Book | Open Access | DOI: https://doi.org/10.37547/tajmei/book-01

OPTIMIZING LIVE BEE TRANSPORTATION LOGISTICS: A PRACTICAL METHODOLOGY FOR BROKERS AND CARRIERS IN THE U.S.

Vitalii Kostrub , CEO and Founder of GBA TFreight Inc Bellevue, Washington, USA

Abstract

The monograph examines an original methodology for optimizing the long-distance transport of live honey-bee colonies, developed from hands-on experience with U.S. pollination services. The topic’s relevance stems from agriculture’s growing reliance on honey-bee pollination and the attendant logistical challenges. Yet transporting bees carries a high risk of stress and mortality due to extremes of temperature, vibration, prolonged overheating, and other factors. Traditional transport practices are often piecemeal and based on empirical rules, resulting in substantial losses—up to 30–40 percent of the bees under adverse conditions—and degraded pollination quality.

Keywords

References

Goodrich, B., & Altschuler, A. (2025). Where have all the honey bees gone? To California almond orchards. farmdoc daily, 15(30).

Bond, J. K., Hitaj, C., Smith, D., Hunt, K., Perez, A., & Ferreira, G. (2021). Honey bees on the move: From pollination to honey production and back.

Berry, J. (2018). When you have to, be prepared. Bee Culture. https://beeculture.com/moving-bees/

Mytee Products. (n.d.). Bee net – Bee hauling tarp (8' drop). https://www.myteeproducts.com/bee-net-bee-hauling-tarp-8-drop.html

Georgia Department of Agriculture. (n.d.). Interstate and intrastate movement of honey bees (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 40-4-1-.04). https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/georgia/Ga-Comp-R-Regs-R-40-4-1-.04

Gregory, R. N. (2025, March 28). High hive mortality mars bee business. Mississippi State University Extension. https://extension.msstate.edu/news/feature-story/2025/high-hive-mortality-mars-bee-business

Simone-Finstrom, M., Li-Byarlay, H., Huang, M. H., Strand, M. K., Rueppell, O., & Tarpy, D. R. (2016). Migratory management and environmental conditions affect lifespan and oxidative stress in honey bees. Scientific Reports, 6, 32023. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep32023

Bond, J. K., & Scott, S. (2023, August 9). Thousands of commercial honey bee colonies are transported long distances to pollinate California almonds. USDA Economic Research Service. https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/charts-of-note/chart-detail?chartId=107088

Freeman, R. J. (2021, October 7). Hive theft peaked in 2023. Almond Board of California. https://www.almonds.com/almond-industry/industry-news/hive-theft-peaked-2023

La, L. (2025). Dying honey bees are threatening California’s economy. Can Central Valley lawmakers save them? CalMatters. https://calmatters.org/economy/2025/06/california-honey-bee-varroa-mites/

Business Research Insights. (2025). Pollination service market size, share, growth and industry analysis... Forecast from 2025 to 2033. https://www.businessresearchinsights.com/market-reports/pollination-service-market-108718

Firehouse.com News. (2022, March 28). AZ firefighters called to preserve a colony of bees. https://www.firehouse.com/operations-training/news/21261873/eloy-az-fire-district-firefighters-called-to-rescue-a-colony-of-bees

Melicher, D. (2019, April 1). Road trip: How hive transportation puts stress on honey bees. Entomology Today. https://entomologytoday.org/2019/04/01/road-trip-hive-transportation-stress-honey-bees/

Route One Trailers. (n.d.). Bee tarps. https://routeonetrailers.com/collections/bee-tarps

The Farming Insider. (n.d.). Technology innovations in livestock transportation. https://thefarminginsider.com/technology-innovations-livestock-transportation/

The Washington Post. (2022, July 2). Bees escape Utah crash. https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/07/02/bees-escape-utah-crash-highway/

Kutner, J. (2014, May 21). Emergency workers swarm to clear up 20 million bees released on Delaware highway. The Dodo. https://www.thedodo.com/emergency-workers-swarm-to-cle-560143954.html

Safety+Health Magazine. (2016, July 27). Final rule exempts livestock, bee transporters from HOS requirements. https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/14461-final-rule-exempts-livestock-bee-transporters-from-hos-requirements

LaSorda, A. (2021). In-hive sensors could help ailing bee colonies. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/in-hive-sensors-could-help-ailing-bee-colonies/

Silicon Labs. (n.d.). Using IoT sensor technology to produce stronger, healthier colonies and improve pollination outcomes. https://www.silabs.com/applications/case-studies/beehero-uses-iot-sensor-technology-to-save-bees

Heck, A., & Milbrath, M. (2024, October 22). Emergency response to accidents involving honey bees. Michigan State University Extension. https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/emergency-response-to-accidents-involving-honey-bees

Cross, B. (2020). Truck sensors help drivers monitor livestock welfare. The Western Producer. https://www.producer.com/livestock/truck-sensors-help-drivers-monitor-livestock-welfare/

ELA Innovation. (n.d.). Ambient temperature monitoring during animal transport. https://elainnovation.com/en/ambient-temperature-monitoring-during-animal-transport/

Article Statistics

Copyright License

Download Citations

How to Cite

Vitalii Kostrub. (2025). OPTIMIZING LIVE BEE TRANSPORTATION LOGISTICS: A PRACTICAL METHODOLOGY FOR BROKERS AND CARRIERS IN THE U.S. The American Journal of Management and Economics Innovations, 1–51. https://doi.org/10.37547/tajmei/book-01