'Little thought has been given to help fridge operators meet new regs'
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6 efrigerated hauliers face increased
duties of core and reporting as a result of legislation in recent years including the Food Safety Act and the Quick Frozen Food Regulations. These rules are likely to be enhanced by new regulations from Brussels for chilled foods. There could be an extension of ATP to cover all refrigerated movements within the Single Market. The rules have increased vigilance among the food manufacturers and their customers, primarily the major retailers.
These regulations are to be welcomed for the added protection they afford to the consumer. I do not criticise these laws. However, everything seems to be one-sided and little thought has been given to how additional assistance can be offered to refrigerated operators to help them comply.
I am mainly concerned about the regulations regarding temperature monitoring of quick frozen foods and the inevitable spin off via the Food Safety Act. Operators are legally or commercially, and in many cases both, required to fit temperature recorders. Dependent upon your viewpoint, these can be regarded as a help or hindrance. Indeed, they can offer valuable protection to operators by proving they have satisfactorily maintained the proximate air temperatures within the container and thus preclude claims for noncompliant product rejection. These devices are fine when your equipment is in operation. However, many multi-drop or longdistance journeys last more than one shift. Couple that with weekend driving bans in certain European countries and operators have a major headache. What do operators do about
refrigeration when drivers have to stop for nine hours or more? How does the driver sleep with a two-litre diesel engine running just a cab wall away? Even with earplugs, what about non-reefer drivers at the truckstop or autoroute rest area?
True, modern refrigeration equipment is quieter than its predecessors. But there is still the question of unnecessary use of fuel and unwanted emissions. To switch off, the driver runs the risk of compromising the air temperature trace and ultimately load rejection. Running the fridge means a sleepless night or incurring the wrath of neighbours. Anyway, having gone to the trouble of producing and loading products at the right temperature, which food producer would contemplate a nine-hour switch off?
The answer is simple. Truck stops and rest areas should be compelled to provide a number of parking places with plug-in points for the electric stand-by facility fitted to most fridges. Truckstop operators could recoup their costs by charging through a swipe card or diesel card system. They would be providing an invaluable service for the driver, the customer, the consumer and, indeed, the environment. No emissions, minimal noise, and maintenance of the cold chain throughout the whole of a journey for the good of the product and the protection of health for us all.
• if you wont to sound off about a road transport issue write to features editor Patric Cunnane.