There’s nothing more frustrating than driving hundreds (or even thousands!) of miles, only to have your refrigerated load rejected and all of your hard work dismissed. So, in order to mitigate the chances of this happening, we have collected some key tips to help you with preventing rejected loads.
Check the temperature before leaving
It sounds obvious perhaps, but sometimes your cargo has been sat on a loading dock for excessive amounts of time, meaning that it slowly warms up and begins to perish. It’s estimated that 32% of all cold chain goods are loaded at a hotter temperature than they should be, meaning that thousands of reefer drivers are traveling around unaware that their cargo is already spoiled. Checking the temperature of refrigerated vans before you start your journey is one of the easiest means of preventing rejected loads.
Install active alarms
Sometimes, despite all of your best efforts and intentions, technology simply lets you down and doesn’t work. In the event that a reefer unit breaks down, there’s little you can do for preventing rejecting loads unless you’re close to your origin/destination. However, if you install active alarms in your truck, these alarms will send signals to the head office in the event of an equipment malfunction. This means that the dispatch team can assess the situation and advise the driver, who may make an informed decision about the best way to carry on with the journey or indeed return to the origin.
Be wary of human error
We can’t get past human error – it’s part of what makes us human! For example, drivers may not always be familiar with the make/model of reefer unit they are using on a given day, which could lead to basic mistakes and errors occurring. For instance, a driver could accidentally input a set-point as -3.0°F instead of –30.0°F, ruining all of the goods inside the reefer without even noticing. It helps to be wary of human errors and have a thorough work process, although Automatic Error Detection systems feed the head office real-time data about these sorts of conditions, making it easier for human error to be quickly corrected, thus preventing rejected loads.
Comply with the regulations!
As of April 6, 2018, the FSMA has enacted its rule regarding the transportation of food, meaning that fleets of all sizes must improve their procedures, implement correct food monitoring technology, and train drivers in temperature management best practices. Records must also be provided for all cargo, creating an audit trail which proves that the food has been properly refrigerated at various points along the cold supply chain.This proof makes preventing rejected loads much easier.
Preventing rejected loads is easier said than done, but by following these key tips and installing cutting-edge temperature management systems, you can help to keep your loads at the temperatures which they’re supposed to be, preventing spoilage and ensuring that you don’t run into any rejection problems when you reach your destination.
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