Even though there exist risks and challenges that concern the liquid transport sector, it’s important to take proper actions to reduce them. This would be beneficial not only for the haulier himself but also for the company and other drivers with whom he shares the road.

Rios Sangiao is a business that since 1994 has been dedicated to the transport and preservation of liquid food products. The need to transport products in liquid form arises mainly because of the geographical diversity in food production and consumption, as not everyone has animals at home to obtain milk for breakfast, but many people want to have milk for breakfast.

Liquid transport is the transport of liquid substances from one place to another, using means of transport that are adapted to the conditions of these products.

In our case, the liquid foods we transport are: milk, wine, oil, cream and juice. To transport them, we use the commonly used isothermal tanks.

Apart from the benefits that this type of transport offers us, such as versatility, cost reduction, etc., it also presents certain additional risks and challenges that are not associated with the transport of dry cargoes, due to the nature of the liquids. In addition, this transport requires certain safety and quality measures to ensure that these products arrive at their destination in good condition. To that end, let's take a look at some of the risks and challenges involved in transporting liquids.

One of the main challenges is safety. Spillage or leakage of any foodstuff due to poorly maintained or improperly sealed containers can cause damage to the environment or to people's health, as well as being a great loss to the company. On the other hand, poorly cleaned tanks can lead to contamination of the products transported in them, which damages the quality of the product.

Road accidents are another major challenge faced by transport companies. Although accidents have decreased significantly thanks to safety standards, trucks are still a major factor, with 5% being involved in road accidents with casualties, according to the DGT.

On the other hand, there is the risk of theft or tampering. In recent years, theft from transport trucks has increased significantly, both in terms of the goods they carry and the fuel they need to transport them. Although there are many methods to make theft more difficult, they are not 100% secure. In addition to damaging the goods or the condition of the vehicle, they also pose a risk to the safety and integrity of the driver.

The regulations required for this type of transport are much more extensive and stringent than those for other types of vehicles. It is therefore necessary to comply with all local and international regulations, keeping up to date and adapting procedures accordingly.

Now that we know some of the challenges and risks facing liquid transport, how can we mitigate them? We must ensure that the transports we purchase are in perfect condition, comply with the relevant regulations and are thoroughly and effectively cleaned using the right products and methods. In addition, regular maintenance and checking the condition of doors, valves and seals will help to improve safety and reduce the risk of leakage or contamination.

To reduce traffic accidents, routes with less traffic density can be established, traffic regulations should be respected, fatigue should be avoided by making the necessary stops, and road conditions should be kept up to date.

We must establish routes that do not endanger either the load or the integrity of the driver in order to reduce the risk of theft or damage to the goods. We can also rely on new security systems and technological advances such as surveillance cameras inside or outside the vehicle and motion sensors to help detect unauthorised tampering.

Although there are challenges and risks that apply to the liquid transport sector, it is important to take appropriate measures to mitigate them, such as those mentioned above. It would not only be beneficial not only for the transporter himself but also for the company and other drivers with whom it shares the road.

Today we’ll talk about the history of this type of transport. We know that these tanks were created thanks to the improvements of the refrigerated trucks, but how do we do that? And the most interest thing, since when is it done? Road transport is undoubtedly the most widely used form of transport. It is carried out by vans, lorries, etc. But if we have to think about the protagonist par excellence of land transport, it is, without a doubt, the truck. Day after day we see trucks and trucks on the roads. Square, round, small, large trucks, those that transport wood, those that transport animals, those that transport milk… At Rios Sangiao we are specialists in isothermal transport, so today we will talk about the history of this transport model. We know that these tanks were created thanks to the appearance and improvement of refrigerated lorries. But how do we do it, and more interestingly, since when has it been done?

To find out more about the history of these tanks, we must first investigate and analyse refrigerated trucks, and to do so, we must know their history.

In 1877, the American businessman Gustavus Franklin Swift (1839-1903) managed, after several attempts, to develop a transport cooling system in order to keep meat as cold as possible during its movement across the country.

His new transport model consisted of ventilated ice boxes at the ends of the vehicle, which, together with the doors open during the journey, allowed cold air to circulate, thus keeping the meat cold. Despite this, the drivers had to stop every so often to change the ice and it only worked when the weather was cold, as when it was warm the ice would melt.

In 1939, the most important improvement to this process was made by truck executive Henry Werner and a sound system manufacturer, Joseph Numero. While playing golf, they discussed the need to ship meat across the United States without it spoiling. So, Joseph got in touch with inventor Fred Jones to jointly develop a vehicle that would allow meat to be moved without spoiling. It was in the same year that they both received a patent for the mechanical refrigeration device for the vehicle. This device consisted of a portable air conditioning unit that came out of the containers and used the vehicle's engine as a power source.

When the United States enters World War II two years later, this new vehicle, known as the Thermo King, is used to transport food, blood and medicine. This made it possible for many lives to be saved during the war. Later this system would be implemented in other means of transport such as aeroplanes and railways.

Thus, the refrigerated truck made an important leap into conventional transport, because apart from being the best known means of transport for shipping goods, the need to increase the number of refrigerated lorries also arose.

Gradually the Thermo Kings, which were originally small units, became the standard for all trucking companies and with various advances, such as the condenser and evaporator, among them, the trucking industry was able to grow its business.

Today, refrigerated trucks are powered by four components working together, the compressor, the condenser, the evaporator and the control system. These maintain the right temperature inside the cargo compartment, where the goods are stored, so that they do not spoil during the journey.

Isothermal tanks have much the same function: to maintain a suitable temperature inside so that the products being transported do not deteriorate. In contrast to isothermal tanks, refrigerated trucks need to maintain a constant low temperature, whereas isothermal tanks only ensure that the outside temperature does not mix with the temperature inside the tank.

Thanks to this American invention, it was possible to develop a method of transport that is indispensable today, allowing us to transport products that require an optimum temperature to keep them in good condition, such as, in our case, wine, oil, milk, cream and juice, while maintaining the same and only objective: that they arrive at their destination in the best possible conditions.