Indiana tageting reefers

I just read this the first time. It sounds like another mixed up construed news article. Food is regulated by USDA inspectors. Was the unit off or was it on cycle? It all depends on the loaded product. In the heat we have been having, even on cycle the unit would be running almost continually.

It probably went more like the trucker was pulled over, the ISP seen a yellow alarm light and called the USDA in on it. The trailer is sealed and the ISP better be prepared to reseal it. Most warehouses have their own USDA inspector and a load like that would be rejected in a heartbeat. Even an end of the line customer with any sense would reject it.

 

Its not that easy many times especially with the LTL trucks. The load I currently all together has 38 pallets and consists of frozen, 20*, 28*, 35*, 40*, and 45+*. Thats just whats on 7 out of the 15 BOL I have and some of the frozen is bulkheaded in the nose and some is about 3/4 of the way back. Would you know how to set the unit temp or bulkhead vents? Which pallets need wrapped and which don't? It takes proper training and experience to know how different products react to different temps. Some you can run colder/hotter and some you can't. You should see the weird looks I get from OTR drivers on the dock when I move my bulkhead around or wrap/unwrap pallets that are covered with my pallet blankets. So as you can see it is not as simple as looking at a BOL and setting a temp.

As much as I hate to say this I give kuddos to the ISP for their efforts. I think there should be more enforcement by the DOT and FDA on the whole temp situation

 

The article that I read in the news about the truck pulled over near Lafayette, stated that the ISP pulled the driver over, and on his way walking up to the tractor, he could "smell" something rotten, upon further investigation the trooper called the state board of health, they came out and checked the temperature of the food, and it was well over established safe temperature, they condemned the load and ordered it destroyed and the driver was cited. They also stated the last few drops that he had yet to make at local resturaunts, giving names and locations. They have found several north of Indy as well. I used to haul ice cream and I have seen them take a pallet jack in the trailer, bring the skid out and set it on the dock, then a forklift from the freezer would come out and pick up the skid and take it into the freezer. Many times I have seen the ice cream frost over while setting on the dock, then the frost would melt off, then the moisture would nearly dry before the forklift driver came out to take it into the freezer. I always reported it to the company, but never heard anymore about it. I would say that if the board of health people could see what most drivers see on a regular basis, we would have a lot different accountability measures in the industry. It is always a few bad apples that cause the whole basket full to be further scrutinized. Why not yank a CDL, or if the driver could document the orders from the company, yank the authority? I don't know the answer, but maybe it is time for it to be discussed and debated.

 

Same as picking up import meat @ 0 and running it @ 45-50 so it can be worked when it arrives.

 

I seen a guy hauling about 6- 7 cases of boxed meat in the back of a pickup in 100+ degree weather while running through charleston,wv a few weeks ago....i'll bet the stuff was "well seasoned" by the time he got where he was going.

 

the news story said that ISP can pull over trucks even if they didnt comment a moving violation.

 

I would guess any state board of health has the power to authorize the state and local police to inspect food carriers.

Mikeeee

 

These have all been straight trucks that deliver to local locations. Their biggest "bust" was 1 ton.