Freight transportation of alcoholic beverages, which method of transporting alcoholic products to choose

In most countries around the world, alcoholic beverages are an essential attribute of the festive table. In the process of globalization, alcoholic drinks from other regions, countries, and continents are gaining increasing popularity. Moreover, these transports are reciprocal. Wine and vodka are brought from the former Soviet republics, while whiskey, tequila, rum, sake, and even more exotic strong alcoholic beverages are sent to them. Wines are transported all over the world. Freight transportation of alcohol constitutes a significant part of the overall cargo turnover.

Features of alcoholic beverages as cargo

The main feature of alcoholic beverages is their high cost. Therefore, the attitude towards this cargo must be extremely careful. Alcoholic beverages can be supplied in packaged form — in bottles, barrels, kegs, or in bulk.

The packaging of alcoholic beverages, especially glass bottles, can be damaged from shaking during transport, as well as during loading and unloading operations. Therefore, bottled alcohol must have additional protection and be packed in boxes or crates that protect it from breaking. All packaged alcohol must be securely fastened inside the transporting vehicle.

Alcoholic beverages are susceptible to spoilage from exposure to high and low temperatures and sunlight. As for strong alcoholic drinks, they must be shielded from sunlight and should not freeze, meaning the temperature inside the transporting vehicle must be above zero, regardless of the outside temperature. Bottled wine requires a stricter temperature regime. The temperature inside the vehicle transporting bottled wine is usually maintained between +11 and +12°C. Wine transported in bulk requires a temperature of about +5°C. Thus, for transporting alcoholic beverages, depending on the distance and duration of transport, as well as the state of the environment, isothermal or refrigerated vehicles are usually required. In any case, even if the outside temperature is ideal, alcoholic beverages should be transported in covered vehicles.

Rules for freight transportation of alcoholic beverages

In most countries around the world, alcoholic beverages are excise and licensed goods. Both the shipper and the consignee must have a license for the handling of alcohol. The transportation of alcohol must be accompanied by a set of original documents for the cargo. In addition:

• Alcoholic beverages must be transported in covered vehicles that ensure the maintenance of the necessary temperature regime throughout the journey.
• Bottled alcohol must be additionally packed in boxes or crates, which should be stacked no higher than specified in the cargo documentation.
• Packaged alcohol must be securely fastened inside the transporting vehicle.

Transportation of alcoholic beverages by different modes of transport

Alcoholic beverages can be transported as cargo by all modern modes of transport: road, rail, water, and air.

When transporting alcoholic beverages by road, refrigerated cargo compartments and tanks based on vans, trailers, and semi-trailers should generally be used. Sometimes, for short distances, under suitable environmental conditions, isothermal and regular covered vans, trailers, and semi-trailers can be used for transporting alcoholic beverages. Under the same circumstances, simple and isothermal tanks can be utilized. However, in all cases, refrigerated vehicles are usually used. Additionally, transportation on platforms of refrigerated containers and tank-refrigerated containers is used within multimodal transport.

Transportation of alcoholic beverages by rail occurs in refrigerated cars and refrigerated tanks specifically designed for wine. Alcoholic beverages are transported on platforms in refrigerated containers and tank containers.

Transportation of alcohol by water is widely spread due to its low cost. Bottled alcoholic beverages are transported on container ships in containers and tank containers equipped with refrigeration units. Additionally, there are special wine tankers.

Transportation of alcohol by air, due to its high cost, also occurs quite frequently. Most often, such transportation happens in small batches on scheduled passenger flights. However, there are no technical restrictions on the transportation of packaged alcoholic beverages and tank containers by cargo aviation.

You can find out the cost of transporting your batch of alcoholic beverages and find a carrier by placing an advertisement in the “Add Cargo” section.