Freezing Freight
Protection Strategies
During cold weather season, make sure your procedures are up to date as you prepare your staff for
freight that requires freezable protection. The season typically runs from early November through midApril.
To determine if your freight is sensitive to extremely cold conditions that could potentially alter or
damage the product, consider the old golden rule that carriers follow: “if it jiggles while in motion,
it’s less susceptible to freezing.” This applies to products such as gels, paints, and some chemicals.
However, merchandise such as food and beverage, candy, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and agricultural
items, are all subject to freezable conditions and should be handled appropriately. When selecting a
carrier to handle your freezable move, keep these following points in mind:
99 Freezable protection services are
typically offered to direct points in
the 48 contiguous U.S. states and
Canada between November and
April, for freight with a freezing
point of 32 degrees Fahrenheit or
lower.
99 Most carriers only accept freezable freight for
overnight points Monday through Thursday.
Freight for second day points is usually
handled Monday through Wednesday. This is
to avoid having your freezable freight sit in a
truck or on a dock over the weekend.
99 Be aware that some, but not all carrier
terminals, are equipped with warm rooms to
house freight when the temperature drops.
Some carriers may also use special blankets
to ensure your shipment is warm while on the
dock or in transit.
99 Carriers have a variety of equipment available
to protect freight from freezing. Some trailers
are equipped with propane heaters inside
the units, or the heating unit is a built-in
component of the trailer itself.
99 It’s not uncommon for LTL carriers to suspend
freezable protection service during periods
where temperatures become extremely
cold. Carriers will either notify GTS directly,
or post the information to their website, if a
suspension of service occurs for a particular
region. Freezable embargos are likely when
temperatures reach below 20 degrees.
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hudson, oh 44236
11/13
Ultimately, it’s the shipper’s responsibility
to provide the proper notification to the
carrier when freight requires special care.
As the shipper, what are your
responsibilities to ensure safe delivery
of your freezable products?
99 Provide plenty of notice to GTS, allowing
us time to secure a carrier who has the proper
equipment and procedures to handle your
freezable shipment.
99 The Bill of Lading must be clearly marked
“Protect from freezing at 32 degrees F or
below.”
99 All cartons should be labeled as “Protect
from freezing.”
99 Freezable freight should be placed on a
pallet to allow a proper flow of circulation of
warm air. Freight placed directly on the trailer
floor is more likely to freeze than freight
placed on a pallet or top-loaded.
99 Allow for a flexible delivery date. Most
carriers cannot guarantee freight that is
subject to freezable handling due to changing
weather conditions.
www.onestopshipping.com
gtstip
To determine the best carrier and equipment
solution for your freezable shipment, contact one
of our transportation specialists.
contact us...
800.689.6255, ext. 101
[email protected]