The FDA and the IRTA (International Refrigerated Transportation Association) have recently put into place a list of guidelines and best practices which aim to guide refrigerated truck owners and operators who use their fleets for transporting sensitive cargo at strictly-controlled temperatures. Sensitive cargo, such as perishable food, can be negatively affected if the FDA best practices are not followed, which is why we have highlighted some of the key IRTA best practices below.

Documentation should be in order

Waybills, Bills of Lading, or similar transport documentation should feature requirementswhich are clear are clear and easily measurable/quantifiable. This should help to stop them from being misinterpreted, mitigating the chance of litigation against a cold chain stakeholder. Something as simple as stipulating appropriate thermostat temperatures could see a company avoid court when following FDA best practices.

Avoiding pests

According to IRTA best practices, reefer trucks and equipment should be stored in conditions which make it difficult for pests, such as flies or rodents, to infest them. Pests could quickly make food cargo unsafe for human or animal consumption, so it is essential that appropriate measures are taken to avoid pests. Ideally, you should implement a monitored pest control program, secure sanitation records, and use secure storage areas.

Allergy precautions

There are 8 major food groups which people tend to be allergic to. These are eggs, fish, cow’s milk, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, soybeans, and wheat. These allergens make up over 90% of all allergies worldwide. FDA best practices stipulate that food processors must use appropriate packaging to warn consumers about any allergens within their products. Nonetheless, IRTA best practices say that transporters should be aware of allergen foods and ensure that they don’t come into contact with any other cargo from other food groups. Drivers are also advised to properly wash their hands after handling allergens, minimizing the potential for cross-contamination.

Thorough cleaning and sanitization

Refrigeratedtrucks transporting human food will be subjected to strict cleanliness inspections. As a result, the truck and its equipment need to be spotlessly clean throughout the cold chain transportation process, as this prevents contaminants from spreading. Cleaning the equipment helps to stop bacterial, chemical, and odor-related contamination. When sanitizing a reefer truck, you should dispose of any loose debris and sweep/wash the floors. The drains and grooves in the truck floor should be free of excess dirt and debris according to IRTA best practices, as this ensures that the drainage systems work properly.

Certain laws may require you to use certain cleaning products depending on what you’re transporting. For instance,there are often strict rules about cleaning modes of transportation which will be carrying raw meat. Many types of meatandbutterare vulnerable to odor contamination, as well as fruits like bananas and apples. When it comes to refrigerated trucks, it is not recommended that you use corrosive chemicals, as these chemicals can pit the metal and remove its special coatings which are designed to insulate it and protect against rogue contaminants.

Of course, there are too many FDA best practices and IRTA best practices to go over them all in one small article. Nonetheless, we hope that you have enjoyed this insight into the current industry best practices which should be adhered to.


IRTA and FDA Best Practices in Refrigerated Transportation was last modified: by