Expedited Trucking: Innovations and More for Food Manufacturers

Innovations in Expedited Trucking for Food Manufacturers

October 20, 2023

Blog Post CTA

In the heart of every vibrant kitchen or local supermarket aisle, there's an unsung hero: expedited trucking. It's not just about the roar of engines or the blur of passing highways. It's about that ripe avocado in your salad and the fresh milk in your morning coffee. When 71% of all American freight, especially the food we love and need, relies on trucks, you begin to see the journey behind every bite. This method of transportation does more than move boxes; it keeps our food fresh, safe, and ready for our tables.

Yet, as our world keeps evolving, especially in the wake of supply chain disruptions and challenges, so do the needs of food manufacturers. They're caught in a delicate balancing act of preserving quality, ensuring timely deliveries, and managing costs. With its agility, load consolidation, and strategic route planning, expedited trucking offers a remedy. By embracing these innovative transport solutions, food manufacturers don't just keep up; they lead the way, ensuring every plate has fresh, safe, timely, and cost-effective produce from farm-to-table.

Food Manufacturers Face a Challenging Shipping Landscape

Food manufacturers confront a challenging shipping arena driven by rising costs, strict regulations, and more. With the global shift towards farm-to-fork transparency, the demand for efficient transportation solutions has never been greater, prompting shippers and carriers to embrace strategies to face the following obstacles.

Temperature Control and Food Safety

Shipping perishable foods demands a blend of speed, safety, service, and utmost precision. Every item has its unique temperature requirements, from tropical fruits like bananas, which thrive at temperatures between 53.6°F and 57.2°F, to deep-frozen delicacies such as shrimp and fish, which require an arctic-like minus-18.4°F to minus-22°F. By adhering to these optimal conditions, shippers can guarantee the freshness and safety of each item. This commitment ensures that goods, even after long-haul journeys, reach their destinations with their quality intact. This level of care is essential for delivering top-notch food products to consumers.

Regulatory Compliance

Consumer safety takes center stage in the food industry, resulting in a complex web of regulations, from labeling to safety protocols. These guidelines aren't just bureaucratic red tape but are crucial standards that uphold public health. Manufacturers who don't meet these standards face heavy fines and potential product recalls and jeopardize their brand's reputation. It's concerning that 48 million Americans endure foodborne illnesses yearly, with 3,000 of these incidents becoming fatal, highlighting the need for these regulations. In response, the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) has sharpened its focus on illness prevention, providing clear directives for the entire global supply chain. This legislation emphasizes our shared duty to ensure that every bite we take is safe and reliable.

Supply Chain Disruptions

The global supply chain, crucial for food manufacturers, encountered significant disruptions in 2023. Resilinc documented 8,197 disturbances, marking a 3% increase from the previous year. Most alarmingly, labor-related issues, particularly strikes, skyrocketed by 136%, with the healthcare and food sectors bearing the brunt. The business landscape also felt the tremors as bankruptcies soared by an unprecedented 196%. Manufacturing wasn't immune either, with interruptions—from complete shutdowns and production halts to labor conflicts—expanding by 30% compared to the previous year. Moreover, product recalls saw a sharp 66% increase from the first half of 2022, underlining the need for more robust and resilient supply chain strategies.

For Today’s Food Manufacturers, Innovative Logistics are Essential

Food manufacturers can no longer rely on outdated logistics systems these days. With modern logistics demanding adaptability, efficiency, and precision to not only meet demand but also follow regulations, the following technologies are taking center stage.

Advanced Tracking and Visibility

Today's logistics go beyond merely transporting goods; it's about real-time insights. For companies like Alpine Fresh, specialists in fresh produce, the stakes are even higher given the perishability of their products. They once confronted the twofold challenge of product spoilage and the limitations of outdated lithium-battery trackers. However, their strategic alliance with Tive in 2019 marked a pivotal turning point. Leveraging the capabilities of Tive's Solo 5G trackers, Alpine Fresh had access to real-time data concerning location and crucial metrics like temperature and humidity. This upgrade in technology transcended basic tracking. It empowered Alpine Fresh with enhanced sustainability and safety measures, streamlined communication, and, most importantly, resulted in tangible financial benefits. A testament to this transformation is their substantial savings, averting potential losses on high-value shipments like their $120,000 blueberry consignment and a $90,000 asparagus load.

Temperature Control Technologies

Safeguarding temperature-sensitive cargo is at the heart of food manufacturing. Thanks to modern refrigeration and climate control innovations, we've moved beyond basic temperature management. Today's advanced cooling systems guarantee that products remain fresh from warehouse shelves to consumers, effectively thwarting spoilage. This evolution signifies more than temperature optimization; it embodies a deeper commitment to sustainability, energy efficiency, and considerable food loss reduction. Remarkably, with appropriate cold storage, up to 144 million tons of food loss could be curtailed in developing countries alone. Furthermore, innovative tools like the modernized cold chain and IoT-integrated warehouse management indicate the industry's notable progress, enhancing profitability and transforming our food preservation and safety outlook.

