In the modern world, there’s no question that the fastest way to ship temperature-sensitive products from point A to point B is through air freight. Being able to load cargo onto an aircraft that flies at high speeds and is not beholden to roads, tracks, or canals or the possible traffic associated with them has been a game-changer. Unfortunately, even air freight services don’t always run flawlessly. There are times when even shipping temperature sensitive products by air can result in delays, but how often does this actually happen?
Weather Plays A Factor
As with shipping with any vehicle, whether it’s a truck or seagoing vessel, aircraft are also subject to weather conditions. A regional transportation hub that is struck with a hurricane or tornado warning, for example, will wave off both cargo and passenger planes and divert them to other destinations for safety. It is possible to plan around this to a certain degree. Some times of the year are more likely to have storm weather than others, such as Florida’s hurricane season, running from June through November.
This makes it possible to at least plan some contingencies ahead of time for regions and seasons where the likelihood of weather delays increases. It doesn’t prevent those weather events from happening, of course, but if you are prepared for alternatives or make allowances for delays in your shipping, you are now better prepared for these incidents instead of being caught unawares and having no options.
Labor Shortages
This is another factor that can sometimes be offset simply by being attentive. If a particular logistics hub reports that it is shorthanded or busier than usual at a specific time of year, this can often result in airfreight delays, even when shipping temperature-sensitive products. This may be either a result of no one being available to attend to particular freight or, in some cases, inexperienced staff brought in to help may not process freight correctly or even misplace it.
The Tarmac Problem
Fortunately, the days when shipping temperature-sensitive products with delays don’t inevitably have to mean these products are left sitting on the tarmac and vulnerable to temperature changes. This still happens from time to time, but many logistics hubs now have temporary holding facilities to transfer goods while awaiting shipment. However, that does not mean these products will necessarily be stored at optimal temperatures, only that they are no longer exposed to the elements.
If you’re shipping temperature-sensitive products and want to know the best way to get those products to their destination safely, we can help. Contact us to explain your shipping needs and obtain a quote.
