The new Internal Market Information System (IMI) platform has been mandatory for posted drivers since Wednesday, February 2. Who is legislating this application? Which companies are obliged to use it? What are the characteristics of this system? Keep reading, because in this post we tell you all about it!

Legislation of the new IMI platform

Previously, transport companies making international trips from Spain had to register with the national platforms of each European country.

With the implementation of the Mobility Package approved in July 2020, this registration is now managed by the European Commission. As of February 2, each company will have to register in the IMI European Platform and complete all the data related to each trip. All previous national registers will also be repealed as of this date.

Which companies will have to use the new IMI platform?

Companies performing transport services in European countries and holding an EU license will be obliged to use the new platform. The obligation is independent of the country of origin, whether it is a Member State or a European Economic Area country, and whether or not it has transposed the European Parliament's Directive 1057/2020 on the posting of drivers. From May, it will also be mandatory for companies with vehicles weighing 2.5 tons or more.

In total, the 33,000 Spanish companies that carry out international transport will start using the new IMI platform. In this way, they will no longer have to register their trips on the national platforms of most European countries.

What is the IMI platform like?

The new registration platform is multilingual and intuitive. In addition, they will be able to receive requests for documents, electronically, from the control authorities of the countries, in case of possible inspections.

The movement declarations registered from the application can have a duration of up to 6 months and can be modified, cancelled or renewed. Each driver must have a copy, physical or digital, of this declaration, together with the supporting document for the transport in question and the corresponding tachograph records. It is possible to print the declarations from the platform or send them by e-mail to the driver.

In the registration of each trip, the company must enter in the application the data related to:

• The transport authorization
• The vehicle
• The driver
• The start and end dates of the trip
• The transport manager's data

What are the implications of the new registration system?

This new way of controlling international transports, together with the new cabotage rules, affects letterbox companies and competition from offshore companies with more advantageous wage conditions. Thanks to the new legislation, these drivers will be paid the minimum wage of the countries in which they carry out each transport. Transit and bilateral transports are excluded.

Thanks to the mandatory registration of each transport on the IMI platform, the control of the activity is more effective than with the previous national platforms imposed in countries such as Germany or France.

Now that we have done this review of the main aspects of the IMI platform, we can establish that its objectives (along with the other measures of the EU Mobility Package) are to improve the European transport market. By means of:

• Fairer and more harmonized rules in the social, labour and fiscal fields.
• The reduction of the distortions that until now occurred among the competition.

It’s well known that every food liquids transport company, including us, makes a huge amount of kilometres. The transport of milk, juices, wines, water or even the transport of glucose offers a big quantity of fields to work on and business opportunities in a very productive territory with that type of food liquids.

For you to have an idea of the quantity of the services that we cover: if we sum the kilometres that make each day every single one of our trucks, we could go around the Earth covering its 44.000kms of circumference. Only in one day!

Our fleet of more that 80 trucks works every day around Europe and that translates as a huge distance travelled each day.

And now thinking in galactic distances, only one of our tanks would take only two years to reach the moon. At the time when there is a road to the moon there we go! (because it’s not going to be an isothermal tank…).

Inside the complexity of the food liquids transport, there are some liquids that at the same time need even more specific conditions than others, and that increases the complexity, that’s the case of the milk.

The white liquid means a big part of the total of litres transported by Ríos Sangiao through the year, this is because of the geography situation: a region with large grassland and a huge milk production of the best quality.

To prevent losing that quality on the way, we first have to keep the cold chain established between 6º and 8º Celsius, so there isn’t a lot of space for variation. In our milk collections, we use tank extraction systems that make the milk go directly from one tank to another without any contact with the exterior nor manipulation.

The transport of raw milk since the livestock farming to the correspondent plant is the most delicate moment for the milk, since it hasn’t been pasteurized and the correct care in this phase is critic. In this part of the process, the milk is stored in the plant for later processing and packaging, although we sometimes offer a temporary storage service for food liquids in isothermal tanks.

Once applied the pasteurization process, the temperature is not so crucial and it can vary more, but in our tanks the variation of temperature in adverse conditions (intense exterior heat), doesn’t go further that 2º Celsius, with this data we can assure that the milk goes out with the same quality it entered.

The abandonment of fossil fuels is something that all of us who work in transport have in mind because every day the need to reduce the carbon footprint of our activity becomes more evidente, and in this paradigm shift we need the involvement of companies and administrations.

The reality (today) in the scenario of electrification of road transport

However, it is a change of stage and paradigm in which we need the involvement of several actors: in one hand, public administrations, facilitating and simplifying investments in new infrastructures and encouraging the renewal of the transport fleet, and on the other hand, energy and transport companies, which must do their part and take the change as an investment.

