Recently, temperature-sensitive commodities such as perishable foods and pharmaceuticals have seen a rise in shipping. In fact, it is fair to say that with the rise of e-commerce, the global community is becoming increasingly dependent on the supply chain to ship temperature-sensitive goods. Managing these shipments effectively requires robust transportation management solutions.
These kinds of goods are stored and transported in either a fridge box or a reefer container. Both of them do essentially the same thing, but they go about it in completely different ways. When you're shipping perishable or temperature-sensitive products, how do you choose the right cold storage method? Making the wrong choice can compromise product integrity and drive up costs.
In this blog post, we'll explore both types of equipment, discuss what they do, their benefits, and the disadvantages that separate the two.
Understanding the differences between these options is critical for protecting product integrity and controlling costs. Let's dive in.
What is a Reefer Container?
A reefer is a dedicated container for pre-cooled or frozen products within a specific temperature range. This type of freight container does not contain any air conditioning equipment, as it isn't meant to cool goods.
Rather, it simply keeps them at the same temperature; the temperature they had upon loading. Or, at least in the same range.
It does this by using a bottom air cooling design. Essentially, cold air circulates under the floor. From here, it is recycled back into the container. This design allows for an even flow of cold air to constantly circulate around the freight.
Disadvantages of Reefer Shipping
While the market is hot at the moment, the availability of reefer units is ice cold.
Key challenges of reefer shipping include:
Limited availability: The supply of reefer units is currently constrained
Driver shortages: Reduction of qualified/CDL licensed drivers
Higher costs: These factors have caused reefer shipment prices to skyrocket
Scheduling difficulties: Coordinating perishable goods on shipper's schedules is challenging
Route planning complexity: LTL shipment routing adds logistical challenges. Reefer containers vary in size, but since the majority of them are for transporting a large volume of freight at once, LTL shipping is just more affordable for most shippers.
For example, if a manufacturer has 10 pallets of frozen food products that have to be shipped to 5 different customers that live in three different states, the shipment will most likely be sent to an LTL depot. Needless to say, this is not exactly efficient and it ends up increasing delivery times across the cold chain.
What is a Fridge Box?
Unlike a reefer, a fridge box is an individual box that holds and transports a smaller quantity of freight—most are designed to hold up to two pallets of product. Fridge boxes maintain the desired temperature after being loaded onto dry-goods trailers for transport. But unlike a reefer container, a fridge box comes equipped with AC equipment. Instead of relying on the circulation of cold air, fridge boxes generate their own cold air.
Key features include:
Built-in AC equipment: Coils, blowers, and thermostat
Temperature range: 50 degrees down to -20 degrees Fahrenheit
Self-cooling: Generates its own cold air rather than relying on circulation
These containers typically feature advanced seal technology and equipment to maintain a certain temperature. Usually, this temperature is within one degree for up to five days.
Fridge boxes are much easier to maintain and offer shippers more flexibility for moving small amounts of temperature-sensitive products.