Data Analytics and Predictive Tools

Logistics today goes beyond just moving products—it's about smartly utilizing data to make informed decisions. Data analytics are at the forefront of this transformation, offering a dynamic way to optimize routes by considering real-time factors such as current traffic or impending weather disruptions. Through the power of AI, complex challenges like costly container storage or complex route planning are streamlined, especially crucial in the food sector with its varying storage needs. On the demand side, sophisticated predictive models, ranging from time-series analysis to neural networks, provide a window into future needs. By tapping into these tools, food manufacturers can anticipate demand, minimize waste, enhance delivery timelines, and always stay prepared for what's coming next.

Expedited Trucking: Bringing Freshness to Your Doorstep

Behind every delicious meal and snack you relish lies a remarkable journey—trucks zipping across highways, ensuring that whatever fruit, vegetable, dairy, meat, or seafood product you want arrives fresh. From the hustle and bustle of shipping lanes to the precision of temperature-controlled storage, it's a world where timing, safety, and innovation play pivotal roles. And as our dining tables increasingly demand farm-fresh and timely supplies, this logistics dance gets even more intricate.

That's where Entourage Freight Solutions (EFS) steals the spotlight. They're not just another logistics company. They're your behind-the-scenes partners, ensuring your food arrives fresh, safe, and timely. Whether managing a full truckload or nifty solutions for temperature-sensitive goods, EFS is the unsung hero in making it all happen with expedited trucking.

If you're passionate about getting the best to your consumers or a food manufacturer seeking a logistics partner that "gets it," let's chat. Contact Entourage Freight Solutions, and let's help you bring the freshest flavors straight to your table.

