Client Overview
A regional mid-sized food distributor operating in the Southeast United States was facing logistical constraints related to shipping smaller volumes of temperature-sensitive products. With a product mix including dairy, meats, produce, and prepared foods, the client’s success relied on speed, consistency, and cold chain integrity.
Despite strong customer demand and seasonal volume fluctuations, their logistics options were limited. Traditional carriers either declined their LTL reefer shipments or quoted prohibitively high rates. The result? Missed delivery windows, rising transportation costs, and product spoilage.
The client turned to R&R Global Logistics to solve what many in the industry consider a persistent challenge: how to move small quantities of perishable goods cost-effectively without compromising quality.
The Challenge: A Difficult Market for Refrigerated LTL
Refrigerated LTL (Less Than Truckload) shipping is uniquely complex. Unlike full truckload reefer services, LTL shipments require coordination between multiple stops, tighter temperature control, and frequent handling—all of which increase the potential for risk.
The client identified several key obstacles:
- Carrier Avoidance: Many carriers refuse to accept reefer LTL loads due to the complexities of maintaining product-specific temperature zones.
- Economic Waste: Shipping partially filled trucks often meant paying for empty space, pushing cost-per-unit too high.
- Spoilage Risk: Even a few degrees of temperature variance could compromise product quality and shelf life, damaging brand reputation.
- Fulfillment Delays: Waiting to accumulate a full truckload delayed time-sensitive deliveries, especially for smaller retailers and restaurants.
This lack of scalable, reliable reefer LTL options was limiting the client’s ability to grow and serve more fragmented demand channels.
The Solution: A Custom Reefer LTL Program Built for Flexibility
R&R Global Logistics developed a custom strategy that prioritized flexibility, visibility, and cost efficiency—without compromising cold chain integrity.
National Refrigerated LTL Carrier Network
We tapped into our vetted network of specialized reefer LTL carriers with proven cold chain capabilities. This ensured consistent availability, dependable transit times, and lower rates than traditional truckload pricing.
Load Consolidation by Temperature Zone
We implemented a consolidation model that grouped shipments by temperature range—38°F for perishables like produce, and 0°F for frozen items—without sacrificing delivery times. This maximized trailer space, reduced waste, and aligned product handling with cold chain best practices.
Cold Chain Visibility
Every shipment was equipped with real-time temperature monitoring and GPS tracking. Shippers and receivers received automatic alerts at key checkpoints, including load-out, in-transit stops, and final delivery.
Smart Routing & Logistics Coordination
By optimizing routing around peak receiving hours and minimizing dwell time at transfer points, we kept perishable loads moving efficiently—even during seasonal volume surges.
The Impact: Reduced Costs, Higher Customer Confidence
Our solution quickly delivered measurable value.
Cost Reduction
By consolidating loads and eliminating the need to wait for full truckloads, the client reduced shipping costs by 30% within the first 90 days. Instead of paying for unused capacity, they only paid for the pallet space used.
Faster Deliveries
Optimized consolidation and routing shortened average transit times by 25%, ensuring fresher products reached their destination faster—especially important for independent grocers and small-format retailers.
Minimized Spoilage
With temperature monitoring and precise load matching, temperature deviations were virtually eliminated. The client reported a 90% reduction in spoilage-related complaints over six months.
Improved Customer Retention
Retailers and distributors praised the consistency of deliveries and product freshness. The client’s customer retention rate rose by 15%, with several new retail accounts onboarded due to enhanced delivery capabilities.
Why It Worked
Many brokers treat refrigerated LTL as an afterthought. At R&R Global Logistics, we engineered it as a core capability—because we understood what the client needed wasn’t just a carrier, but a cold chain strategy.
What set us apart:
- Holistic Cold Chain Planning: Instead of forcing LTL into a truckload framework, we built a scalable LTL model around perishable freight needs.
- Reliable Partner Network: Our established reefer carrier relationships allowed us to match capacity where others couldn’t.
- Integrated Technology: Real-time tracking and exception alerts gave stakeholders control, even when managing multiple small shipments across regions.
Client Testimonial
“Before R&R Global, we were losing money and product every week. Now we can move small volumes quickly, without worrying about spoilage or inflated rates. They didn’t just solve a logistics problem—they unlocked a new sales channel for us.”
— David Dannis, Operations Manager