Compliance with regulations and standards

In practice, all these developments are extremely complex and costly, so that today the electrification of transport is not yet viable due to the scarcity of suitable recharging points for industrial vehicles, which must have a power output of more than 350kW. Only 1.2% of the points reach this power, as indicated in the magazine ‘Ruta del transporte’. In addition, the location and environment of many of these points are focused on recharging cars, making it impossible to park a truck.

Although new charging points are being installed, we are at a very low quota for the target of ensuring that by the end of 2025, 15% of the TEN-T road network will have public access charging stations for heavy electric vehicles in each direction of traffic and that each charging station will offer an available power of at least 1,400 kW and include at least one charging point with an individual available power of at least 350 kW’.

The fundamental objective of Rios Sangiao is to offer the best transport and storage services to meet the main needs of our customers. This is possible thanks to the constant effort to study and analyse the requirements of the parties involved in order to define all the risks and opportunities that exist in the working environment.

Integration and motivation of the staff

At Ríos Sangiao we want our employees to carry out their work with total involvement in the daily tasks and in achieving all the objectives set.

In this sense, the company manager must encourage activities and actions that strengthen the sense of togetherness among employees by setting common objectives that can be measured and achieved. This will be possible through informative talks and meetings about the company and future projects.

Continuous training

It is important to set as an essential purpose the continuous training of Rios Sangiao's employees by means of the realisation and subsequent approval of an annual training plan. In addition to a detailed study of the training needs of the employees.

In the end, training is crucial for any employee to feel fulfilled and motivated.

Customer orientation

Ríos Sangiao's staff is fully aware that fulfilling the wishes and expectations of customers is at the centre of all the projects and activities we carry out.

Commitment to service

At Rios Sangiao we ensure that the services we provide to our customers meet the specified (legal and regulatory) requirements. Meeting these requirements is the ultimate goal of the service.

Quality of work

The quality of work is achieved mainly through the effective detection of defects and the taking of the necessary measures to mitigate the consequences of these defects and thus avoid their repetition. In addition to the definition of actions and programmes aimed at preventing non-conformities.

The company's management wants the staff to collaborate and participate actively in the maintenance of the Integrated Management System, as it is an effort that benefits everyone.

As you can see, our quality policy is fundamental when carrying out the actions and tasks proposed as a company. The training of Ríos Sangiao's employees is key to achieving motivation in daily work. This motivation facilitates cohesion among employees, which fosters an improvement in customer satisfaction orientation, service commitment and quality of work.

To find out more about the situation in the transport market and our business, you can take a look at our latest posts on trends in the logistics sector, truck loading and unloading operations and truck maintenance recommendations.

Did you know that there are two types of tank transport for food liquids?

A few years ago the regulations were the same for food liquids with destination to factories for animal use and human use, but now the current regulation requires that the equipments used to the food liquid transport for human use are not allowed in any case to transport liquid products for animal use.

That regulation made us make a decisive commitment to the market niche to which we contribute the most and were we are clearly specialized: the transport of food liquids for human use.

The difference lays on the use that will be done to the transported products, having different sanity security protocols the products destinated to animal consume and human consume, even being sometimes the same products.

Thus we have dedicated all of our resources and the 100% of our fleet to this type of transport. This fact make us be more eficiente on the calculation of our routes and also on the management of the resources at our disposal; furthermore, we implement procedures and certificated quality controls that are applied to all of the proccess and out vehicles without giving space to mistakes resulting from the type of cargo or the destination of it.

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.

We are working together with Volvo Trucks with the aim of starting to operate electric HGVs with tankers. In doing so, we are demonstrating our commitment to reducing CO2 emissions and carbon footprint.

Status of electric trucks in Spain

Electric vehicles are becoming increasingly common in Spain and have greater autonomy. The latest technological advances have made their performance and operation comparable to that of a conventional vehicle.

In the field of trucks, however, there is still more progress to be made. Small-tonnage electric trucks are gaining weight in deliveries between cities and access to urban centers with controlled emissions. On the other hand, large-tonnage electric trucks are limited because their high weight and dimensions have a negative impact on range and performance. Although there are tests of these trucks that are already circulating at European level, they have not yet been implemented in Spain.

Faced with this situation, we set ourselves the challenge of taking a risk and betting on heavy-duty electric trucks, and we have already spent several months conducting studies and analyses together with Volvo Trucks.

Why Volvo Trucks?

Volvo Trucks is Volvo's brand specialized in truck manufacturing worldwide. They have a complete expertise in electromobility and have successfully developed a multitude of electric trucks. Their electric trucks aim to reduce CO2 emissions while maintaining load safety, operational autonomy and guaranteed deliveries.

They offer solutions adapted to the operation of each business and have a range of 5 different electric truck models to cover each type of work:

• Volvo FH Electric: with autonomy of up to 300 kilometres and maximum mass in combination of up to 44 tons.
• Volvo FM Electric: with a range of up to 380 kilometres and maximum combined mass of up to 44 tons.
• