In the food liquid transport sector, cleaning all elements that come into contact with liquids is a matter of absolute priority.

The health and quality standards we apply at Rios Sangiao exceed regulations to ensure and guarantee the maximum preservation of any food liquid we transport.

Our processes include the washing of tanks, which is carried out in specific washing stations that meet certain requirements according to the washing needs.

The washing process for our isothermal tanks

The washing we carry out in our isothermal tanks follows EFTCO protocols, which is the international association that includes 630 cleaning points in more than 25 countries in the European Union and whose objectives are to standardise reliable and environmentally friendly cleaning services. EFTCO cooperates with European federations such as the European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic), the European Chemical Transport Association (ECTA) and the International Tank Container Organisation (ITCO).

The EFTCO Cleaning Document (ECD) was launched over 25 years ago, withmore than 4 million documents completed annually at present. This makes the ECD the most recognised and number one cleaning document in Europe, with growing global expansion. The EFTCO Cleaning Document (ECD) is a
supporting document for each tank cleaning within the supply chain process. It certifies which cleaning steps have been carried out.

First, a cleaning order is generated in written format with all the necessary details to prevent damage to equipment, accidents and unsatisfactory service performance. This order includes information such as:

• Clear identification of the equipment
• Time of arrival
• Last product — accompanied by the safety data sheet, especially
  if the product is unknown to the cleaning station
• Information on any known amount of residue
• Type of lining or coating
• Information about known damage to the coating or
  covering
• Detailed cleaning instructions
• Indication of necessary and possible inspections after cleaning
• Special documentation requirements

It is the responsibility of cleaning stations to comply with all specific requirements for cleaning coated and lined tanks and to notify if they are unable to fully comply with the requirements.

Depending on the type of products transported, we establish washing requirements that include:

• pressure
• temperature
• use of cleaning solvents
• instructions to prevent damage to coated or lined neck rings

Depending on the type of coating on the cistern, the water must not exceed a certain temperature, pressure, jet direction and pressure.

It is common for customers to add specific requirements according to their particular needs.

Once cleaning has been carried out, an inspection is performed to verify the process, and the tank will be declared clean when there are no visible traces of the last product or cleaning agent after inspection from the filling ports. Entry into the tank is avoided to minimise the risk of external contamination.

Once the washing and drying process has been completed, where applicable, the washing is certified in order to ensure traceability of the processes applied in the isothermal tank and to provide supporting documentation for the application of all processes required by Rios Sangiao or the customer.

As we mentioned in mid-January, the editorial team at transporte3.com magazine chose our director Brais Sangiao to be part of the jury for the Best Truck of the Year in Spain 2026 and Fifth Wheel: Tanker of the Year 2026 awards. Today we interview him to find out more about these awards:

After several years attending this event, what has the experience been like as a jury member?

Well, the experience hasn't really changed that much because the vote is cast in advance and before a notary in a sealed envelope, so by the time we arrive at the awards ceremony, everything has already been counted and decided; but even so, the members of the jury don't know who the winners will be
because we don't know how the other members of the jury have voted.

In any case, attending as a jury member has been a source of pride for Rios Sangiao, as we were selected by transporte3.com magazine as specialists and leaders in our sector with the capacity and criteria to decide on the Truck of the Year and Tanker of the Year categories.

Was it difficult to choose the winners? Yes and no. I knew right from the start which one

Yes and no. I knew right from the start which one would be Truck of the Year, but choosing Tanker of the Year was extremely difficult. Parcisa and Farcinox presented extraordinary models with major advances in sustainability and technology respectively, which made the choice very close and extremely complicated. In fact, at Rios Sangiao we are aware of the high quality of these manufacturers and our fleet consists of isothermal tankers from both brands.

What aspects were most highly valued when casting the votes?

Clearly, innovation. As mentioned above, Parcisa presented innovations in sustainability with more environmentally friendly materials and isothermal tanks equipped with solar panels for self-consumption. Farcinox, for its part, focused on technological innovation with assisted manoeuvrability systems with 360º vision in the vehicle's area of influence. These are examples of excellent R&D work by these two manufacturers.

So, can we find out who the winners are?

Yes, of course. MAN Trucks was the winner of Truck of the Year, and Farcinox won in the isothermal tankers category. All the awards in all categories were presented at the gala.

What is the ceremony like? Is it a meeting place for the sector?

