Cold Chain Transport

What Is Cold Chain Transport?

Cold chain transport is the continuous movement of temperature-sensitive products from the point of production to the point of consumption or distribution within a stable, controlled temperature range. A temperature deviation at any link in this chain can have serious consequences: spoilage in food products, loss of efficacy in pharmaceuticals and a drop in value for agricultural produce. As Çevikoğlu Lojistik, operating from our İskenderun base, we serve the agricultural export potential of southern Turkey and the distribution needs of regional pharmaceutical suppliers with our modern refrigerated vehicle fleet.

The fundamental principle of cold chain logistics is the holistic management not only of the vehicle but also the loading area, packaging and transit time. Accordingly, pre-loading vehicle inspection, pre-cooling, datalogger activation and post-delivery temperature report preparation are fixed components of our operational standards for every shipment.

Our Refrigerated Fleet and Temperature Ranges

Our refrigerated vehicles are equipped to cover the full temperature band from -25°C to +25°C. For frozen products (frozen meat, fish, ice cream), set points between -18°C and -25°C are used. The 0°C to +4°C band is standard for chilled products such as delicatessen, dairy and meat; fresh fruit, vegetables, flowers and certain agricultural products maintain optimal shelf life between +8°C and +12°C. GDP-regulated products such as pharmaceuticals and vaccines are most commonly transported in the +2°C to +8°C range or at room temperature (+15°C to +25°C) in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications.

Before every load, the vehicle climate control is set to the required value and loading does not begin until pre-cooling is complete. The refrigeration units of our vehicles are serviced according to periodic maintenance schedules, and ATP certification validity dates are continuously monitored.

Multi-Temperature Vehicles: Different Products in a Single Trip

When product groups with different temperature requirements need to be transported at the same time, our multi-temperature refrigerated vehicles come into play. In these vehicles, the body is divided into two or three independent compartments; each compartment's refrigeration system operates entirely independently of the others. For example, frozen meat (-20°C), fresh vegetables (+8°C) and pharmaceuticals (+4°C) can all be transported in the same trip without any compartment affecting the temperature range of another. This approach both optimises transport cost and preserves product safety in mixed loads to the highest degree.

Documented Temperature Monitoring with Datalogger

The only reliable way to prove whether the cold chain has been broken is continuous temperature recording throughout the transport. The datalogger device activated before loading in each refrigerated vehicle records the body interior temperature at set intervals (typically every 5–15 minutes) throughout the journey. Upon completion of delivery, the digital temperature report is forwarded to our client. This report serves as a valid document for export health certificate applications, buyer audit processes and retailer supplier quality requirements.

In long-distance or international cold chain shipments, our real-time temperature monitoring system means the operations team receives an immediate alert at any temperature deviation; when necessary, an intervention plan is activated at the relevant checkpoint. In this way, cold chain risk is managed proactively.

Food, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Product Logistics

The İskenderun and Hatay region forms one of Turkey's most important agricultural production zones, particularly for citrus, olive oil, vegetables and fruit exports. We have significant operational experience in keeping these products in the cold chain after harvest and delivering them to export points or domestic market buyers. Regular fresh produce distribution for supermarket and retail chains, chilled meat shipments from abattoirs and meat processing facilities, and seafood logistics are also within our service scope.

In pharmaceutical logistics, compliance with GDP (Good Distribution Practice) principles is our primary commitment. Vehicle qualification, temperature mapping and emergency action plans are applied on every shipment from pharmaceutical warehouses to pharmacy or hospital distribution centres. Cosmetics and biotechnology products are also among the product groups we transport within the cold chain.

Hygiene, Cleaning and Quality Assurance

Cleanliness and hygiene of the vehicle body are indispensable elements of product safety in every cold chain shipment. Our refrigerated vehicles are cleaned with food-approved disinfectants and dried both before and after each use; interior surfaces are made of antibacterial, cleanable materials. The cleaning record is kept in the vehicle file and shared with clients on request. Vehicle qualification documentation and the cleaning certificate form part of the standard document set in food transport.