In the global logistics system, land freight trucking, with its flexibility and high efficiency, has become the preferred option for numerous enterprises to transport goods across borders. Land freight trucking, using trucks as the means of transportation, can reach many areas that are difficult to access by other transportation methods, providing great convenience for cargo transportation. However, whenever summer arrives, the sweltering weather poses a formidable challenge to the cargo transported by land freight trucking, bringing about various thorny issues. Thoroughly analyzing these impacts, clearly defining the types of goods that are not suitable for transportation, and mastering effective countermeasures are the keys to ensuring the safe and smooth transportation of cargo in land freight trucking under high – temperature conditions.

I. Adverse Effects of Hot Summer Weather on Cargo in Land Freight Trucking

(I) Changes in Physical Properties

1. Melting and Softening
   Many goods containing fats, waxes, or easily – melting components are highly prone to melting or softening under the invasion of high temperatures. Take chocolate as an example. Its melting point is usually around 30 °C, and the temperature inside the truck compartment of land freight trucking in summer often easily exceeds this value. Once this happens, chocolate will quickly melt and deform, not only greatly reducing its appearance but also severely damaging its quality, directly losing its due sales value. Similar to chocolate, candles and some plastic products are also affected. High temperatures will mercilessly destroy their original shapes and structures, significantly decreasing the quality of the cargo carried by land freight trucking.
2. Expansion and Deformation
   Some liquid goods with sealed packaging, such as bottled beverages and toner in cosmetics, will expand due to heat in the hot summer, which may cause the packaging bottles to burst. For some elastic or plastic – like goods, such as rubber products and foam materials, high temperatures will make them soft and deformed, seriously affecting the dimensional accuracy and performance of the goods. For instance, if rubber tires are exposed to high temperatures for a long time, they may be locally deformed, posing potential safety hazards for subsequent use. This presents a severe challenge for land freight trucking to transport such goods.

(II) Changes in Chemical Properties

1. Accelerated Chemical Reactions
   The chemical components inside some goods, in a high – temperature environment, are like a lit fuse, accelerating the reaction process. For example, some chemical raw materials, such as peroxides, will have their decomposition rate significantly accelerated by high temperatures, which is likely to trigger a series of serious safety accidents such as leakage, combustion, and even explosion. In addition, goods containing easily – oxidized components, such as some edible oils and Chinese herbal medicines, will have their oxidation rate sharply increased under the catalysis of high temperatures, leading to spoilage of the goods, with problems like peculiar odors and color changes, greatly reducing the quality of the goods transported by land freight trucking.
2. Volatilization and Evaporation
   Goods with volatility, such as perfumes, alcohol – based products, and some solvents, will have their volatilization rate increase sharply in the hot weather. This not only leads to a reduction in the weight of the goods, causing direct economic losses to enterprises, but also the volatilized gases accumulate continuously in the closed truck compartment of land freight trucking, potentially triggering potential safety threats such as fires or explosions.

(III) Deterioration of Biological Properties

1. Microbial Growth
   For food – type goods, the high temperature in summer is like a breeding ground for microorganisms. Foods rich in nutrients such as meat, dairy products, and fruits will see bacteria, molds, and other microorganisms multiply rapidly in a high – temperature environment, causing the food to spoil, with problems such as disgusting odors, mildew, and even rot, seriously endangering food safety and quality, and making it lose its edible or sales value. This undoubtedly brings huge risks to the transportation of food – type goods by land freight trucking.
2. Change in Biological Activity
   Some goods with biological activity, such as vaccines, biological agents, and plant seeds, will have their biological activity damaged by high temperatures. Vaccines may lose their immune effect in high temperatures, and the germination rate of plant seeds will be significantly reduced due to high temperatures, thus greatly affecting the use value of such goods carried by land freight trucking.