< Older Post

Newer Post >

Tariffs, Trade Policy, and the Great Freight Fallout

By Nick Terry • April 28, 2025

In 2025, trade policy is no longer something that the freight industry can leave on the back burner. Trade policy today is shaping strategy at every level. From tariff escalations and retaliatory duties to sweeping regulatory changes and targeted maritime fees, supply chain leaders are navigating a freight market in which unpredictability is the only constant. Sourcing decisions are shifting, pricing dynamics are unstable, and long-standing operational models are being rewritten in real time. This edition brings together key stories highlighting the growing pressure across logistics channels. Each development points to an industry moving fast, and often reactively, to keep pace with volatile policy decisions. Tariffs Stall US Freight Recovery as Shippers Pause Orders The recent move by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to impose entrance fees on Chinese-built ships calling U.S. ports has only added to the confusion and uncertainty gripping global supply chains and freight operations. Shippers are pausing plans and slashing orders, with truckload volumes, containerized imports, and manufacturing output all showing signs of contraction. Ocean freight spot rates have collapsed: Asia-U.S. West Coast rates have fallen 61% since January to $2,050 per FEU, while East Coast rates have dropped 53.7% to $3,100 per FEU . Blank sailings are rising, with vessels leaving Asia half-empty. Amazon and Five Below are among the major retailers reducing orders from Asia. Container imports jumped 15.3% in 2024, but forecasts now predict a 20-27% decline through the summer. Exporters, particularly agriculture and forestry suppliers, are also squeezed, facing 125% retaliatory tariffs from China. Truckload and intermodal rates remain stagnant, while U.S. factory output fell sharply in March. US Apparel Importers Brace for Long-Term Volume Declines According to Trade Partnership Worldwide, a 124.1% tariff on Chinese clothing and footwear is expected to reduce U.S. apparel imports by 1.6% annually . China still accounts for 41.7% of apparel shipments, leaving limited flexibility for diversion. The American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) is warning of price hikes and mounting infrastructure stress as sourcing pivots toward Vietnam, India, and Indonesia. A looming May 2 deadline for de minimis exemptions could further complicate flows and delay deliveries. Even with a temporary 90-day pause in reciprocal tariffs, the policy uncertainty already affects long-term planning. AAFA CEO Steve Lamar calls the shifting policies “chaotic,” and warned that high tariff pressure will hit both importers and U.S. manufacturers reliant on Chinese components. Port and rail capacity limitations at larger gateways are adding to concerns. Retailers now face rising costs, shrinking margins, and operational delays — all while consumer demand continues to shift rapidly. Freight Pricing Gains Lose Momentum According to the TD Cowen/AFS Freight Index, Q1 truckload rates rose 5.9% above the 2018 baseline, but are expected to decline slightly in Q2. Shippers are responding to tariff threats with aggressive front-loading and shorter-haul routes, driving per-shipment costs to three-year lows. LTL carriers remain focused on profitable lanes and high-quality freight rather than chasing volume. The index forecasts a 0.7% year-over-year increase in LTL rate per pound for Q2 , despite sustained demand softness and macro uncertainty. A key driver behind the softening spot market conditions is a shift to shorter hauls and regionalized distribution, pushing per-shipment costs to their lowest point in more than three years. This trend reflects how retailers and manufacturers are repositioning inventory in response to tariff volatility, as NRF’s Jonathan Gold and DAT analyst Dean Croke noted. Meanwhile, the LTL sector is seeing a 4% rise in fuel surcharges, offsetting lower weights and shorter hauls. With the freight market still under pressure after 26 months of contraction, optimism remains subdued as we enter the midyear period. US Truckload Freight Spot Rates Continue to Fluctuate National benchmark rates have experienced a decline across all categories. As of April 18, dry van decreased by 4 cents to $1.62, reefer by 2 cents to $1.88 , and flatbed by 3 cents to $2.16. This marked the first overall decrease since late January, signaling potential shifts in market dynamics. These changes can be attributed to factors such as tariff uncertainties and tighter capacity, especially affecting the flatbed market. Flatbed rates rely heavily on manufacturing activity in the country, which has been particularly hard-hit by the ongoing trade war with China, and to some extent, with the rest of the world. US Finalizes Tiered Fee Plan Targeting Chinese Ships The U.S. is moving forward with a revised plan to levy voyage-based fees on Chinese-owned and Chinese-built ships calling at American ports. The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced the measure as part of a broader Trump administration effort to counter China’s dominance in shipbuilding and logistics while reigniting domestic ship construction and port infrastructure investment. Starting in six months, Chinese operators will be charged $50 per net ton, with an annual increase of $30 for three years . Non-Chinese carriers using Chinese-built vessels will face lower rates, beginning at $18 per ton or $120 per container, with annual increases. The USTR capped fee applications at five voyages per vessel annually, scaling back its original, more punitive per-port-call proposal after intense industry pushback. The fees are tied to findings from a USTR investigation, which concluded that China’s shipbuilding dominance — producing 29% of global fleet capacity and 70% of all container ships on order — stemmed from unfair trade practices. Exemptions apply to ships arriving empty, those in the Great Lakes or U.S. territories, and some bulk exports. LNG vessel transport restrictions will phase in over 22 years to support U.S. production. China’s largest container carrier, Cosco Shipping Lines, has sharply criticized the USTR’s plan. In a strongly worded statement, Cosco labeled the move as “discriminatory,” and warned it would disrupt global industrial and supply chain stability. Cosco denied allegations from that USTR investigation that claimed China manipulated its shipping and shipbuilding sectors to gain an unfair advantage. The carrier said it upholds “integrity, transparency, and compliance” in global competition and remains committed to ensuring the resilience of international trade. Walmart Investing $6B in Mexico, Central America Store Expansion Walmart of Mexico and Central America will invest $6 billion to open new stores across the region , reinforcing its long-term commitment to growth in Latin America. The expansion will include Bodega Aurrera, Walmart Supercenters, Sam’s Club, and Walmart Express formats, building on a robust network of 3,200 stores across all 32 Mexican states. This latest move echoes Walmart’s earlier $1.3 billion investment in 2016 for regional distribution and operational upgrades. The retailer entered the Mexican market in 1991 with a Sam’s Club in Mexico City. In a statement, Walmart said the new expansion reflects confidence in the region’s economic potential and consumer demand. Globally, Walmart continues to invest aggressively in infrastructure and store development. The company has pledged about $4.5 billion for its Canadian operations and $1.3 billion in Chile to build 70 new stores and a distribution center. In the U.S., Walmart is executing a five-year plan to build or convert more than 150 stores while modernizing 650 existing locations under its “Store of the Future” initiative. Experience Seamless Shipping with Entourage Freight Solutions Entourage Freight Solutions believes in total transparency in the shipping process. That is why we invest in tech solutions that track every shipment extensively, monitor every driver, and extract every bit of efficiency without sacrificing quality. Our state-of-the-art platform utilizes cloud-based GPS tracking to keep you informed, reroutes shipments on the fly to avoid delays, and even responds to real-time market changes to ensure you receive your shipment on time and as soon as possible. Our Services Full Truck Load (FTL): When you need a truck all to yourself. Less-Than-Truckload (LTL): Efficient solutions for multi-stop shipments or combining smaller loads to save on costs. Refrigerated Trucking: Keeping your temperature-sensitive products fresh and safe. Cross-Docking: Strategically located facilities in Shelby, Ohio, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Romulus, Michigan, for streamlined consolidation, storage, and distribution. Ready to experience a new level of service and control in your freight shipping? Request a quote today to see how Entourage Freight Solutions can help with your freight movement and other supply chain needs.