Keeping Perishables Fresh: Inside Our Temperature-Controlled Shipping Blueprint
Minutes above spec are the enemy of profit and brand trust. This technical deep dive opens the hood on how AJC Freight Solutions protects temperature-sensitive freight from plant to shelf. The focus is not promises, it is process control, verification, and documentation that stand up in the real world.
Trailer hygiene and pre-cool verification
A cold chain begins before the first pallet moves. Trailers are sanitized and fully dried to prevent fog and ice. Units are pre-cooled to the commodity set point, discharge and return-air deltas are verified, and alarms are enabled. Seal numbers are recorded and bound to the shipment record so chain of custody is never in question.
Training matters. Load teams use a short visual checklist at the door that covers cleanliness, dry-out, set point, and seal prep. Supervisors spot-check readings and sign off before loading begins.
Intake QA and accept-to-load criteria
We trust, then verify. At intake, teams probe representative cases and reconcile readings to the bill of lading and commodity targets. If pulp temperature is out of range, the stop-load rule applies. Options include re-work, re-ice, repack, or rejection depending on the variance and shelf life.
Documentation is built into the step. Photos of thermometer readings, seal preparation, and packout are captured with timestamps and attached to the shipment record.
Airflow engineering by package type
Cold air must be able to circulate. We design load patterns that preserve return-air paths and prevent short cycling.
Headspace at the ceiling and nose is maintained.
Vented pallets and consistent patterns support circulation around case stacks.
Securement prevents load shift into return-air channels.
Odor transfer risks and ethylene producers are separated from sensitive items.
Lane-specific diagrams live with the purchase order so load quality is repeatable, shift after shift.
Data package: what travels with every load
Every shipment leaves a paper and digital trail that speeds audits and resolves disputes.
Continuous temperature logs
Intake and arrival photos with timestamps
Seal logs at each handoff
Exception notes and corrective actions
This package cuts investigation time, reduces chargebacks, and drives root-cause improvements into the next plan.
Commodity mini-SOPs
Dairy
Set point in the mid-thirties as specified by product. Door-open time is tightly controlled. Baffles installed with several inches of headspace. Pulp checks on first and last pallet confirm stability.
Beverages
Set point depends on product and container. Stabilize pallets to prevent crush or sway. Avoid wrap patterns that block vents and trap heat near case corners.
Frozen
Set point as specified by SKU. Strict dock time limits and verified pre-cool prevent frost buildup and product softening. Once sealed, rehandling is minimized.
Roles, training, and audits
SOPs only work if people can run them. Loaders, receivers, and drivers get short, role-specific training and a monthly refresher on the handful of steps that cause most failures. Audits focus on process compliance and provide immediate feedback with photos and readings.
Send your commodity list and temperature targets. We will return lane-specific SOPs you can implement this month. AJC Freight Solutions. Service in Every Shipment. Request a quote today!
