Shipping Modes
Cold Chain
An unbroken temperature-controlled supply chain that keeps perishable or sensitive goods within a specified range from origin to destination.
In depth
A cold chain is only as good as its weakest link, and the weak links are almost always the transfers — the time on an unshaded apron, the hours in an unplugged reefer waiting for a terminal slot, the gap between a chilled truck and a chilled store. Pharmaceuticals, vaccines, fresh produce, seafood, and some chemicals all depend on it. Continuous data logging is standard because a temperature excursion is often invisible on arrival, and for regulated cargo the logger record is what determines whether the consignment can be sold at all.
Key points
- Unbroken temperature control from origin to destination
- Transfer points are the usual failure points, not the main legs
- Continuous data logging is standard and often mandatory
- A logged excursion can render regulated cargo unsaleable