With many decades of experience in cold chain management for food industry customers in the Western U.S., Weber Logistics pays a lot of attention to the weather.  And it’s hard not to notice these days – it’s HOT out there!

Rising temperatures continue to expand the seasonal need for refrigerated trucking, especially in the South and Western area of the US.  That means additional price pressure on the Buyer for refrigerated trucking services.  Along with rising temperatures, severe weather patterns have brought tornados and rain storms stronger than ever before.  This forces truckers to drive through affected areas, further increasing the risk of disruptions that delay products en route to retail shelves. 

These events impact not only outbound distribution, but also agricultural production.  Continued droughts in many areas, and floods in others, have hampered food production.  What we are seeing is the need for multiple sub inventories closer to the markets so we can react quickly to ecosystem changes, which in turn protect the food supply chain that Weber supports.   More and more grocers are using local growers to mitigate some of these concerns. 

Technology is playing a bigger role within the food supply chain through the automation of freshness date monitoring and real-time monitoring of temperatures in product storage environments, whether that is in a warehouse, a trailer or a rail car.  Keeping products fresh and preventing spoilage is central to cold chain management.  Nationally, we have seen an uptick in product recalls, with outbreaks of e coli being noticed.  Company reputations can be destroyed overnight through negative press on such events that go viral.  

Whether or not you’re a climate-change believer, the recent heat wave in the West is a reality that impacts your food supply chain.   During these times, it’s critical to work with refrigerated trucking partners and food grade warehouse partners who understand cold chain management and will ensure the integrity of your product, no matter how high temperatures rise.   

Interested in learning more about food distribution. Download this Weber Insight: