Only as strong as the weakest link
Up to 40% of all food produced is wasted before it’s ever consumed, and according to a 2024 study, 10% of that loss — about 620 million tons annually — happens during transport due to inadequate cold-chain management. These failures cost farmers, food manufacturers, grocers, and families billions of dollars every year.
Leonard’s Express is doing something about it. Headquartered in Farmington, New York, Leonard’s Express is a family-owned transportation and logistics company with five terminals across the United States and more than 1,800 trucks and trailers. The company ranked 7th on Transport Topics’ list of Top Refrigerated Carriers in North America and was named a Top Food Chain Provider by Food Shippers of America.
“We’re big enough to bring a lot of experience and resources to the table, but we’re small enough to maintain close relationships with customers and pay attention to every detail,” said Todd Smith, Director of Warehouse Operations for Leonard’s Express.
We don’t let our customers become a number; we focus on them individually, understand their needs, and really take care of them.”
– Todd Smith, Director of Warehouse Operations for Leonard’s Express
one provider’s story: Meeting increasing demand
Demand for refrigerated transportation and cold storage is higher than ever. Trends such as a recent surge in online grocery shopping have accelerated the need for modern, integrated, technology-driven warehousing solutions that ensure products arrive safe, fresh, and on time. The average U.S. refrigerated warehouse is 37 years old, and space is becoming increasingly scarce. To address this challenge head-on to meet the needs of food shippers, Leonard’s Express is investing in the future by building state-of-the-art cold storage facilities and embracing cutting-edge technology.
Leonard’s Express operates six warehouses, including five in Western New York and one in Delaware, totaling over 360,000 square feet of storage space. That’s equivalent to approximately seven football fields. Approximately 128,000 square feet are dedicated to refrigerated or frozen storage, with individualized rooms and custom temperature controls tailored to each client’s needs.
In western New York alone, Leonard’s Express provides shippers with more than 300,000 square feet of storage, with more than 100,000 square feet of refrigerated space. This includes a modern temperature-controlled warehouse with easy access to Route 90 and the New York State Thruway and direct rail access to the entire Northeast Corridor. The Delaware facility adds another 60,000 square feet, including 22,000 square feet of cold storage that’s certified for organic food handling.
Leonard’s Express has earned the trust of some of the largest names in the food industry including Dole, Chiquita, and Wegmans, because of its experience moving frozen vegetables, dairy products, and produce over the past 40 years. “We make ourselves easy to do business with,” explained Smith. “We know their network. We put together the routing and build the orders, they don’t have to do any of that. Our experience makes it easier for them and easier for us.”
Tackling Cold Chain Challenges Head-On
Maintaining cold chain integrity requires more than setting a thermostat. Leonard’s Express tackles the biggest cold chain challenges on behalf of food shippers with a blend of design, technology, and strategic thinking.
1. Temperature Fluctuations
Even small temperature deviations during storage or transit can have devastating effects on perishable goods. Items like dairy, produce, meat, and frozen foods must be kept within very specific temperature ranges to prevent spoilage, bacterial growth, or reduced shelf life. Unfortunately, many existing cold chain infrastructures rely on outdated equipment, uneven cooling, and exposure to uncontrolled environments during loading and unloading.
Leonard’s Express has equipped its facilities with individually climate-controlled compartments, allowing each customer to set and maintain ideal temperatures anywhere from -10 to 55°F for their specific products, from fresh bananas to frozen seafood. The Shortsville, New York warehouse features a drive-thru design where tractor-trailers drive directly into enclosed, climate-controlled bays, avoiding exposure to outside temperatures. Even the loading docks are fully temperature controlled, creating a consistent environment across the entire cold chain process.
The building is also equipped with a VHLS Under-Lever Seal that prevents loss of heating or cooling energy from the building, floor insulation, and warm water coils to prevent permafrost and floor heaving.
2. Outdated Technology
As aging storage facilities become obsolete, the demand for modern technology grows. Leonard’s Express is actively investing in new facilities and tools to modernize every aspect of its operations. For example, iBright, a warehouse monitoring and analytics system, helps customers remotely adjust the temperature and humidity of their individual storage rooms. Leonard’s Express also partners with Optimal Dynamics, which provides an AI-based load acceptance and dispatch optimization software, to make better routing decisions.
Leonard’s Express warehouse docks are equipped with ComboShelter Soft-Sided Dock Shelters engineered to address the unique challenges at docks that accept standard trailers, as well as those with lift gates, step ledges, or other rear extensions. The Extended Projection side frames allow for proper sealing around the lift gate and standard trailers alike and eliminates potential damage to trailers.
3. On-Time Pickups and Deliveries
Cold chain logistics is a race against time. Delays during transit or warehouse processing can compromise the integrity of temperature-sensitive goods. Leonard’s Express uses cross-docking, a logistics method that moves products directly from incoming to outgoing transportation with minimal or no storage in between. Cross-docking leads to faster delivery times and minimizes handling, reducing the risk of temperature disturbance or product damage.
4. Disorganized Processes
In transportation and logistics, precision matters, and even minor inefficiencies can lead to major losses. Leonard’s Express utilizes freight consolidation, which combines smaller shipments into a single larger load for greater efficiency. This lowers shipping costs, reduces environmental impact, and simplifies logistics for customers.
“We’re always asking ourselves, ‘How quickly can they get that perishable item to market? How can we turn that produce quicker than anybody else?” said Smith. “We can cross-dock it, consolidate it — whether it goes on our truck or someone else’s truck — to get it to their customer and on the shelf quicker for extra days of life.”
Leonard’s Express also developed a robust Warehouse Management System (WMS) that automates and optimizes every step of warehouse operations, from inventory management to compliance with industry regulations, ensuring maximum cost savings and efficiency.
5. Rising Transportation Costs
Fuel costs, labor shortages, and e-commerce trends are driving up the cost of transportation. Leonard’s Express leans on transloading and direct rail access in Shortsville, NY and Delaware to reduce costs and expand flexibility. Transloading involves shifting goods from one mode of transport to another, such as from rail to truck. This allows Leonard’s to use the most cost-effective method for each leg of a shipment.
“The Finger Lakes Railway access at our facility in Shortsville allows companies to distribute products through our operation, and we can transport goods virtually anywhere in the Northeast from there,” said Smith.
This multimodal approach helps control transportation costs, reduce carbon footprint, and deliver cold products faster and more reliably across the country.
Certified in Cold Chain Management
Leonard’s Express took the extra step to qualify its warehouse in Shortsville, New York (built in 2022) as an AIB-certified food-grade facility. This means it has been inspected and approved by the American Institute of Baking (AIB International) for meeting strict food safety and hygiene standards. An AIB-certified, food-grade warehouse reassures food manufacturers, retailers, and consumers that stored products are handled safely, with minimal risks of contamination, spoilage, and regulatory violations.
The Delaware facility is certified and fully equipped to store organic produce with care and precision. 82% of Americans have organic products in their homes, creating a $52 billion industry. For a product to truly be considered organic, the entire process, including all logistical steps, must adhere to specific guidelines. This certification reinforces the Leonard’s Express commitment to deliver the highest standards in food safety, sustainability, and compliance every step of the way.
Leonard’s Express doesn’t just provide space—they provide solutions. As food shippers, grocers, and distributors look for ways to reduce loss, save money, and ensure freshness, Leonard’s continues to improve its offerings and stay at the forefront of the food supply chain.
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