If you are running a fleet management company that deals with food transportation and deliveries, you need to ask yourself whether the fleet is ready to comply with all of the new rules. Starting a new business does not pose a lot of compliance challenges like those that run with different rules. Both 2017 and 2018 brought some changes into the industry that both small and large food transportation fleets are expected to comply with. However, all of these are for the benefit of the consumers who are the heart of the business.
FDA Regulations
Both the Food Safety Modernization Act of 2011 and Sanitary Food Transportation Act of 2005 mandate the FDA to come up with better ways of transportation of food with an aim of reducing contamination. Thus, they have been working on this before rolling it on to fleet owners and management firms. According to officials, this has since been completed in 2016.
Areas Covered
The FDA has tried to cover all food handling and transportation areas across all sectors. The primary goal is to have all vehicles and shipping containers maintained at set standards and to avoid contamination by all means. Apart from hygiene, temperature control is another concern one has to address. Thus, if you are in this sector, you need to understand the new rules and comply. Here are the areas covered.
- Transportation of food from the firms, especially animals and animal products.
- Shipping and receiving of food and in and out of the country.
- Food transportation through enclosed trucks.
- Food preservation gasses transportation.
Keeping of Records
Fleet companies are required to keep records of their transportation and shipping process. This includes the delivery time, temperatures of the enclosed vehicle at any specific time, and the condition of the food, among many other things. On the other hand, shippers need to show agreements, contracts, and condition records of the food items they are shipping.
According to experts, there is no better way of handling records than embracing technology. This is where fleet solution providers like eyerideonline.com come in. They have record keeping and transmission solutions for you.
Driver Training
Another requirement by the new regulations is the need to train drivers on how to handle food during deliveries. The argument is that some contamination can be prevented by the drivers while they are doing transportation. As a fleet owner or company, you need to show proof that your drivers have undergone training.
Apart from complying with the regulations, delivery fleet driver training on how to handle food safely will also be a plus to the company. Minimal loss of food means more cost-saving and more profits. Customers will also trust your company, which builds a better reputation in the end.
Check the Entire Transportation Process
The last thing you need to do is assess the entire food transportation process and see to it that it is compliant with the new rules. If not, then you are not yet ready. The authorities have ways of doing verifications. Of course, no fleet company wants to be locked out of business or get fined. Get your fleet ready.