Freight Shipping as the Weather Warms Up: Benefits of Spring and Summer Shipping
Spring is in full effect after a long and arduous winter season. Just a few weeks ago, Central Park in New York City was bustling with people, laying out on picnic blankets, and soaking in the first real day of warm weather in months.
This scene is a sneak peek into the spring and summer seasons, where warm weather will become the norm. But with the warm weather just around the corner, what does this mean for how freight shipping functions?
Just like the winter season changes how the transportation and logistics industry operates, so does the spring and summer. When the weather warms up, the industry has to take extra precautions when it comes to shipping certain types of freight to ensure successful deliveries worldwide.
From handling temperature-sensitive goods to dealing with increased demand for certain products during peak seasons, adapting to these changes can ensure that the supply chain remains efficient and reliable.
Less Risk of Delays & Increased Air Freight Opportunities
While spring and summer bring their own set of challenging weather conditions, such as the occasional tornadoes, thunderstorms, and hurricanes in the southern regions, they typically don’t compare to the severity of winter weather.
Winter can cause significant disruptions in freight, with icy roads and heavy snowfall leading to accidents and delays for sometimes days.
In contrast, warmer weather results in safer, clearer roadways, which can improve delivery times because the likelihood of road delays is reduced. Freight shipping benefits affect not only ground transportation but air transportation as well.
With fewer weather-related disruptions, air freight becomes more dependable. During spring and summer, air freight is a highly efficient and timely shipping options, offering businesses another option for consistent and dependable delivery services.
Cargo Quality
During spring and summer, shipping can become more complex. Cargo quality takes a front seat as the hot weather can cause certain goods like food, flowers, and pharmaceuticals to spoil easily.
From May to August, certain goods see an increase in demand, such as ice cream and popsicles, which need to stay cold. While used year-round, temperature-controlled shipping is crucial during the warmer months to ensure cargo arrives at its destination in optimal condition.
Depending on the type of cargo, there are different ways that the temperature can be regulated. For smaller shipments, temperature-controlled packaging such as ice packs, gel packs, and insulated boxes are used to protect the items and keep them cool during transit. For larger or bulk shipments, a refrigerated truck, or reefer van, is used to keep the entire interior of the trailer cool.
Increased Efficiency
Although the logistics and transportation industry strives to consistently meet deadlines, winter weather and other related obstacles can cause delays, decreasing efficiency.
As the weather improves, there are fewer complications that shippers and truckers need to look out for, leading to increased shipping capacity, reduced shipping costs, and better fuel efficiency.
During warmer months, truckers can operate more efficiently without the risk of vehicle breakdowns or delays due to icy roads, which increases the overall shipping capacity while reducing transit times.
Not only can trucks operate more efficiently, but warmer temperatures often improve fuel efficiency. This is because cold weather can negatively affect engine performance.
Fuel efficiency and optimal transit times can also result in reduced operational costs, making the entire shipping process more efficient not only for the carrier, but for the customer too.
Longer Delivery Windows
Warmer months bring longer days. Longer daylight hours are beneficial for freight shipping because it gives more time for delivery. It also offers opportunities for better scheduling, more flexibility, and the potential for faster turnaround times.
As the season shifts and spring and summer usher in longer days and warmer temperatures, the freight industry shifts along with it.
While warmer months offer operational advantages like the reduced risk of weather-related delays and improved efficiency, the need for cold-chain logistics increases, and shippers must adapt accordingly.
As the weather warms up, the freight industry can take advantage of the seasons’ opportunities by staying proactive and continuing to meet the rising demands with ease.
