The Impact of Expedited Trucking on Food Safety

adam • June 2, 2023

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Why Expedited Trucking is a Must for Food Safety | EFS Blog

When you’re transporting perishable food items, speed is essential. Delayed shipments can cause potential contamination and spoilage, cutting into your profits. For food items, consider working with an experienced perishable foods freight forwarder and using expedited shipping to ensure your products arrive on time and in top condition.

Traditional Trucking Comes with a High Risk

If you’re shipping food, traditional speed trucking poses several significant risks that can affect your bottom line. Inadequate temperature control, longer transit times, and increased handling are some of the biggest risks, though by no means the only ones.

Whether you’re shipping produce, meat, or frozen food, all foods need to be properly temperature controlled to ensure safe handling. While any food shipping will include a refrigerated reefer or a similar temperature control such as insulated packaging with dry ice, the longer your items are in transit, the more opportunity there is for temperature control failure. For reefers, the most common issue is equipment breakdown. The longer the reefer is on the road, the higher the chance something will happen. Packaging like dry ice has its own shelf life and too long a transit time will lead the dry ice to evaporate and with it, temperature control of the products.

Longer transit times also pose issues of their own. Perishable food items are on a timer from the moment they are picked or processed, so it’s vital they arrive at the destination as quickly as possible to avoid spoilage. Using traditional trucking can significantly delay transit times and cause issues with food spoilage.

Another component is that for non-expedited LTL shipments, products will often have increased handling compared to expedited shipping. An LTL shipment contains loads from multiple shippers in each truck. Each stop the trucker makes means that the container will be opened (affecting temperature control) and packages will be moved around to remove the correct item. Not only does this increase the potential for spoilage, but it also increases contamination risk.

Expedited Trucking Provides a Smarter Route for Food Shippers

Expedited trucking offers a smarter, more efficient option for shipping perishable foods. In addition to quicker arrival times, expedited shipping helps minimize handling and contamination opportunities and maintains the right temperatures to prevent spoilage.

Minimize Handling and Contamination

Expedited shipping can not only speed up the transit time but can also cut down on the handling and potential contamination of your products. Each time the truck stops to deliver goods, the driver must open the container to remove the delivered items. Especially in hot weather, repeatedly opening the container can affect temperature control and render refrigeration less effective, causing increased spoilage.

Maintain Optimal Temperature

In addition to opening the container less, expedited shipping will help maintain optimal temperature by getting the shipment to the destination faster. This helps for several reasons. First, it reduces the time the shipment is in transit and thus, reduces the chances of equipment failure or adverse conditions, such as extremely hot weather, affecting the reefer’s ability to keep the shipment cool. Second, for shipments using dry ice and insulation to keep frozen items cold, timing is vital to ensuring that the dry ice remains viable. Even in optimal conditions, the dry ice will eventually evaporate, making timely delivery all the more important.

Reduced Transit Times

Finally, expedited shipping does just what it says on the tin and offers shorter transit times. For perishable items, shorter shipping times can make all the difference. Even with the best conditions, perishable items will still spoil — and fairly quickly — unless they are delivered in a timely manner. A spoiled shipment isn’t valuable to anyone. While expedited shipping may be more expensive when selecting a carrier, it’s well worth it to have your shipment delivered in good condition.

Entourage Freight Solutions is the Partner for Smart, Expedited Shipping

When you’re shipping perishable food items, food safety and maintaining item quality are at the top of your list. Expedited shipping is the way to ensure that your products reach their recipient quickly and safely while observing all food safety handling laws.

To help you find the best expedited shipping options for your needs, there’s Entourage Freight Solutions, a third-party logistics provider (3PL) that specializes in express shipping. They have a wide and dependable network for finding the optimal capacity for your needs and their expedited expertise means you’ll get the best service and support. Contact Entourage Freight Solutions today to get your quote.

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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.