Fleets of all sizes in the U.S. have seen plenty of change in recent years, not least where food transportation is concerned. The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) introduced seven major rules for its implementation that apply to the growing, harvesting and transportation of food.
The Sanitary Transportation of Human and Animal Food rule gives the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authority to protect foods from farm to table by keeping them safe from contamination during transportation and this rule is set to impact smaller carriers.
The Sanitary Transportation rule governs and regulates the transportation of food and applies to shippers and carriers. It establishes regulations for vehicles and transportation equipment used for food products, how the food is transported, the training of personnel and clear maintenance of records.
larger fleets were obliged to comply with the rule; it kicks in one year later for smaller fleets. Smaller fleets are defined as businesses “…other than motor carriers who are not also shippers and/or receivers employing fewer than 500 persons and motor carriers having less than $27.5 million in annual receipts” and ” have to comply two years after the publication of the final rule.”
The Problem of Rejected Loads
Whether it is hauling bananas or fresh strawberries across state lines or the delivery of fresh flowers going to a market under deadline, there will always be a demand for fresh products. As a result, there will always be a demand for refrigerated trucks and trailers to safely transport them.
Transporting a blend of refrigerated and dry goods, or refrigerated only creates plenty of advantages for carriers, creating versatility in the types of cargo that can be moved. However, while the hauling of fresh produce delivers gains, reefer management can bring its own set of challenges. And for smaller fleets, these challenges will be highlighted further with the extension of the FSMA rule.
To avoid a load being subject to possible action by the FDA and the possibility of getting rejected, fleets can use technology to keep a close eye on some on their cold or chilled cargo.
As well as FSMA regulations, rejected loads are impactful across the entire business. They can hurt carriers in many ways:
Compensation: The carrier will have to repay the shipper.Disposal: The carrier must get rid of the spoiled cargo.“Empty miles”: Trucks may need to be taken to a washout facility which adds additional costs and contributes to ‘empty miles.’Increasing costs: Drivers still need to be paid and insurance premiums can climb if a claim is paid.Customer relations: Reputation with a customer is built slowly but it can be lost by a single spoilt load.
Optimizing the journey that cargo takes in refrigerated trailers ensures compliance with FSMA rules and reduces the risks of rejected loads.
Here are seven key issues to address to ensure FSMA compliance and help your cargo reach its destination safely:
1. Avoiding Hot Loads
Industry experts agree that as much as 32% of all cargo is loaded at the wrong temperature. This is often due to poor loading practices, where produce is left sitting at a loading dock for a long time. The driver starts to travel with no idea the cargo is at the wrong temperature.
2. Equipment Failure
It is a fact of life; sometimes equipment can break down. It’s the same with refrigeration units. If a reefer unit fails, the potential of your entire shipment or order can fail.
In the event of a breakdown, knowing about it is as good as being able to fix it. Installing Active Alarms will help to combat the damages caused by reefer equipment failure. These signal directly to the back office in the event of a malfunction. The dispatcher can look at addressing the issue and advise the driver who can remedy the situation from where they are.
3. Driver Error
Modern refrigeration vans can have over 200 alarm codes. That is 200 potential problems that can threaten assets. Even if a driver did spend hours each day reviewing information booklets, they probably still wouldn’t be familiar with every make and model of reefer unit available. Drivers already carry a lot of responsibility, staying safe and timely on the roads, without studying manuals for reefer units.
4. Late Notification
Timing is key for temperature-sensitive cargo like fruit, vegetables, or pharmaceutical products. Saving a load after the fact is one thing but being able to rectify the situation before the problem occurs is another entirely. Carriers need to be able to identify issues before they crop up. Real-time data with immediate notifications help to stop hot loads in their tracks.
5. Immediate Proof on Delivery
If something does go wrong, the driver or carrier is usually the first one to get the blame. If things do go wrong, carriers need evidence to back up the conditions of the transported cargo. Compliance, auditing and documentation are vital for each refrigerated unit.
6. Regulatory Compliance
The FSMA rule on Sanitary Transportation of Human and Animal Food is already in place for larger fleets. for smaller fleets. Larger fleets are already complying with the regulations thanks to clear documentation and monitoring. Regulations on this theme are only set to increase and become more stringent to ensure clear audit trails in the event of a problem.
7. Lack of Control from Head Office
New regulations can introduce complex systems and procedures. There are enough distractions for drivers on the road, without having to worry about fixing an accidental defrost. This is when remote, two-way control can and does save the day.
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