Every year, one of the sector's must-attend events is the National Transport Awards organised by the magazine transporte3.com and Viajeros del Grupo Editorial Editec, which this year celebrates its 38th edition. The event will be held in Madrid and we have been invited to be part of the jury for the Truck of the Year in Spain 2026 and Fifth Wheel: Tanker of the Year 2026 awards.

Our managing director, Brais Sangiao, will attend on our behalf and, together with other professionals from the sector, will decide which are the best vehicles and the best isothermal tankers of this year, which has already begun.

The editorial group at transporte3.com has selected our managing director for his more than two decades in positions of maximum responsibility, with the experience that this entails in fleet management and knowledge of vehicles and the characteristics that make them worthy of an award such as this.

The accumulated experience of Rios Sangiao and therefore its management team in the transport of liquid foodstuffs such as dairy products, juices, wines, oils and even glucose for more than 40 years, and the improvements and renovations we carry out on our fleet, make us deeply knowledgeable about this type of work tool.

The advantages of knowing our vehicles well allow us to optimise their efficiency, and ours as food liquid transport operators. It allows us to be more competitive and reduce our carbon footprint, complying with environmental requirements that enable us to work in demanding environments in this regard.

So, we will meet in Madrid to decide which will be the best vehicles for transporting goods and which will be the best tankers this year. For our part, we will contribute all our knowledge on the subject.

This time of year is a time to take stock of what the year has brought us and to look ahead to the next year and predict (or at least try to) what is to come so that we can be prepared.

2025 has brought numerous changes for the transport sector, both in general and in the specific field of food liquid transport, in the context of new regulations and the overall growth of the sector, which has been boosted by the recovery of industrial production and the increase in private consumption, factors that have increased the demand for freight transport in general.

Within this scenario, refrigerated and specialised transport — such as that provided by our isothermal tanks for food liquids — has consolidated its strategic importance due to the sustained growth of sectors such as the food industry, which requires safe and reliable cold chain solutions, as indicated by Future Market Insights.

2025 in terms of regulation

In terms of regulations, 2025 has brought some significant changes that affect us in terms of changes to our procedures:

• The definitive end of analogue and digital tachographs, to be replaced exclusively by smart terminals, as we reported in our blog back in February
• The change to 44 tonnes. This is undoubtedly the most significant regulatory change in recent years, which came into force in 2025 at the legislative level but will be progressively implemented in 2026. We explained the details at the end of October. This is a somewhat complicated development for international transport, but one that will undoubtedly have benefits for the transport sector (hopefully shared between operators, shippers and carriers).
• The definition and implementation of the eCMR for countries that are signatories to the Geneva Convention.
• The amendment to the Royal Decree regulating the transport of animal by-products or SANDACH, implementing traceability of movements of by-products not intended for human consumption, ensuring compliance with regulations establishing the mandatory use of isothermal tanks, trailers and containers exclusively for the transport of liquid foodstuffs for human consumption.
• Finally, this year leaves us with a surprise, which is none other than the moratorium on the decarbonisation process. Although we recognise that this is a necessary goal, the existing infrastructure and its progress set an implementation agenda that differs from that of the authorities.

2025 for Rios Sangiao

2025 has been a great year for Rios Sangiao, in which we have maintained the trust and commitment of our customers. We have made a significant investment in renewing our vehicle fleet, making it more efficient and sustainable. We have collaborated with social causes in our community, strengthened relationships through hard work and punctual deliveries, and improved our image with a website that better communicates our values.

We look forward to 2026 with enthusiasm and a desire to develop our business in the same way we have done until now, in accordance with our business and social principles. Imagining the company we want in the world we want.

Happy holidays and happy 2026.

25 November was the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and there has obviously been a notable decrease in the number of statements, publications and demonstrations in general in support of this date.

At our food liquid transport company, we believe that this day cannot be just adate on the calendar, but rather must represent an attitude and a commitment on the part of everyone at Rios Sangiao. We must maintain a clear and unequivocal position of zero tolerance towards gender violence every day, preventing, not tolerating, combating and prosecuting any manifestation of sexual harassment or harassment on the grounds of sex. To this end, we have a protocol for dealing with cases of gender violence, which we outlined in our previous publication.

This protocol, apart from being a declaration of intent, is a fundamental tool, firstly to provide security to any victim of gender violence and secondly to deal with any incident of this type without improvisation, swiftly and confidentially.

Our protocol combines three types of measures:

• Preventive measures: statement of principles, definition of sexual harassment and gender-based harassment, and identification of behaviours
• Proactive or procedural measures to deal with harassment: to provide a channel for any complaints or reports that may arise and applicable precautionary and/or corrective measures.
• Identification of reactive measures against harassment: and, where appropriate, the disciplinary regime.

