Pharmaceutical cargo requires special skills and know-how on the part of independent freight forwarders. More often than not, pharmaceutical items are both time and temperature sensitive and demand special precautions during transit. The freight forwarding company needs to ensure that the quality and integrity of the products are intact throughout their journey from the manufacturing unit to the point of delivery. The slightest change in temperature, as well as unexpected delays, can render the cargo useless resulting in substantial loss. More importantly, a compromised cargo could even entail fatal consequences for the patients.
Today, we are going to talk about the basics of shipping pharmaceuticals and the things that independent freight forwarders need to keep in mind.
Things independent freight forwarders should keep in mind while shipping pharmaceuticals
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Rules and regulations
Pharmaceutical shipments do not just consist of tablets, capsules, and liquid, they could entail the movement of chemicals or even human organs. Moreover, certain kinds of pharmaceutical cargo are deemed hazardous by the authorities which is why the forwarder needs to be well-versed in the regulations and guidelines of hazmat shipping in their area of operations. This will allow the logistics companies to bypass any disruptions in the shipping process.
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Temperature maintenance
Accurate maintenance of temperature is absolutely crucial for shipping these types of cargo. Usually, most pharma items are shipped within a temperature range of 55 to 77 degrees F although this temperature might vary occasionally. Ground transport of pharma products necessitates the use of refrigerated trucks and for ocean or air freight reefer containers are used. This is because they can maintain the required temperature regardless of the weather condition outside.
As an independent freight forwarder, you need to transport them in containers with ideal refrigeration capacity and high internal airflow that will keep the temperature intact throughout the journey. Keep in mind that temperature fluctuations by just a few degrees could compromise the integrity of the cargo. Therefore, it is always recommended that you pay special attention in this regard even during the handling and storage process.
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Proper packaging
Proper packing is crucial when it comes to moving delicate pharmaceutical shipments since these cargoes are prone to chemical reactions during the transit process. In order to prevent losses incurred from unforeseen circumstances during the movement of the cargo, especially during the last-mile delivery, freight forwarding companies need to be extremely mindful of the packaging. The pharma cargo should ideally be fitted into the right-sized containers in their individual compartments with ice and cooling agents.
Pharmaceutical shipments such as haemoglobin, tissue, organs, or any other regenerative matter need to be handled meticulously. Items such as these should ideally be kept in thermal cryogenic containers that can provide temperatures as low as -150 Celsius. You can make use of thermal pallets for adding an extra layer of protection to these valuable cargoes. Moreover, insulated thermal pallet covers can help to keep sensitive pharma cargo safe.
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End-to-end visibility of the cargo
Tracking your pharma shipment through every stage of the transportation process will help you to closely monitor the temperature and humidity level, light, shock events, etc. in real-time. Additionally, end-to-end visibility could also help you identify the weaknesses and make way for improvements in the future. Constant monitoring of the shipment will also help to prevent cargo theft which is a significant source of concern for companies shipping pharmaceuticals. Most thefts of expensive pharmaceutical items happen when the cargo is in transit and technologies such as GPS cargo tracking can help to avoid instances of theft and help in product recovery. Moreover, discretely labeling your cargo is also another effective way of thwarting the theft of expensive pharmaceutical cargo.
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Decide on the mode of shipment
Choosing the right mode for shipping your pharmaceutical cargo is another area that needs to be thought out carefully. Although the cost of shipping and the urgency of the shipment are two factors that play a major role in this decision, it is worthwhile to remember that the cheapest option is not necessarily the best and often turns out to be more expensive in the long run. For costly items that are prone to theft, it is often wiser to choose air freight since it provides the least number of stops and moves your shipment in the quickest possible way.
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Choose the right partner
It is equally important to select the right shipping partner if you want your sensitive pharma shipment to reach the destination intact. Before choosing your partner make sure that they are reliable and have experience in shipping pharmaceuticals. As members of one of the top international freight logistics network, Globalia members have the advantage of working with the most professional enterprises in this sector and thus avoid the risk of unreliable or incompetent partners.
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Recording all the data in real-time
Documentation and keeping a proper record of all the business transactions during the shipping process should be an essential part of shipping pharmaceuticals. This will help the forwarders to have easy access to the location as well as the protocols of the cargo. These documents should include all the data regarding the shipment, its temperature, as well as receipts and photographs so that the shipment can be easily tracked in case of any untoward incident during the handling or transit process.