What Is Supply Chain Visibility and Why It Matters
The efficient movement of cold storage commodities is difficult enough for carriers and shippers to deal with daily. Throw in the summer heat and you can see how moving items that require cold temperatures can be difficult to manage.
When the summer season arrives, a slew of additional hurdles pop-up. And when that happens, it is "all hands on deck" to pull it off properly. The cold supply chain requires multiple stakeholders to work together from manufacturers to distributors and the carrier.
In this blog post, we'll explain a few of the hurdles associated with summertime temperature-controlled freight. We will also outline a few tips for shippers to stay ahead of potential pitfalls, reduce shipping delays, and protect their cold storage commodities.
Higher Stress on Reefer Containers
In the 'good old days', shippers would stack blocks of solid ice in an enclosed container and call it good. This wasn't a very good way of moving perishable products, but it was often the only option available.
Today's technology has introduced more efficient refrigeration systems that work on a closed loop, meaning they don't expel refrigerant into the atmosphere and are easier to maintain temperature control. However, just like your homes AC system, when the temperatures increase, the AC needs to work harder to remove heat from the air – so the temperature is maintained.
While most reefer containers are built to maintain temperature quite well, they are not perfect. In fact, the constant heat (or more accurate – direct sunlight) causes outside panels to increase heat, which then seeps into the inside. This gradually increases the internal temperature, and thus, causes the refrigeration system to work harder.
Increased Maintenance Costs to a Cold Supply Chain Happen More in the Summer
The extra heat during summer also leads to additional maintenance – especially with refrigerated or frozen shipping containers.
The refrigeration systems that keep shipping containers at a constant temperature simply work harder as the outside temperature increases. This leads to carriers having to prioritize reefer container monitoring and increase routine service to reduce damage or breakdown.
In the winter season, if a reefer unit breaks down on the road, the carrier has some time to get the container to a depot to be swapped out. As the temperature increases, the time gap between cold to above the danger zone of bacteria growth is significantly reduced.
Increased Lead Time and Organization
Another reality of summertime cold storage is that shipping and receiving schedules are susceptible to a wide variety of delays.
Many warehouses, depots, and retailers use the summer to complete maintenance or construction projects to improve their facilities. Not only do they do this to prepare for the summer heat but it is also a daily concern.
This reality of daily business operation causes all shippers to become more proactive about their shipments. While dry goods can sit in a container for a few days, this isn't the case with frozen products.
There are multiple containers that can be plugged into an industrial electrical outlet to maintain the temperature – but this isn't an effective plan.
Shipping in the summer with cold supply chain movements simply involves a bit more planning to ensure on-time delivery, reduced delays, and efficient storage of commodities to reduce the potential of damage.
A Cold Supply Chain Experiences Increased Shipping Volumes During the Summer
Do you know what items sell more frequently at grocery stores during the summer months?
If you answered ice cream and frozen foods, you'd be 100 percent correct. These two food segments notice significant volume sales increases from Memorial Day through Labor Day in the US.
Whether it's due to the extra heat, or more kids being home during summer, these frozen food items simply sell more this time of year.
For shippers, this increases volume and more cold storage shipments. If you are caught off-guard for the increased sales, it can easily back up your freight and cause undue delays.
Key Summer Cold Supply Chain Challenges
To successfully navigate summer cold supply chain operations, you need to understand the key challenges:
• Higher stress on reefer containers due to increased ambient temperatures and direct sunlight exposure
• Increased maintenance costs as refrigeration units work harder and require more frequent servicing
• Extended lead times and organizational demands from facility maintenance schedules and construction projects
• Higher shipping volumes driven by seasonal demand for frozen and refrigerated products
See how shippers have successfully navigated summer cold chain challenges in our case studies.
Final Thoughts
The cold supply chain has a lot of moving parts. Each partner must work together to efficiently plan and move their refrigerated freight. Furthermore, they must accomplish this while summer heats threaten the integrity of the cooled container.
One resource that all shippers have at their disposal is a Modern 4PL partner. Redwood's Modern 4PL approach offers the extensive carrier network, flexibility, and RedwoodConnect technology integration needed to tie temperature-sensitive logistics into a fully connected supply chain.
FAQs
What are the biggest summer challenges for a cold supply chain?
The biggest summer challenges are higher stress on reefer equipment, increased maintenance costs, longer lead times, and higher shipping volumes. Heat and direct sunlight make refrigeration units work harder, while facility maintenance and seasonal demand can create scheduling bottlenecks. Together, those factors increase the risk of delays and temperature excursions in temperature-controlled freight.
How does hot weather affect refrigerated containers?
Hot weather forces refrigerated containers to work harder because exterior panels absorb heat from the sun, and that heat gradually moves into the container interior. The refrigeration system must then remove more heat to keep temperatures stable. Over time, that added strain can increase wear, raise maintenance needs, and reduce the margin for error if equipment problems occur.
Why is summer planning so important for temperature-controlled freight?
Summer planning matters because temperature-controlled freight has less room for delay than dry goods. Many warehouses, depots, and retailers also schedule maintenance or construction during the summer, which can slow receiving and shipping. Proactive scheduling helps protect product integrity, reduce transit delays, and avoid damage from sitting too long without proper cooling.
Why do maintenance costs rise in the cold supply chain during summer?
Maintenance costs rise in summer because refrigeration units run harder in higher ambient temperatures and need more frequent servicing to stay reliable. When a reefer unit breaks down, the time window before a load moves into the danger zone is much smaller in hot weather than in winter. That means carriers have less time to recover from a failure without risking product loss.
Why do cold supply chain volumes increase during the summer?
Cold supply chain volumes increase in summer because frozen foods and ice cream sell more heavily from Memorial Day through Labor Day in the United States. Seasonal demand can create a surge in refrigerated and frozen shipments, and shippers that are not prepared may face backlogs, delays, and tighter capacity. Planning for that seasonal lift is important for keeping freight moving.
What does a Modern 4PL do for cold supply chain logistics?
A Modern 4PL helps connect the cold supply chain by combining carrier access, flexibility, and technology integration. In practical terms, that means orchestration across temperature-sensitive shipments, better visibility into movement, and a more coordinated network for getting refrigerated freight delivered on time. The goal is to make the system easier to manage as conditions become more complex.
What can shippers do to reduce summer delays in refrigerated freight?
Shippers can reduce summer delays by planning earlier, coordinating closely with carriers and receiving facilities, and building in more time for scheduling disruptions. They should also account for higher equipment strain and seasonal volume spikes. In a cold supply chain, a little extra organization goes a long way because temperature-sensitive freight cannot sit idle as long as dry freight can.
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