The procedure, which from submission to resolution should not take longer than 15 days, goes through different phases:

• Submission of the complaint to the person in the company designated for this matter
• Activation of the protocol
• Informative file
• Resolution of the harassment case
• Follow-up

If the evidence indicates that harassment has occurred, the investigator will urge disciplinary measures to be taken in the report's conclusions and may even propose the disciplinary dismissal of the perpetrator in very serious cases.

The application of this type of protocol is Rios Sangiao's response to a social reality that needs to be improved and is part of our vision of our role as a company within a global context, which is in line with our way of doing things.

We believe that the excellence we strive for in the transport of liquid foodstuffs should also be applied in all areas of the company, including at a social level. This involves renewing our fleets to implement more efficient and less polluting vehicles, caring for and incentivising our staff by retaining talent, and collaborating with Rios Sangiao in social initiatives that promote healthy habits and, ultimately, social well-being.

We want our company, apart from striving for excellence in service with ontime deliveries and exquisite care of our goods, to have a positive impact on its environment and on all the people involved in Rios Sangiao's processes. We want the corporate responsibility that we apply in our work to be applied in general to our way of being.

Digital violence is real violence. #NoExcuse for online abuse

This 25 November, Rios Sangiao wants to join in the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women because dates like this provide an opportunity to raise awareness among the general public about issues such as human rights, sustainable development, health and gender-based violence.

Despite the progress made in recent years, gender-based violence is still one of the most widespread and generalised human rights violations in the world. Almost one in three women have been victims of physical and/or sexualviolence at least once in their lives, which makes it necessary to raise awareness of this problem, accept it as a reality in our society and take the necessary measures to eradicate it.

This year, the theme for 2025 is "UNITE to end digital violence against women and girls".

This year, the campaign for the Day Against Gender Violence focuses on the digital environment. Gender-based violence on online platforms is a serious and rapidly growing threat due to weak technological regulation, a lack of legal recognition of this type of aggression in some countries, the impunity of platforms due to their delocalisation, new and rapid forms of abuse using AI, movements opposed to gender equality, the anonymity of aggressors and the lack of support for digital victims.

Forms of harassment or abuse on digital platforms include:

• Misuse of images or non-consensual sharing of intimate images, often referred
  to as revenge porn or nude leaks.
• Cyberbullying, trolling, and online threats.
• Online harassment and sexual harassment;
• Falsification of images using artificial intelligence (AI): sexually explicit
  images, fake pornography, and digitally manipulated images, videos, or
  audio recordings;
• Hate speech and disinformation on platforms;
• Doxing: publication of private information;
• Hate speech and misinformation on platforms;
• Online harassment, surveillance or tracking to monitor a person's
  activities;
• Online sexual recruitment and exploitation;
• Identity theft;
• Misogynistic networks, such as the macho sphere or incel forums;

These acts are often not limited to digital environments, but are also reproduced in physical environments in the form of coercion, abuse and even femicide.

At Rios Sangiao, in addition to joining the United Nations Organisation to raise awareness of this problem, we have implemented training on equality for our staff and middle management. We also have a specific protocol for dealing with cases of gender-based violence.

This protocol designates a person within the company who is responsible for managing cases of harassment and establishes the means for processing complaints, defining the maximum time frames for each of the management phases, which include investigating the facts, auditing the people involved,
generating a report and making decisions based on the conclusions.

We are convinced that if we all take a clear stand against this problem, we will reduce cases of violence and harassment and move towards a more just and equal society.

2025 saw the introduction of smart tachographs, and it is clear that 2026 will also be a year of change. The increase in load capacity to 44 tonnes, which will be implemented at the beginning of the new year, is in addition to the change we are bringing you today: the definitive implementation of the eCMR.

What CMR is?

Until now, all international transport must carry the CMR, which is a standardised and official physical consignment note for transport between countries that are signatories to the Geneva Convention. This document contains information about the shipment: who is transporting what, for whom, from where and to where, and under what conditions.

What does the eCMR contribute?

The novelty for the coming year is that, according to EU Regulation 2020/1056, European authorities are obliged to accept and recognise the electronic information included in the eCMR. This will lead to the widespread use of this electronic document, saving management time in transport departments and inspection time for the authorities during transit. Using a QR code, all documentation is centralised and available, reducing the risk of loss and penalties, while also complying with eFTI standards.

In addition, this document contains the traceability of each action related to the cargo, with everything recorded in an instantaneously accessible and tamper-proof event log.

In our case of transporting liquid foodstuffs, it can provide additional information that guarantees the safety and traceability of the transport through information on transport temperatures, seals, and the condition of the cargo through documentation or images.

