GREEN BAY, Wis.— As more consumers pack their grocery carts with fall staples like apples, changing consumer habits around meals and economic pressures are increasing the need for refrigerated shipping.
According to a Schneider press release, consumer demand for refrigerated products has continually increased since 2020.
“The maintenance and trend of at-home dining goes beyond simple cost-cutting,” said Tricia Greyshock, president and CEO of the National Frozen and Refrigerated Foods Association. “Our research indicates that consumers are finding real value in preparing meals at home, with 61% reporting it allows them to eat healthier. The refrigerated foods industry continues to evolve with innovative products that combine convenience, nutrition and variety – we expect to see further expansion in refrigerated offerings that cater to the evolving wants and needs of home cooks.”
According to the National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association (NFRA) and its data platform Unify/IRI, refrigeration sales have increased by 32% over the past five years, and nearly 64% of adults say they save money or control their budget by eating at home. This has led to a rise in demand for meal prep services, ready to eat meals and grocery items overall.
“As grocers and food providers are looking to increase shipments of refrigerated goods, Schneider National Inc, the premier multimodal provider of transportation, intermodal and logistics services, is one of the largest temperature-controlled carriers in the industry and has robust refrigerated freight capabilities tailored to meet the needs for customers across the industry,” the company said in the release.
Refrigerated shipping requires a well-coordinated, highly trained team and best-in-class equipment to do the job successfully, according to Schneider. Timing, execution and on-time service are critical because there are many regulations when it comes to moving consumer-grade fresh foods. For example, the refrigerated trailers – also known as reefers – must maintain product-specific temperature requirements for the duration of the movement. One wrong step in the process could spoil the whole load.
Schneider operates specialized trailers and tractors and utilizes high precision tools such as remote and real-time monitoring temperature sensors, status and maintenance data, visibility tracking and reporting metrics – ensuring optimized solutions and visibility every step of the way, the release noted. The company’s trailer technology and driver processes allow for constant monitoring while in transit to ensure temperatures stay consistent to keep customer products fresh when reaching the final destination.
“Refrigerated transport is a unique capability a full-service provider like Schneider is able to offer within our larger Dedicated portfolio, providing custom-based solutions that match what our customers need when they need it,” said John Bozec, Schneider senior vice president and general manager of Truckload and Mexico. “We know the most important aspect of refrigerated transport is delivering ‘on time and on temp’ and our team of experts have built longstanding collaborative relationships with customers in the space by ensuring reliability, capacity and consistent best-in-class service.”
According to the release, Schneider continues to grow its refrigerated service offering, particularly in the grocery vertical. For grocer customers, consistent collaboration is key. As part of the Dedicated portfolio, Schneider company drivers and support teams are assigned exclusively to refrigerated customers, providing value through embedded expertise. To further ensure a best-in-class customer experience, Schneider created a Center of Excellence that offers 24/7 support from a highly trained team of refrigerated freight experts.
“Alongside service, sustainability is also an important consideration for refrigerated customers,” the company said. “Schneider is committed to building a sustainable future, operating one of the most efficient fleets in the country. Many of the efficiencies that the company identifies within route and network planning also translate to lower emissions, and new technologies and processes to cool trailers reduce fuel usage.
The release also noted that with more than 30 years of experience moving temperature-controlled freight across North America, customers rely on Schneider to drive efficiency and growth, secure competitive market pricing and offer the latest technologies and processes to protect their loads. The company was most recently recognized as a 2024 Top Food Chain Provider from Food Shippers of America.
To learn more about Schneider’s Dedicated business and refrigerated freight solutions, visit: https://schneider.com/freight-shipping-solutions/dedicated.
Dana Guthrie is an award-winning journalist who has been featured in multiple newspapers, books and magazines across the globe. She is currently based in the Atlanta, Georgia, area.
