Guide to moving large food freight shipments

Food freight shipments are a multi-million dollar industry and the transportation of food in large quantities involves important freight logistics. Trucks, ships and railroads are the main modes of transportation of food throughout the world. Large quantities of food are seldom transported by air as it is very expensive, and fast delivery is not a requirement for most food freight unless they involve perishables. Food producers and middlemen are the main users of these freighting facilities. Middlemen package, store and ship the food products from the producers to other middlemen, who then sell it to the retailers.

Rail and road freight solve a lot of storage and distribution problems. Rail freight transports the goods over long distances, while trucks are used to transport the food to the storage warehouses from where the distribution process can take place. Buyers can also choose to unload a part of the freight in transit and avail of lower rates for carload, which is offered to customers who transport large shipments.

• The most important thing to take note of while moving large food freight shipments is choosing a company to transport large shipments.
• In making this important decision consider the condition of their equipment and the timelines they follow in terms of deliveries. Where food freight is concerned, time is an extremely important factor in order to ensure that the food is of an optimum quality.
• The equipment must be able to carry the freight in cool and dry conditions. This is especially critical while transporting perishable food items like vegetables, fruits, poultry, meat and dairy produce.
• Care must be taken to ensure that loose boards, nails, chemical residues and other materials that could damage food items are not present in the equipment, and if they are, customers should be provided with replacements.

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RSJ International Freight Services Limited, UK have head offices in Bristol, UK and Cardiff, South Wales.

Tel: +44 (0)117 932 1160
Fax: +44 (0)117 932 6572
Email: Bob.Feltham@rsj-international.co.uk~
or Steve.Frost@rsj-international.co.uk

Unit 16, Keynsham Road, Willsbridge, Bristol, UK.