The transport of food goods, especially when there are a lot of them, requires compliance with certain rules resulting from international and national legal regulations. The restrictive rules must be followed above all by entrepreneurs delivering products to points of sale. Any possible irregularities may result in significant material losses, as well as pose a threat to future consumers. Time plays an important role in the transport of food, as some products have a limited shelf life.

Vehicle types used to transport food products

Road transport is particularly common in the transport of food. The vehicles used can be divided into cooling and heating. Among the former, there are also three categories:

  • isothermal - they are not equipped with their own cooling system, but all walls are properly insulated to keep the temperature throughout the journey,
  • cooling - they have insulated walls and roof, and also have a mechanical cooling system in the form of a compressor unit, which allows to lower the temperature even to -20 degrees Celsius,
  • ice stores - they are equipped with a cooling system other than that of the previous type of vehicle (e.g. liquefied gas or ice), and also have insulated walls and roof.

Requirements for the carrier

Each car intended for the transport of food products must be approved by the County Sanitary Inspectorate. In the case of transporting meat or other products of animal origin, registration with the Chief Veterinary Inspectorate is necessary. It is also very important to have an up-to-date Sanitary Booklet. These types of products should also be registered by the district veterinarian.

Transporters should be kept clean and in good condition to prevent contamination from entering the food products. If the vehicle is also used to transport other items, not just food, cleaning or disinfection between transports is required. Each process should be recorded in a specially dedicated book.

A car equipped with a refrigerated truck should have a system for recording the current temperature - the recipient of the cargo may request such a record. Its constant level throughout the journey is extremely important. Continuous defrosting and freezing of products is dangerous to health.

Additional rules apply to means of transport transporting loose and liquid materials of plant origin. In their case, it is not necessary to keep the temperature below 0 degrees Celsius, but they should be protected against external contamination (e.g. pests). The vehicle must only be used for the transport of food and be properly marked.

Who is responsible for incorrect transport?

The responsibility for the proper transportation of food rests with the carrier. It is also important for the manufacturer to provide high-quality and safe products. When ordering transport, it is necessary to specify the exact conditions that should be met and the procedures to be followed by the driver in the event of an accident, unexpected stop or detour. Taking care of all issues related to the transport of food products applies not only to the interior of the vehicle, but also to the process and space in which the loading and unloading takes place.

Law basics

The rules relating to the transport of food products are set out in several documents. The main one is the act on health conditions of food and nutrition. It is also worth remembering about the regulations issued to it, e.g. on sanitary requirements for food transport means, processing aids, permitted additives and other ingredients.

You should also take into account the ATP agreement, where you can find data on appropriate temperatures during the transport of chilled and frozen food. For example, frozen or quick-frozen fish should be transported at -18 degrees Celsius, and those in the chilled food category - +2 degrees Celsius. The contract does not regulate the appropriate temperature when products of animal origin are packed in single or collective packages - then the obligation rests with the producer or the person ordering the transport.

The Act on Road Transport is also worth reading. It contains the requirements for the necessary documentation when transporting perishable products.

Documentation needed

Each driver transporting food should have a certificate of compliance of the means of transport with the ATP contract. This applies to both domestic and international transport. The inspection service has the right to demand that this document be presented. If it is not available, the carrier may be fined up to PLN 8,000.

It is also necessary to have device certificates. In Poland, they can be obtained by visiting the Research Laboratory of the Faculty of Working Machines and Transport of the Poznań University of Technology or the Central Refrigeration Center in Kraków. The compliance check must be carried out within three months of the import of a means of transport with a valid ATP from abroad and its registration in the country. Periodic examinations should be carried out at least every six years or at the request of the appropriate authority.

The vehicle must be marked with an ATP sticker or plate.

Cooperation with a transport company

When entrusting the transport of goods to a transport company, you should first make sure that it has all the necessary permits to conduct such activity. A professional carrier should also have OCP insurance, which protects products in the event of fire, damage, theft or delay in delivery (in the case of food, it is of particular importance, as any delay reduces the quality and thus the value of the goods) and allows them to receive compensation. There is a possibility of an additional payment and obtaining greater protection, e.g. in the event of a failure of the cooling unit. Some insurers also protect products that have been damaged due to the lack of a valid technical inspection of the vehicle or if the driver was driving under the influence of alcohol. In the latter situation, the insurer, after paying the money, may, however, apply for a refund from an irresponsible driver. OCP insurance is not obligatory, but it is worth buying, as a large number of clients will probably not decide to entrust the contract to a company that does not have it.

Compensation is only due if there were no faults on the part of the ordering party, such as improper packaging of the goods. There are two types of OCP policy - for domestic and international transport.

When starting cooperation with the company, the client is also obliged to inform it about the requirements for specific products, such as the appropriate temperature or humidity. Provide all information on how to deal with random events that could delay delivery.

The cost of such a service varies greatly and depends on several factors:

  • the size of the load,
  • the length of the route,
  • collection and delivery time,
  • type of transported products,
  • the need to ensure appropriate transport conditions,
  • internal arrangements of the shipping company.

The transport of food products, especially perishable ones, is difficult due to the obligations imposed on carriers and the rules resulting from the law. Only their fulfillment guarantees the safety and maintenance of high-quality food.