Food & Beverage Logistics Services

How First Call Supports Food and Beverage Shippers

Food and beverage freight often involves product-specific requirements related to temperature conditions, delivery timing, handling expectations, and inventory movement. First Call supports transportation planning around those requirements to align shipment execution with product and supply chain expectations.

• Transportation planning aligned to temperature requirements, delivery schedules, and appointment expectations
• Carrier coordination based on equipment requirements, handling considerations, and lane characteristics
• Food-grade warehousing and handling support aligned to product requirements and food safety programs
• Documentation and traceability support aligned to transportation requirements and food safety processes
• Shipment visibility and communication throughout transportation and delivery

Food and Beverage Logistics Services We Support

Food and beverage freight includes refrigerated, frozen, and ambient transportation profiles, each with different handling, temperature, and delivery considerations. First Call supports transportation and warehousing services aligned to product requirements, inventory movement, and supply chain expectations.

• Full Truckload (FTL) and Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) transportation
• Temperature-controlled and refrigerated transportation for perishable freight coordinated through First Call FRESH
• Food-grade warehousing and distribution supported through BRCGS-certified facilities and food-grade handling processes
• Inbound and outbound transportation coordination across suppliers, production facilities, distribution centers, and destination locations
• Time-sensitive and expedited freight for shipments with changing delivery requirements or production-sensitive timing
• Cross-border freight coordination for food and beverage shipments moving between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico

Food and Beverage Categories We Support

Food and beverage freight requirements vary by product type, packaging, temperature profile, handling considerations, and delivery expectations. First Call supports transportation and warehousing across food and beverage categories with different inventory flows, handling requirements, and supply chain characteristics.

• Fresh produce and perishables — temperature-controlled freight moving from growing regions, suppliers, and distribution networks to retailers, food service operations, and processing facilities. First Call’s experience in produce transportation informs our approach to cold chain planning and execution.
• Frozen food and frozen goods — transportation requiring sustained frozen conditions from production and storage through delivery, supported through our refrigerated carrier network and First Call FRESH
• Dairy and refrigerated products — milk, cheese, yogurt, eggs, and other refrigerated freight supported through temperature management and delivery scheduling aligned to distribution and retail requirements
• Dry and shelf-stable food — packaged goods, canned products, snacks, cereals, and other ambient food freight moving through distribution and replenishment networks with established handling processes
• Beverages — non-alcoholic beverages including water, juice, soft drinks, and energy drinks, along with beer, wine, and spirits transportation. Beverage freight planning may account for packaging characteristics, handling considerations, and delivery requirements specific to the category
• Food ingredients and manufacturing inputs — bulk and packaged ingredients moving between suppliers, food manufacturers, and processing operations aligned to production schedules and receiving requirements
• Meat, seafood, and poultry — perishable freight supported through temperature management, handling controls, and transportation planning aligned to product and regulatory requirements

Food Safety and Compliance Considerations

Food and beverage transportation operates within regulatory and quality frameworks that influence how freight is documented, handled, and moved through the supply chain. The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) established sanitary transportation expectations that may include considerations related to equipment conditions, temperature management, and transportation documentation across food supply chain operations.

Supporting those requirements often involves transportation planning, documentation processes, and operational controls aligned to shipment conditions. First Call coordinates food and beverage freight with attention to handling practices, documentation requirements, and equipment considerations that support food transportation programs. For shippers requiring food-grade warehousing, First Call supports operations through BRCGS-certified food-grade facilities designed around established food safety and quality processes.

Documentation and traceability may also support food and beverage transportation operations. Shipment records, temperature documentation, and transportation records can contribute to internal reporting, operational review, and food safety programs across the supply chain.

For a deeper look at food transportation and supply chain considerations, see Food Supply Chain Safety: What Shippers Need to Know.

Related Food and Beverage Logistics Solutions

• Cold Chain Logistics
• Food and Beverage Cold Chain Logistics
• Food-Grade Warehousing & Distribution
• Temperature-Controlled Transportation