Of course it is. The awards ceremony was held in a hotel in central Madrid and a total of around three hundred people linked to transport attended, most of whom we already know, and there was a friendly atmosphere in which we took the opportunity to talk about the situation in the sector, the challenges we
face and the difficulties we encounter on a daily basis. These are very enjoyable moments of fellowship between colleagues.

As for the gala itself, although there are many awards in many categories and it lasts almost three hours, it is very enjoyable and dynamic.

What would you say are the challenges facing the sector that were most discussed at this event?

Clearly, the additional costs involved in increasing the weight limit to fortyfour tonnes, combined with the additional costs across all supply chains in the sector, are a common denominator in all areas of transport, regardless of whether it involves the transport of liquid foodstuffs, chemicals, aggregates, etc.

So, is this not a good time for the sector?

Yes, it is. We have a very heavy workload and demand, but we have to manage it very efficiently because costs are rising and could compromise profitability. If this happens, it could be a big problem.

Will there be other similar events throughout the year that bring together the transport sector and that Rios Sangiao will attend?

Indeed, throughout the year there are various trade fairs related to the sector that we usually attend to meet with customers, suppliers and partner companies.

We are in contact.

Although these are essential questions in journalism, they are also essential in traceability, which ultimately ensures a documented, implemented and maintained system that allows any transport service and goods under control to be identified and reconstructed, including mass/quantity balance, in ompliance with IFS Logistics v3 (4.4) and customer requirements.

This traceability applies to all bulk liquid food transport services provided by Rios Sangiao. It includes the management of service documentation (loading orders, CMR/waybill, loading/unloading data, product, quantity, tank/compartment, cleaning and washing certificates, incidents, seals where applicable) and the ability to retrieve, as a minimum, the three previous loads per compartment and the cleaning history, as well as the location of the equipment during the journey via GPS or telephone.

All documentation and records of a service, whether on paper or in electronic format, are fully traceable and allow the service to be reconstructed within a maximum target time of 4 hours, including mass quantity balance, in line with IFS Logistics.

The areas of traceability in which intervention takes place are:

Management

• Ensures resources and means for the traceability system (tools, files, access to information, training).
• Approves the procedure and reviews relevant test results/anomalies.

Quality Manager

• Maintains the procedure and formats (F-12.1 and F-12.2).
• Coordinates the annual traceability test and records results, including time spent (maximum time target of 4 hours).
• Manages related incidents/NCs using P-03.

Traffic/Operations

• Ensures that each service has a complete file (loading order, CMR, certificates, etc.).
• Ensures vehicle/equipment identification and linking to the service.

Drivers

• Complete and deliver service documentation as instructed (CMR/waybill, incidents, seals where applicable).
• They report any incidents during loading/transport/unloading.

Administration

• Files the service record and ensures its quick retrieval in case of subsequent consultation.

The traceability system is linked not only to the load, but also to the vehicle, establishing a history of journeys, loads, unloads and cleaning of isothermal tanks through certifications at production plants and washing facilities approved by default under EFTCO protocols or, failing that, those determined by the customer for this purpose.

The vehicle traceability file must include at least the following:

• Loading order/order and customer requirements (washing, seals, etc.).
• CMR/waybill and loading/unloading documentation.
• Product and quantity (loaded and unloaded) and, where applicable, measurement reading/record.
• Identification of transport equipment (tractor/tanker/compartments) and driver.
• Washing certificate(s) and/or cleaning records; history of previous loads per compartment.
• Incidents and actions (P-03) and tracking/location evidence where applicable.

At the customer's request, this file may also include records of seals on openings, valves or specific points. The seal number is recorded in the service documentation (e.g. CMR/loading order) and its integrity is verified upon unloading. Locks, valves and hoses are also checked before and after the
operation, and deviations are managed using P-03.

The quantities loaded and unloaded are also recorded. The difference (if any) is analysed taking into account customer criteria and technical factors such as temperature/density, measurement method, permitted losses, etc. When the difference exceeds the agreed criteria or cannot be justified, it is recorded as an incident and managed according to P-03.

Personnel involved in traceability (traffic, administration and drivers) receive training on completing records and specific customer requirements. The Quality Manager reviews the indicators and test results at least annually and implements improvements when necessary.

This gives us greater control over our food liquid transport, allowing us to know where, when, how and why each vehicle is carrying a particular load, and we can pass this information on to the customer for their own quality control purposes.