This document has been signed by more than 34 countries, most of which have ratified it, meaning that it has full legal recognition. The signatory countries have expressed their commitment to the document, but its use may be subject to limitations (such as in Italy, Portugal, Turkey, or Azerbaijan). Ireland, Bosnia, and Albania are countries that would be outside the agreement.

It is important to note that if a route crosses a non-signatory country, the eCMR has no legal validity and must be accompanied by a consignment note for that particular section.

Another step forward in 2026 to make us more competitive and efficient.

From 23 January 2026, Rios Sangiao will begin providing food liquid transport services with loads of up to 44 tonnes.

According to the publication in the Official State Gazette (BOE) of Order PJC/780/2025, which amends the General Vehicle Regulations, general cargo trucks can increase their capacity to 44 tonnes in Spain as of 23 October.

In the case of tanker trucks, which is the case that affects us at Rios Sangiao, we will be able to operate with 44 tonnes from 23 January next year.

At present, our isothermal tankers cannot travel at full load, which means that on each journey there is a loss of efficiency due to unused space.

This change therefore represents an optimisation of resources and an improvement in our competitiveness, given that all our vehicles with isothermal tanks for transporting liquid foodstuffs are approved for loads of up to 44 tonnes, as referred to in the text. Next year, we will be able to make more effective use of the full capacity of our lorries, achieving greater efficiency.

It should be noted that although most European Union countries have already adopted this measure, there is still no complete harmonisation at European level with regard to regulations on weights and dimensions in road transport. Trucks carrying 44 tonnes of cargo will not be able to continue to operate cross-border for the time being, as no truck will be allowed to cross a border with a load exceeding 40 tonnes.

This last part affects us significantly because a large percentage of our liquid food transport operations are carried out on international routes throughout the European Union, mainly to the Netherlands and Holland, so we hope that the next step for the authorities in the not too distant future will be to harmonise regulations at European level European Union and the opening of borders to these more competitive, efficient and sustainable loads.

In conclusion, this change paves the way for us to improve efficiency in 2026 in an area in which we specialise, namely the transport of dairy products, cream and the daily collection of raw milk from farms to factories. As these are domestic routes, we will be able to take full advantage of the potential and load capacity of our isothermal tankers and achieve more competitive costs.

If you don't have one, start looking for one because stocks are expected to run out towards the end of the year. From 1 January 2026, all passenger cars, adaptable mixed-use vehicles, goods vehicles and non-special vehicle combinations must have one of these beacons to signal in an emergency.

Logically, all our vehicles already have this signalling system, as at Rios Sangiao we believe that the professional transport of liquid foodstuffs means that the safety protocols we apply must be more stringent than the legislation.

When asked whether the beacons sold to date are valid, the answer is very Galician: IT DEPENDS.

The DGT establishes the mandatory requirement for geopositioning and connectivity of the beacon with Traffic Control Centres, something that many older models in circulation do not have (especially basic models), meaning that they will not comply with the legislation and must be replaced.

What are the requirements for valid beacons as of 1 January 2026?

• Be type-approved
• Have geopositioning capability
• Autonomous connectivity with Traffic Control Centres
• Pre-established connectivity plan with a minimum of 12 years from the date of purchase.
• Be visible from a minimum distance of 1,000 metres in optimal conditions.

It must be carried in the glove compartment or somewhere accessible without leaving the passenger compartment and, in an emergency, it must be placed on the roof or in a visible area of the vehicle within reach, only leaving the vehicle if we have first ensured that it is safe to do so.

The DGT (Spanish Traffic Authority) has published a list of devices approved in accordance with regulations on its website, along with a series of frequently asked questions and answers about the use of this type of beacon.

The Galician Federation of Freight Transport (FEGATRAMER) has launched an initiative to challenge in court the well-known and much-discussed nullity of the AP9 concession on the basis of its illegality, as declared by the European Commission more than five years ago.

Galicia is structured around the Atlantic corridor that connects Ferrol, Coruña, Santiago, Pontevedra, Vigo and Portugal, facilitating the movement of people and goods and consolidating a logistics corridor that is essential for the competitiveness of Galicia's productive fabric.

In addition to its role as basic transport infrastructure, the AP-9 is a strategic element for the future development of the region. It is key to attracting investment, boosting tourism and promoting business cooperation, and its continuity towards Portugal makes Galicia a privileged gateway for trade with
the Portuguese market and the European area, thus reinforcing the geostrategic position of the community in the north-west of the peninsula.

