Applications

Moving cargo by rail is cost effective and fuel efficient, a fact that reduces impact on the planet AND the wallet. Intermodal transit by rail in the US, however, can also mean long stops in cold-weather hubs like Chicago, exposing cargo to freezing temperatures during the winter months. This is why many shippers transition to over-the-road trucks starting in November, wary of the risk to freeze-sensitive products.

But you might not have to.

When consumers pull out their bottle of glass cleaner, or twist the cap off a tube of glue, they probably don’t consider these powerful cleaning and adhesive chemicals to be delicate substances. But manufacturers of many household chemical products know that sustained exposure to heat or cold can irreparably damage both the product and the packaging:

If you ship products nationally, you are certainly aware that intermodal and dry shipping is less expensive when compared to temperature controlled trucks. But you might not have considered that intermodal rail shipments also reduce your carbon footprint. The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reports that:

Astro-Cooler’s thermal pallet covers are ideal for LTL/LCL Dry shipping and come in two styles – the basic Astro-Cooler aluminum foil layer + bubble material, and the more robust Astro-Quilt material. Once customers discover the benefits of our passive thermal protection solutions, the next question is “which cover should I choose?”

Several factors influence the melting point of chocolate, including the amount of milk fat in the product, how the chocolate is tempered, and any additional ingredients or additives. White and milk chocolates – higher in milk fats and cocoa butter - have the lowest melting point while dark chocolate melts at slightly higher temperatures, for example. Many chocolate products are crafted to soften at body temperatures to create a pleasing confection that “melts in the mouth”.

Astro-Cooler has the privilege of working with top supply chain service providers throughout the US and abroad. When BR Williams came to us with a client who needed a way to protect their cold-intolerant products during the winter months, we were able to provide a passive thermal protection solution that “saved the client money and significantly reduced their carbon footprint without leaving them vulnerable to spot-market volatility.”

Read Full Case Study Here:

Less Than Truckload (LTL) shipping allows companies to share space on a trailer to minimize cost. Even then, there are several ways to maximize shipping efficiency to get the most out of LTL. Here are several tips to explore as you plan your shipping strategy:

LTL (Less Than Truckload) shipping is advantageous for small manufacturers and companies that divide their products among multiple destinations. If that cargo is temperature sensitive, however, the difficulty and cost of shipping increases greatly:

When Summer months get hot and muggy, keeping your beer cool isn’t just a problem for the BBQ warrior on their back porch. Beer manufacturers know how difficult it is to get that beer to their customer’s cooler tasting just as good as it did when it left the brewery.

Protecting shipments from extreme temperature fluctuations during transit is vital to maintaining the product quality that your customers expect. And while shipping dry intermodal is economical, it can be risky during the cold season when winter storms emerge and during the hot season when local temperatures vary widely.

We created the Astro-Assure Intermodal Website to help our customers plan shipments and anticipate weather challenges. With the tool, you can see the forecast along your route and more confidently take advantage of dry intermodal during seasonal extremes.