SINCE April, large food haulers were required to comply with the Food and Drug Administration’s new sanitary food transportation rules that were developed under the Food Safety Modernization Act. Smaller food carriers must comply by April 6, 2018.
Large fleets are those with revenues in excess of $27.5 million and private fleets with more than 500 employees.
Carriers are required to constantly monitor temperatures inside refrigerated and non-refrigerated trailers and vans when they haul certain perishable food for human or animal consumption. The sanitary food transportation rule also require liquid and dry bulk food haulers to clean after each trip any trailer surfaces or equipment that come into direct contact with food so that the next load isn’t contaminated by possible allergens.
Carriers must be capable of exchanging information with shippers about prior cargoes. They also must also keep copies of their compliance records for up to 12 months, providing enforcement officers immediate access to data for the last six months. Drivers must be adequately trained to ensure that trailers have been properly prepared for the next load and that cargoes are transported at the proper temperatures.
Bulk Transporter has assembled a roundup of some of the technology and training programs that are being offered to help carriers, drivers, and shippers to achieve compliance with the sanitary food transportation requirements.
Temperature tech
Digi International (www.digi.com), a global provider of machine-to-machine (M2M) and Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity products and services, introduced Digi SafeTemps earlier this year. Designed in conjunction with leading transportation and logistics companies, Digi SafeTemps provides precise and continuous visibility using wireless monitors that automatically generate temperature alerts and reports of perishable goods throughout the transportation and supply chain process. The monitoring devices can work in tank trailers and tank containers, as well as reefers and dry vans.
As part of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), the FDA issued new food safety rules to prevent food contamination during transportation. The rules require those involved in transporting human and animal food by motor or rail vehicle to follow recognized best practices for sanitary transportation, including properly refrigerating food. Shippers and receivers must verify that transport units are pre-cooled prior to loading, and track temperatures during transit. They must also capture, log and share temperature-monitoring data to show end-to-end compliance.
In addition to providing customers with the ability to meet new FSMA requirements, Digi SafeTemps also provides an independent audit of refrigerated trailers. With Digi SafeTemps technology deployed directly within each zone inside the container a real-time and accurate record verifies that the reefer unit is meeting FSMA requirements.
Location-based real-time temperature monitoring: Digi SafeTemps provides location-based, real-time temperature monitoring and alert notification. By linking positioning and temperature monitoring, the customer has complete visibility throughout the transport chain. The system can locate and monitor refrigeration units in trailer yards during preparation, as it leaves the shipper location (ie geo-fencing), in transit, arrival at destination, and location in the destination yard. During the course of the shipment, the system provides breadcrumbing and zone temperatures with five-minute stop detection. During transit, through integration with dispatch and telematics software, shippers and carriers are immediately alerted to any temperature event. Additionally, by placing the Digi SafeTemps gateway on the outside refrigeration unit, an LED light visibly alerts yard managers, shippers, and carriers to any temperature fail event.
Automated trip and shipment reports: Through proactive, real-time monitoring, Digi SafeTemps provides automated and detailed trip, shipment and customer delivery reports. Information can be presented in a Digi-hosted dashboard, as well as be integrated with ERP, Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), Dock Management Systems (DMS), yard management systems and transport management systems.
Error-free, precise dData to adhere to FSMA requirements: By eliminating manual input of temperature information, sensor-based input saves labor, eliminates potential human error and provides reliable data to verify adherence to FSMA requirements. Additionally, automated data logging and temperature tracking provides verification to product specific temperature rule sets such as the four-hour and one-hour time/temperature rule set. Digi SafeTemps follows Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) and National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) standards to provide a traceable independent audit of both reefer units and product temperatures.
A subscription-based service, Digi SafeTemps is comprised of wireless sensors, gateways and software that allow temperature data to be monitored, logged, and retrieved independent of the make or model of refrigeration unit. Data transmission is able to adjust to various environments to take advantage of Bluetooth, WiFi or LTE/3G cellular networks. Hardware and software are included as part of the subscription and requires no capital expense.
For more information visit: https://www.digi.com/smart-solutions/safetemps.
ORBCOMM Inc has launched the next generation of its cold chain monitoring solution. ORBCOMM’s PT 6000, which is available as a 3G or LTE cellular or dual-mode satellite-cellular version, enables fuel and temperature management, maintenance, logistics and regulatory compliance for temperature-controlled transport assets.
