Reefer Handling Best Practices

Announcement Number: AG2021-30
Categories: Fresh Fruits and Vegetables,Frozen and Refrigerated Products
Posted Date: September 1, 2021

To our Customers, 

We are reaching out to provide an overview of our loading and unloading requirements for refrigerated products.  To ensure your product is loaded properly and arrives at its final destination damage free, please adhere to the following: 

 

Before You Load

Inspect empty rail car

  • Check for damage that might compromise the cold chain including damage to ceiling panels, side walls and doors
  • Sweep and clean out any debris
  • Ensure floor drains located at all four corners are plugged on the inside and underneath the floor of the rail car as well as under the outside corners of the car

Pre-cool the empty rail car within 5 degrees of set-point temperature

  • Verify the reefer unit is working properly and confirm fuel level
  • Ensure the interior of the car is cooled properly for optimal cold chain integrity

Check the temperature of the product you plan to load

  • The product’s core temperature should not exceed five degrees from the set point of the rail car
  • If the product is not at the set point temperature, do not load until the required product temperature is restored; It is the shipper’s responsibility to monitor and maintain the product’s temperature during loading
  • It’s important to note that if properly pre-cooled, rail cars are designed to maintain temperature of the rail car only; The rail car refrigeration unit is not intended to increase or decrease the product temperature during transportation 

Ensure loading area is properly cooled and protective measures are followed to prevent loss of temperature and abuse. 

Once all the pre-loading requirements have been met and the rail car and refrigeration unit are deemed suitable, loading can begin. 

Loading

Always shut off the refrigeration unit while the rail car doors are open during loading and unloading

  • Protect your freight from humidity-related freezing or thawing
  • Prevent overworking the refrigeration unit which can lead to future failures

Load within 4 hours or less to protect the integrity of the product being shipped

  • Loading during cooler times of the day (early morning, evening, and nighttime) will also help safeguard the cold chain

Follow AAR loading guidelines and dimensional restrictions to protect airflow and ensure load integrity

  • Document final load by taking origin loading photos of the inside of the rail car at both A and B ends as well as the doorway
  • AAR Loading Guidelines

Close the rail car door, seal car, and turn the refrigeration unit back on

  • Use cable seals with a minimum diameter of 1/8” or bolt seals and utilize railcar’s high security hasp, if available, as an additional security measure
  • Ensure refrigeration unit is running properly and verify the correct Intelliset setting is selected

Waybill and release car 

Unloading

Unload rail car within 24 hours of arrival at destination

Always shut off the refrigeration unit while the rail car doors are open during loading and unloading

Immediately notify UP of any rail car defects, temperature or claim issues upon arrival and document with photos

Completely unload all product, packaging, and dunnage material and fully clean out rail car

Ensure floor drain plugs are re-secured after cleaning

Properly close and secure doors and ensure refrigeration unit is off prior to releasing cars as empty

 

For a comprehensive guide, please reference Shipment Quality Best Practices for Refrigerated Products

 

We will continue to keep you updated on loading and unloading best practices for refrigerated products. If you have any questions, please contact your sales representative.

Sincerely,

UPRR Refrigerated Team