Food transportation is a type of cargo transportation that requires special conditions and preparation. Proper organization of transportation helps to avoid spoilage and preserve the quality of the cargo. Neglecting the requirements for transportation and storage, as well as failure to meet delivery deadlines can lead to the most dire consequences, expressed in a complete loss of product characteristics and even harm to the health of consumers. Such a responsible transportation should be entrusted to professionals, who are able to correctly and timely issue documents and comply with all the necessary requirements for cargo transportation of food products.
Requirements to the vehicle for transportation of food products
An important factor in the successful delivery of goods with special conditions of transportation is compliance with the requirements for vehicles for the transportation of food products, regulated by law and sanitary norms. The main goal is to ensure the preservation of quality, safety and sanitary condition of products, which can be achieved if they are observed:
- General sanitary requirements for vehicles, which must be clean, dry, without extraneous odors. Regular disinfection of the body or cold room is required. It is forbidden to transport food products together with inedible goods or hazardous substances.
- Selecting the appropriate type of transportation. For products that require protection from temperature fluctuations, isothermal bodies are used, perishable products that require a certain temperature are transported in refrigerators. For fruits, vegetables and other products sensitive to humidity and air exchange, transportation with ventilation is required. The temperature in the body is controlled by built-in sensors and temperature recorders.
- Placement and packing conditions. It is important to follow the rules of stacking, where heavier products are stacked on top of lighter ones, and different groups of goods are separated. Products should be packed in containers that prevent mechanical damage, contamination and contact with the body. When transporting liquids and bulk products, airtight containers are used.
Food cargo must be accompanied by a bill of lading, indications of storage and transportation conditions. The driver must have a sanitary passport of the vehicle, a medical book with a note of passing the sanitary minimum, as well as sanitary clothing that ensures compliance with the rules of personal hygiene.
What documents are needed for transportation of foodstuffs
There are a large number of categories of food products, for the transportation of which it is necessary to draw up a certain package of documents. To determine what documents are needed for the transportation of food products, it is necessary to determine what category they belong to. And the main documents that are mandatory for the organization include:
- veterinary certificates – form No. 1 or No. 2, depending on the type of cargo, are required for the transportation of products of animal origin;
- certificates of conformity or declarations – certificates of origin of goods (on request), quality certificates (e.g. HACCP, ISO);
- Bill of lading (B/L), which contains information about the cargo, sender and consignee;
- sanitary passport of the vehicle, confirming that the transport complies with sanitary norms for food transportation;
- packing list (if necessary) with a list of transported goods and their characteristics;
- documents for the vehicle and driver’s license, permit for transportation of certain categories of goods (if necessary);
- contract or supply agreement (if transportation is carried out under the contract), which contains terms and specification of cargo.
Import of food cargoes requires compliance with special requirements. For example, the paperwork for transportation of food products from Europe has its own peculiarities, as HACCP (HACCP) requirements are applied for international transportation.
For transportation of perishable goods it is necessary to have an accompanying document confirming the conformity, composition and quality of the cargo and can be issued by the manufacturer, supplier or packer. Sanitary, phytosanitary or compliance certificates are also required depending on the specifics of the cargo. A packing list is also required, as well as a document confirming that the temperature will be maintained within the required range during transportation. An insurance policy may be required, depending on the terms of the transportation contract. If the shipment is being transported across the border, a customs declaration is required.
Control of transportation conditions
In addition to the necessary documents, it is also important to control the required temperature of transportation of products. Different categories of such goods have their own temperature regimes, which must be maintained in the vehicle during transportation. The temperature in the body must be maintained for:
- frozen products – from -18°C and below.
- chilled products – from 0°C to +4°C.
- products not requiring refrigeration: according to the storage conditions – e.g. +10°C to +25°C.
For frozen products, refrigeration containers can be used with an integrated refrigeration system that maintains the right temperature during the entire route. As well as frozen food transportation containers with a temperature range of -25°C to +25°C, which are suitable for most frozen foods. The container must be airtight, undamaged, cleaned and sanitized. Cargoes should be packed in thermally insulating materials. Frozen foods in airtight containers will avoid contact with moisture and air, they should be placed so as to allow free air circulation inside the container. It is necessary to set the temperature set for:
- seafood – from -18 °C and below.
- meat and poultry – -12 °C to -18 °C.
- ice cream – around -25 °C.
And use sensors to constantly monitor the temperature in the container.
Why choose TVL for food transportation
If you need to deliver perishable products qualitatively and on time, transportation should be entrusted to companies that have been working in this field for a long time and successfully. TVL company, which has vast experience in such cargo transportation and guarantees reliability and safety of delivery, strictly controlling all stages of transportation. TVL specialists know what transport is allowed for transportation of perishable products and always provide an individual approach to the client, choosing the best routes and conditions for the safety of the cargo. Cooperation with the company will allow you to guarantee safe and timely delivery of cargo with special transportation conditions to the destination.
