The Cost of Temperature Excursions: What Shippers Lose When Freight Isn’t Properly Protected
In today’s complex supply chain, protecting temperature-sensitive freight isn’t just a “nice to have” — failing to do so can carry enormous financial, operational, and reputational risks. When shipments fall outside safe temperature thresholds (so-called temperature excursions ), shippers can face losses that far exceed the value of the spoiled product itself. What Exactly Are Temperature Excursions? A temperature excursion occurs when a shipment’s environment deviates from its required temperature range. For example, a freight load meant to stay above 32°F could dip below freezing during a long overnight stop, or a refrigerated load could overheat during transit. These deviations can be brief or sustained, but either way, they may compromise product integrity. Why These Excursions Are Expensive Here are several key costs associated with temperature excursions — beyond just the “bad pallets” or product write-offs: Product Loss and Spoilage When sensiti...