As part of ORBCOMM’s comprehensive telematics solution that includes sensors, connectivity and the CargoWatch application, the compact, ruggedized PT 6000 enables complete visibility and control of cold chain operations to help ensure the integrity of temperature-controlled cargo as it moves along the supply chain. ORBCOMM’s enhanced reefer management solution provides the precise temperature monitoring capabilities and records needed for compliance with the FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act regulatory requirements. The solution can remotely set reefer temperature, change reefer state, initiate a defrost and more with two-way commands.
It can receive real-time alarms when specific conditions are detected, such as an active reefer is turned off, cargo area temperature deviates from the set points or does not match values specified by the order, an asset enters or exits a geofence, and rapid fuel loss is detected.
ORBCOMM’s system is compatible with every type of refrigerated unit for maximum utilization and seamless installation on the wall of a refrigerated trailer or inside a reefer cabinet. The device supports up to three temperature sensors to accommodate reefers with multiple zones and has a rechargeable battery that reports for up to 10 days on a single charge when no vehicle power is available. In addition, the device is fully integrated with third-party dispatch and in-cab software providers, including Innovative Computing Corp, TMW Systems, McLeod Software, Add On Systems, PeopleNet, SSI, and Prophesy.
To learn more about ORBCOMM’s cold chain monitoring solution, access www.orbcomm.com.
FourKites has introduced a real-time temperature and location tracking solution for shippers. The offering allows FourKites’ customers to monitor shipment temperatures and ensure compliance across their supply chains.
FourKites real-time temperature tracking makes it easier for enterprise shippers to comply with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), which requires shippers and carriers to take steps to ensure that temperature-sensitive foods remain within specified safe temperature ranges during transit.
“As a partner to the largest food and beverage companies in the United States, helping our customers achieve FSMA compliance is a natural evolution of our product,” said Mathew Elenjickal, founder and chief executive officer of FourKites. “Our real-time temperature tracking solution will enable customers across a wide range of industries to ensure the safety and freshness of their products.”
Transporting temperature-sensitive goods like produce and pharmaceuticals cross-country has historically created challenges, even for vehicles equipped with the latest refrigeration and telematics systems, because of the lack of real-time connectivity between carriers and shippers.
FourKites’ solution solves that challenge by relaying load temperatures in tandem with location data every 15 minutes from leading telematics and trailer temperature tracking manufacturers. Customizable notifications alert users as soon as temperatures fall outside a specified range. Visualization and analysis tools enable shippers to review individual and aggregated load temperatures over time to spot trends and to compare against industry benchmarks to improve operationally.
For more information, access www.fourkites.com
A new PhoneApp developed by Dr John M Ryan is a user-friendly, one-finger driver smartphone data entry to record load, unload, sanitation, and trailer and vehicle maintenance as events occur. It also includes an option for fully automated truck/trailer load date/time traceability and temperature monitoring.
This phone App is part of the Food Transportation Manager (FTM), a complete package and that quickly delivers mandated driver training, unparalleled data collection, record keeping and a data management solution for drivers and operations personnel involved in the transportation of perishable foods.
How the Food Transportation Manager (FTM) works:
The free Android smartphone app enables driver recording of all data “as it happens”: records time/date and GPS stamped: Sales order tracking, driver load acceptance, trailer or container wash, inspection, test, product load and unload, maintenance, temperature limits, security seals, prior loads, precool, accidents, reefer failure, trailer maintenance, and more.
The driver can easily upload all data and compliance records to Cloud storage with the touch of a finger: date/time/location/records are kept in a driver owned file that can be shared (with driver permission) to carriers, shippers, receivers or auditors. Free online data analysis and management reports provided for the individual trailer or vehicle fleets. A Global Temperature monitoring Blue Tooth tag is also available for vehicle/trailer traceability. All temperature and GPS records may be maintained at an additional price.
Global Tracking Systems provides the technology needed to simply and cost effectively collect, analyze and report temperature, load, unload, inspection, and other critical food transportation management data.
For more information, contact Ryan at [email protected]
Training tools
CarriersEdge, providers of online safety and compliance training tools for the North American transportation industry, offers Food Safety for Drivers, a training module for preparing drivers to meet the requirements of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).
“Food Safety for Drivers prepares drivers for transporting food in accordance with FSMA regulations,” said Jane Jazrawy, chief executive officer of CarriersEdge. “Along with importers, manufacturers, shippers and carriers, drivers have an important role to play in the safe transportation of food. This new course focuses on FSMA regulations and best practices to help drivers prevent food contamination.”
