R25 -- Cargo Containers, Rail Cars, Trailers, and Trucks (I-P)

Transport of commodities may be as simple as direct delivery of fresh vegetables from garden to market in a wagon. However, travel time, ambient temperature, and risk of spoilage often make temperature-controlled transport necessary. Because some commodities are sensitive to the relative humidity and chemical composition of their surrounding atmosphere, these conditions may also need to be controlled. Today many commodities travel to distant markets intermodally (i.e., by some combination of highway, ocean, and railroad). This chapter discusses the vehicles, equipment, and related factors that combine to preserve temperature-sensitive commodities as they travel. Vehicles Vehicle Design Considerations Equipment Equipment Design and Selection Factors Qualification Testing System Application Factors Operations