(IV) Packaging Damage

1. Decline in Material Performance
   High temperatures can change the performance of packaging materials like magic. Paper packaging is extremely prone to softening, deforming, and even breaking under the dual impact of high temperature and high humidity, and can no longer effectively protect the internal goods. Plastic packaging may age and become brittle due to high temperatures, with a significant reduction in toughness and strength, and is likely to break with a little external force during transportation. For example, for some electronic products packaged with plastic films, the films may become brittle and cracked after high – temperature transportation, leaving the goods unprotected. This poses a challenge to land freight trucking in transporting such packaged goods.
2. Damage to Packaging Structure
   The physical and chemical changes of goods caused by high temperatures will have an impact on the packaging structure like a chain reaction. For example, the expansion of goods may burst the packaging, and the accumulation of volatile gases may cause a sharp increase in the internal pressure of the packaging, deforming or even bursting the packaging. In addition, high temperatures may also make the adhesive of the packaging ineffective, causing the sealed part of the packaging to crack and expose the goods, threatening the integrity of the goods transported by land freight trucking.

II. Goods Not Suitable for Transportation by Land Freight Trucking in Hot Summer

(I) High – Melting – Point and Easily – Melting Goods

1. Confectionery
   Besides chocolate, candies such as toffees and jelly candies, whose main components include sugars and colloids, are extremely prone to melting and sticking together under the scorching of high temperatures. Their original shapes and tastes disappear completely, and the product quality is severely damaged. Therefore, in the hot summer, such candies are not suitable for transportation by land freight trucking.
2. Some Chemical Products
   For example, asphalt is solid at normal temperatures, but its melting point is relatively low, generally around 100 – 120 °C. During the high – temperature period in summer, especially in the truck compartment of land freight trucking under direct sunlight, the temperature can easily rise above its melting point, causing the asphalt to melt and flow. This not only pollutes the compartment but may also cause cargo losses and potential safety hazards. Therefore, such chemical products should not be transported by land freight trucking in summer.

(II) Flammable and Explosive Goods

1. Compressed Gases and Liquefied Gases
   Such as compressed gas cylinders of liquefied petroleum gas, butane gas, oxygen, etc., and liquefied gas containers of liquid chlorine, liquid ammonia, etc. High temperatures will cause the pressure inside the cylinders to soar sharply. Once it exceeds the pressure – bearing limit of the container, it is extremely likely to trigger an explosion accident. Moreover, once these gases leak, they may also trigger a series of serious consequences such as fires and poisonings. Therefore, the transportation of such goods by land freight trucking in summer is extremely risky.
2. Flammable and Explosive Chemicals
   Chemicals like nitrocellulose and yellow phosphorus have extremely active chemical properties and very low ignition points. In a high – temperature environment, they are like dry wood meeting fire, extremely prone to spontaneous combustion or explosion. At the same time, some organic peroxides, such as benzoyl peroxide, will decompose rapidly under high temperatures, releasing a large amount of heat and oxygen, further increasing the possibility of explosion. Therefore, in summer, such goods should not be transported by land freight trucking.

(III) Perishable Foods

1. Fresh Meats and Seafood
   These foods are rich in protein and water. In a high – temperature environment, the reproduction rate of microorganisms is astonishing, and they will spoil and stink in a short time. Even with refrigeration measures, during the long – distance transportation by land freight trucking, once the refrigeration equipment fails or the refrigeration effect is poor, the goods are very likely to spoil, causing huge economic losses to enterprises.
2. Fresh Milk and Dairy Products
   Fresh milk will quickly spoil in high temperatures, and the probiotics in yogurt will lose their activity due to high temperatures, affecting the product quality. Dairy products such as cheese are also likely to melt, spoil, and produce unpleasant odors in high temperatures. Therefore, they are not suitable for long – distance transportation by land freight trucking in summer.

(IV) Temperature – Sensitive Precision Instruments and electronic Products

1. Precision Instruments
   Precision scientific instruments such as electron microscopes and spectrometers have complex internal structures, containing many high – precision components. High temperatures may cause the metal components of the instruments to expand and deform, thus seriously affecting the accuracy and performance of the instruments. At the same time, high temperatures may also damage the internal electronic components of the instruments, shortening their service life. This makes land freight trucking need to be especially cautious when transporting such precision instruments.
2. Electronic Products
   Electronic products such as smartphones and tablets have lithium – ion batteries inside. In high temperatures, these batteries are like time – bombs, with risks of swelling, combustion, and even explosion. Moreover, high temperatures can interfere with the normal operation of electronic chips, causing the devices to experience unstable phenomena such as freezing and black – screening. In addition, components such as displays may also experience problems such as color change and aging in high temperatures, greatly reducing the product quality. This brings many difficulties to the transportation of electronic products by land freight trucking.