Food Safety for Drivers is a 30-minute module that uses images, interactivity and real life examples to cover what drivers need to know about preparing themselves and their trailers for transporting food in accordance with FSMA regulations. The module includes quizzes and a final test, which carriers can use to maintain food safety training records.
After completing the module, drivers will be able to describe hazards that cause food contamination and how food borne illnesses occur, explain the purpose of the FSMA regulations, describe their responsibilities in safely transporting food, list good hygiene practices, explain how a refrigeration unit works and how to prepare, inspect, pre-cool and load a trailer as well as monitoring cargo. Topics covered in the Food Safety for Drivers course include:
• Good Hygiene Practices, including wearing appropriate clothing, covering skin abrasions, proper hand sanitation, how to cough and sneeze properly and activities to avoid.
• Preparing the Trailer, including checking the trailer’s condition, with special consideration for items such as the air delivery chute, doors, as well as signs of rodent or insect infestation, cleaning the trailer, inspecting the refrigeration unit and correct pre-cooling procedures.
• Loading the Trailer, including temperature management, packaging, placement, and segregation of cargo, as well as allowing for sufficient airflow, and documentation.
Fleet management
The BOLT software system helps fleet managers to meet the new federal regulation requiring the prevention of cross-contamination in between loads and the constant monitoring of load conditions during transit, BOLT System offers a fleet management solution to help them meet those new requirements.
“BOLT System currently offers carriers a level of cargo monitoring and record keeping that meets these new requirements,” said Jerry Robertson, chief technology officer for BOLT. “When we started developing our fleet management system more than 10 years ago, we worked on providing our fleet customers the ability to monitor and track cargo and provide that information to their shippers in real-time while it’s in transit. That’s how we’re far ahead of many of our competitors in providing fleets and carriers a way to meet the sanitary transportation rule.
“There’s no doubt that for smaller trucking companies the burden of complying with the sanitary transportation rule will be more difficult as they replace their older equipment,” Robertson said. “But once they do have refrigeration units that can monitor multiple temperature sensors and send that information electronically, BOLT System will make it much easier for them to provide inspectors or shippers up to 12 months of compliance data. And they will have ready access to it on any Internet-capable device.”
Carrier certification
TransComply, manager of the Uniform Food Safety Transportation Protocol (UFSTP), has launched at www.ufstp.com/verify public listings of motor carriers that have complied with all the requirements for participation in the program. The UFSTP offers a way for shippers, brokers, warehouses, and others to identify carriers that have committed to the standards they will expect for compliance with the rules covering sanitary transportation of human and animal food.
To be confirmed, a carrier must satisfy the program’s requirements:
• Executing the UFSTP agreement, which commits the carrier to compliance in areas such as equipment management and temperature control; following shipper specifications; and training and record keeping;
• Providing evidence of insurance—at least $750,000 BI/PD and at least $100,000 cargo—and making TransComply a certificate holder; and
• Maintaining active FMCSA authority
TransComply maintains the executed UFSTP agreement and certificates of insurance on file for each confirmed UFSTP carrier and continually monitors FMCSA authority and insurance coverage. Carriers that fail to meet the standards for ongoing participation are removed. Shippers, brokers and others confirm a carrier’s participation at www.ufstp.com/verify. Shippers and brokers can use UFSTP participation as a vetting tool, or they can incorporate the UFSTP agreement’s terms into contracts and load confirmations by reference.
For more information on the UFSTP, visit www.ufstp.com.
TransComply, manager of the Uniform Food Safety Transportation Protocol (UFSTP) program, and Iron Apple, a leading supplier of food safety compliance solutions for food transport, have agreed to cooperate to provide compliance training and solutions that help motor carriers and brokers comply with the FDA Sanitary Transportation of Human and Animal Food (STF) rule and promote that compliance to the shipping community.
The Iron Apple certified food safety solution is aimed at motor carriers and brokers who are responsible for transporting food throughout North America. Providing all procedures, policies, forms, employee training, workflow and documents needed for the company to meet regulatory requirements. A yearly review by a third-party auditing partner is completed to ensure all areas of the solution are being followed properly throughout the company. Carriers and brokers receive all materials needed to comply, reducing personal risk and increasing brand confidence.
For more information, visit ironapple.net or www.fsmaexpress.com. ♦