Transporting A Cold Chain Supply Of Frozen Food Products In The UK

Transporting A Cold Chain Supply Of Frozen Food Products In The UK Hauling frozen food products is known as a cold chain, which is a temperature-controlled supply chain.

It involves the safe transportation of frozen food products and requires expertise with the correct equipment and specialised vehicles.

The cold chain involves transportation, delivering and maintaining safe quality frozen foods to their destination. It is the responsibility of all individuals and organisations involved in the process from the time of collection until the frozen food products have been transported to their destination.

A professional logistics team with effective management who understands their role and the standards in the project will ensure successful transportation for the customer. The distribution of frozen foods is not easy and requires the correct equipment and tools.

Reefers are the specialist vehicles that are fitted with temperature-controlled units to produce printout reports and monitor the transported frozen food products to the lowest temperature of 25ºC without complications. The vehicles should all be pre-cooled to -20ºC and should never exceed 12ºC. The hauling company will understand the importance of ensuring the food products remain frozen for long periods, such as the case for long-distance transportation. The company will need to be involved in due diligence which refers to food safety and proves they did everything possible to prevent safety breaches.

Record keeping of all transportation needs to be kept for at least one year, a requirement in the event where cross-contamination or food poisoning occurs and the source needs to be traced. Every cold chain logistics company is aware of how vital it is to be compliant with the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FDMA) and keep to best practices.

The cold chain supply load needs to be at its best from start to finish without interruption to ensure prolonged shelf life and allow products to be stored longer and remain fresh, without compromising quality.

The hauling company needs to ensure the refrigerated trailers are continuously up to date and serviced accurately to maintain proper air control. If services are not done it can affect the cooling performance as warm air carries moisture and will pose risks to the frozen food products.

Several cold chain technologies involve dry ice, gel packs, plates filled with liquids that can be reused, liquid nitrogen quilts which are insulated pieces placed over and around the goods in transit and act as a barrier to maintain temperature control constant and undisturbed.

Some hauling companies keep their refrigerated vehicles plugged in to have the cooling systems always in operation. This method is to maintain temperatures without having diesel engines still running and at the same time, it helps protect the environment by reducing co2 emissions.

Professional logistic teams need to look at specific routes and pay attention to detail and make use of the terrain and climate to assist in preserving the cooling of the frozen food products. Aside from taking advantage of shorter routes to preserve the goods, it will help prevent lower emissions to the environment.

Drivers play a vital part in the hauling of the cold chain supply process as they are responsible for keeping the vehicle’s temperature and close packing that helps to preserve the frozen food products' temperature.

It is important to check the packaging and condition of the frozen food products because at the delivery site the goods could be rejected due to damaged containers, torn packages, dented or rusty cans or leaking products. A good practice is to check the ‘best before’ and ‘use by dates on receipt of delivery.

Aside from ensuring the delivery vehicles perform at an optimum level, what is known as the ‘final mile’ is one of the most important parts of the progress of logistics as this involves the safekeeping of the food products to remain frozen and stable at the correct temperature.

About Us: K Charles Haulage operates in the UK and Europe as a modern haulage and logistics company. They offer same day and overnight services and vehicle-tracking solutions. They specialise in the transportation of bulk freight goods, chilled and frozen safely stored food that carries a long shelf life, trucks and semi-trailers. They are passionate and offer the highest standard of service, delivering on deadlines and committed to customer satisfaction. They are green-friendly and support the initiative to a healthier environment and help reduce carbon emissions from the atmosphere. Their values represent their dedication and service and their goals are more than to deliver goods for clients but to do the best they can in all areas of the industry. Please feel free to visit our online website https://kcharleshaulage.co.uk today and learn more about how we can assist you to accomplish your transport goals.