III. Countermeasures for Transporting Goods by Land Freight Trucking in Hot Summer

(I) Cargo Pretreatment

1. Optimizing Packaging
   In view of the possible physical and chemical changes that high temperatures may bring to the cargo in land freight trucking, it is crucial to carefully select suitable packaging materials and packaging methods. For easily – melting goods, packaging materials with excellent heat – insulation properties, such as foam boxes and heat – insulating paper, should be used, and heat – absorbing materials such as ice packs should be added to delay the melting speed of the goods. For liquid goods, it is necessary to ensure that the packaging containers have sufficient pressure – bearing strength and reserve a certain expansion space to prevent the packaging from bursting due to liquid expansion. At the same time, reinforce the packaging to avoid packaging damage caused by 颠簸 during the transportation of land freight trucking.
2. Temperature – Adjusting Pretreatment
   For some goods that are extremely sensitive to temperature, pre – cooling or pre – heating treatment can be carried out before loading. For example, fresh fruits and vegetables are pre – cooled to a suitable transportation temperature in a cold storage before being loaded onto the vehicle, effectively reducing the temperature fluctuations during the transportation of land freight trucking. For some chemical products, under the premise of strictly following safety regulations, appropriate cooling treatment is carried out to reduce the probability of danger during transportation.

(II) In – transit Control

1. Reasonably Arranging Transportation Time
   Wisely choose to arrange the transportation of goods by land freight trucking during the periods when the temperature is relatively low in the morning and evening, and try to avoid the high – temperature period at noon, especially for goods that are extremely sensitive to temperature. For example, for perishable foods, they can be arranged to depart in the early morning or evening, taking advantage of the relatively cool temperature at night for transportation, minimizing the exposure time of the goods to the high – temperature environment.
2. Real – time Temperature Monitoring
   Install precise temperature monitoring equipment in the truck compartment of land freight trucking to keep real – time track of the temperature changes of the environment where the goods are located. These devices can transmit temperature data in real – time to the terminal devices of the driver or the logistics monitoring center. Once the temperature exceeds the suitable range for the goods, corresponding measures such as adjusting the power of the refrigeration equipment and turning on the ventilation device should be taken immediately.
3. Maintenance of Refrigeration and Ventilation Equipment
   It is necessary to ensure that the refrigeration equipment and ventilation devices of the vehicles used in land freight trucking are always in good operating condition. Before transportation, conduct a comprehensive and detailed inspection and debugging of the refrigeration equipment to ensure that its refrigeration effect is optimal. Regularly check the ventilation devices to ensure that the air vents are unobstructed and can effectively adjust the air circulation in the compartment, reducing the temperature and humidity in the compartment.

(III) Emergency Measures

1. Formulating Emergency Plans
   In view of various potential problems of the cargo in land freight trucking that may be caused by high – temperature weather, it is imperative to formulate detailed emergency plans. Clearly define the response procedures and division of responsibilities in case of abnormal cargo temperatures, refrigeration equipment failures, packaging damage, etc. For example, if the refrigeration equipment fails, the driver should immediately park the vehicle in a safe place, quickly contact the maintenance personnel, and at the same time take temporary cooling measures such as using spare ice packs to delay the spoilage speed of the goods as much as possible.
2. Equipping Emergency Supplies
   Equip the vehicles used in land freight trucking with necessary emergency supplies, such as spare ice packs, fire extinguishers, and first – aid medicines. Spare ice packs can serve as a temporary cooling aid in case of refrigeration equipment failures or abnormal temperatures; fire extinguishers are used to deal with fires caused by volatilized gases from the goods; first – aid medicines can be used for emergency treatment when the driver or relevant personnel experience physical discomfort due to high temperatures.

Although the hot summer weather brings numerous challenges to the transportation of goods by land freight trucking, as long as we deeply understand these impacts, carefully select the goods for transportation, and effectively implement countermeasures, land freight trucking can still complete the transportation of goods safely and efficiently in the hot summer, providing strong support for the stable development of the logistics industry.rucking can still complete the transportation of goods safely and efficiently in the hot summer, providing strong support for the stable development of the logistics industry.