Since its construction in 1973, it has been a toll motorway in order to recoup the €1.428 billion invested, with its first concession ending in 1994 with a compensatory extension of 10 years until 2004, but the Administration extended the term for another 25 years and it was sold for around €1 billion to a consortium of companies whose economic objective was to reach €98 million per year to amortise the purchase and the outstanding capital.000 million euros to a consortium of companies whose economic objective was to reach 98 million euros per year to recoup the purchase and the outstanding capital.

These two extensions are contrary to European law, and for this reason, various groups, including FEGATRAMER, have taken legal action to demand that the route be made free of charge.

These claims highlight the illegality of the process due to the profit motive behind the operation and the absence of announcements or tendering procedures. Therefore, we request the immediate cancellation of the tolls and the reimbursement of the amounts paid to the concessionaire, as the contract
would be considered null and void.

It is clear that, from the transport sector's point of view, the AP9 toll road being free of charge will result in lower logistics costs for goods originating in or destined for our region. For a product that is of particular concern to us at Rios Sangiao, namely the transport of fresh milk from farms to factories, it
would be hugely beneficial to be able to pass on the savings to our customers and provide a much more competitive service.

Food logistics faces a constant challenge: ensuring that products reach their destination with the same physical, chemical, and organoleptic properties they had at origin. In the case of transporting liquid foods, this challenge intensifies during the summer months, when outside temperatures easily exceed 38°C and remain so throughout entire days of travel.

At Ríos Sangiao, we have been specializing in this field for decades and have a fleet of high-efficiency isothermal tanker trucks that minimize temperature variations throughout the entire journey.
Thanks to this technology, we ensure that the products transported experience a deviation of less than 3°C, even on journeys of thousands of kilometers and under conditions of intense external heat.

How does the isothermal capacity of a tanker work?

Isothermal tanks are constructed with materials and coatings specifically designed to thermally insulate the interior of the tank. This insulation prevents thermal energy from the outside environment from being
transmitted to the liquid inside, thus maintaining the temperature of the cargo within a controlled range.
In our equipment, this insulation capacity is reinforced by:

• Multi-layer insulation layers that minimize heat transfer.
• Control and monitoring systems that allow temperature stability to be verified during transport

This level of precision is particularly important for sensitive food liquids such as juices, wines, oils, and especially milk and cream, where excessive temperature variation can affect not only the taste or texture, but also food safety.

Advantages of keeping temperature variation below 3°C

Thermal control provides concrete and measurable benefits throughout the entire supply chain:

1. Preservation of organoleptic quality: liquids arrive with the same properties they had when they left their place of origin.
2. Food safety: the proliferation of microorganisms or product degradation due to temperature changes is prevented.
3. Regulatory compliance: we comply with European and national requirements for the transport of food products.
4. Reduction of losses: the product arrives intact, minimizing waste and ensuring end customer satisfaction.

Experience and commitment

The recent period of extreme heat has tested the reliability of our tankers. Once again, the results have been conclusive: our vehicles have maintained thermal stability even under the most demanding
conditions, reinforcing the trust our customers place in us.

At Ríos Sangiao, we understand that it is not just a matter of transporting food liquids, but of doing so under the exact conditions that each product requires. That is why we continuously invest in technological innovation, specialized maintenance, and training for our team.

In short, the isothermal capacity of our tanks represents a key competitive advantage for our customers, especially in times of intense heat. Being able to guarantee a variation of less than 3°C over thousands of kilometers is not only a technical achievement, but also a commitment to food safety
and product quality.

At Ríos Sangiao, we continue to move in the same direction: offering transport solutions that combine experience, technology, and rigor, ensuring that the product reaches its destination in perfect condition.

Rios Sangiao is a family business now in its third generation in the food liquid transport sector and has always been closely linked to its place of origin.

Our offices have always been based in Oroso (A Coruña, Spain) and from here we have grown to reach international markets, but always with an eye on the place where we started out.

We feel very connected to Galicia, which, with its strong dairy industry, has been and continues to be an essential market for us in the transport of liquid foodstuffs. Furthermore, due to the characteristics of fresh milk, we have specialised in one of the most delicate liquid foodstuffs to transport and ensured that our quality standards have always been the highest. Our land has taught us to work with the utmost care.

And, of course, Oroso has always been our home. It is where our tanker trucks return at the end of the year and where our workshops and offices are located. It is where we are enveloped by the fog and humidity of winter and where we sweat in the stifling heat of summer. But we like it because it is our place.

For all these reasons, we have always wanted to collaborate with the local community, and we are putting this collaboration into practice by supporting sporting activities such as today's Half Marathon and 10 km race on the English Way, organised by Rede Stelar.

We feel part of our community, a large part of our staff belongs to it, and together we work for a social environment with quality employment and social well-being.