack your products securely so they don't move around during shipping.
3. Not labeling clearly
If you don't label your products clearly, the person receiving your shipment may not know what it is. Be sure to include a packing slip or invoice that lists the contents of your shipment
Trucks to Use When Shipping Food and Beverage
Many different types of trucks can be used for shipping food and beverage products. The type of truck that is best for your business will depend on several factors, including the size and weight of your products, the distance you need to ship them, and the time frame in which they need to be delivered.
Some common types of trucks that are used for shipping food and beverage products include:
Box trucks
Box trucks are a common type of truck used for shipping food and beverage products. They are typically large enough to accommodate pallets of product, making them ideal for businesses that need to ship large quantities at once. Box trucks can also be temperature controlled, which is important for shipments that need to be kept at a specific temperature, such as frozen or refrigerated products.
Flatbed trucks
Flatbed trucks are another common type of truck used for shipping food and beverage products. They are typically used for shipments that are too large to fit in a box truck, or for shipments that need to be loaded or unloaded quickly.
Flatbed trucks can also be temperature controlled, which is important for shipments that need to be kept at a specific temperature, such as frozen or refrigerated products.
Reefer trucks
Reefer trucks are a type of truck that is specifically designed for shipping perishable goods. They are equipped with a refrigeration unit that keeps the inside of the truck at a specific temperature, making them ideal for shipping food and beverage products that need to be kept cool or frozen.
Step deck trucks
Step deck trucks are a type of truck that has a lower deck and a higher deck, allowing for taller shipments. They are typically used for shipments that are too tall to fit in a box truck or flatbed truck. Step deck trucks can also be temperature controlled, which is important for shipments that need to be kept at a specific temperature, such as frozen or refrigerated products.
If you are shipping food and beverage products, it is important to choose the right type of truck for your shipment. Consider the size and weight of your products, the distance you need to ship them, and the time frame in which they need to be delivered when selecting the best type of truck for your needs.
What are the Most Time-Sensitive Types of Food?
Fresh foods, such as fruits, vegetables, dairy, and meat products are the most time-sensitive types of foods that are regularly shipped across the country. These food-grade products often have a short shelf life, are easily damaged during transport, and need to be transported at specific temperatures.
Shipping frozen foods also requires the use of complicated food logistics services. Frozen foods must travel in a frozen freight truck. The truck’s internal temperature must be lowered to 20 degrees before loading and must maintain a temperature below 10 degrees consistently on the road.
This prevents any of the food products from having an internal temperature above 10 degrees. If a frozen product’s internal temperature is above 10 degrees when it arrives at a vendor marketplace, the grocer may not accept it.
FreightRun Offers Minimum Transit Time for Food Delivery
Since timely deliveries are essential for companies that ship food gifts and products, FreightRun is committed to creating and managing our customers’ supply chain logistics from start to finish.
We can help you minimize your transit time, so that your products can be on the shelves in stores for as long as possible, making you, your vendors, and your customers are happy.
If you need help shipping food and beverages in the US, call FreightRun today to speak with an experienced team member.
