Start with the product and origin/destination when choosing a cold-chain carrier. The two companies below show that a cold chain is set by the service definition, not the company name; confirm current lane acceptance and delivery terms separately. Their descriptions were checked on 21 September 2026.
Assess the carrier's service scope, packaging preparation and handoff conditions together. The what the cold chain is guide explains why these steps belong in one transport plan.
Service examples from official websites. Ayel Frigo's notice describes Istanbul-origin cold-chain cargo across Türkiye. Turkish Cargo TK Pharma distinguishes Standard, Extra and Advanced for pharmaceutical and healthcare products. An air-cargo station service may not include collection from the sender or delivery to the receiver's door.
| Carrier/service | Officially stated scope | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Ayel Frigo cold-chain cargo | Company notice: Istanbul-to-Türkiye; fresh and frozen food; partial-load and bulk shipments | Current lane acceptance, product band, transfers and delivery record |
| Turkish Cargo TK Pharma Standard | Pharma shipment; passive packaging option | Station network, acceptance terms, packaging and handoff owner |
| Turkish Cargo TK Pharma Extra | Passive packaging; temperature-controlled apron transfer and quality agreement | Covered apron/station, agreement, monitoring and exception record |
| Turkish Cargo TK Pharma Advanced | Active or hybrid container option | Container, power, station and delivery responsibility |
Clarify packaging and carriage responsibilities
TK Pharma's passive-packaging options show that a temperature-controlled service can still ship in passive packaging, and acceptance of a standard parcel does not mean every transfer is controlled. Have the offer name who manages the product's starting temperature, packaging and coolant preparation, monitoring device and data file.
What happens after a failed delivery?
Ask beyond normal delivery: where will the package wait if the receiver is unavailable, under what conditions, and who decides redelivery or return? Link handoff times, package condition and temperature records to the same shipment. The cold-chain rule guide explains how to assess those records together.
Compare the packaging test duration with the route
Assess passive-packaging duration with the product, starting temperature, coolant layout and ambient conditions, including delivery delays. One successful shipment does not establish performance in every season or load condition; the box-duration guide lists what to look for in a test report.
Ask for these lines in the offer
The written offer should name the product and accepted band, geographic lane, included and excluded handoffs, packaging and cold-source owner, logger and record access, action after failed acceptance and the owner of the release decision. Connect the measurement and excursion guides in the cold-chain knowledge area to this offer review.
