Consolidated Refrigerated Transport (LTL) from Poland to Kyiv: Vegan Cheese Delivery Case

Project Overview

• Route: Zabrze (Poland) → Kyiv (Ukraine)
• Format: LTL / consolidated refrigerated transport
• Cargo: Vegan cheese (food product)
• Volume: 12 Euro pallets / 6 tons
• Temperature range: +2…+6 °C
• Transit time: 5 days

Critical requirements:

• No ADR cargo
• No goods with strong odors
• Exclusion of incompatible cargo within the same vehicle

Task and Constraints: What Had to Be Ensured

The client’s request was to deliver vegan cheese from Poland to Kyiv. However, when it comes to food cargo transported in an LTL refrigerated vehicle, there is no such thing as a “simple” shipment.

In LTL transport, different types of cargo may be transported in the same vehicle. For food products, this creates additional risks: even if the temperature regime is maintained correctly, the goods may be affected by unsuitable cargo adjacency.

In this case, two fundamental conditions were defined from the outset:

• Complete exclusion of ADR cargo in the load
• No goods with strong odors that could affect the organoleptic properties of the product

In addition, a standard but mandatory requirement applied: stable temperature control at +2…+6 °C with no fluctuations throughout the entire route.

Solution: How We Selected the LTL Reefer and Eliminated Risks

1) Transport Selection for Food Cargo

We started with the most critical step — selecting the appropriate consolidated refrigerated vehicle. The criteria were not limited to the technical capabilities of the reefer, but also included organizational loading conditions.

The selected vehicle:

• Operated reliably within the +2…+6 °C range
• Provided continuous temperature monitoring
• Allowed formal documentation of cargo compatibility requirements within the LTL shipment

2) Cargo Compatibility and Pallet Adjacency Control

Given the relatively large shipment size (12 Euro pallets), it was essential to integrate the cargo correctly into the consolidated load. We ensured safe cargo adjacency and completely excluded contact with incompatible goods — primarily ADR cargo and odor-intensive products.

3) Temperature +2…+6 °C with No Compromises

The vegan cheese was transported in cardboard boxes, making temperature stability especially critical. Throughout the entire route, the temperature was maintained at +2…+6 °C, ensuring the product arrived in the condition expected by the consignee.

How the Transport Was Carried Out

• Cargo parameters were agreed upon: volume, palletization, temperature requirements, and compatibility restrictions.
• A consolidated line and refrigerated vehicle compliant with food cargo standards were selected.
• Loading rules were approved: no ADR and no odor-emitting cargo in proximity.
• Cargo pickup in Zabrze was organized and correct loading was controlled.
• The shipment was monitored throughout transit to ensure compliance with all agreed conditions.
• The cargo was delivered from Poland to Ukraine and handed over to the consignee.

Result: On Time and in the Required Quality

• Delivery completed within 5 days from cargo pickup.
• Temperature range +2…+6 °C maintained throughout the entire route.
• ADR and incompatible cargo fully excluded.
• No delays or violations; cargo delivered in excellent condition.

In this case, success was driven by two key factors: the correct selection of an LTL refrigerated vehicle and strict adherence to cargo compatibility rules for food products.

What to Consider When Planning LTL Transport of Food Products

• Temperature control is only half of the task. The other half is cargo compatibility within a consolidated vehicle.
• Requirements such as “no ADR / no odors” must be fixed at the planning stage as part of the technical specification.
• Packaging and palletization must comply with refrigerated transport and loading rules.
• For larger volumes, it is often worth comparing LTL and FTL options; however, LTL can be the optimal solution when properly organized.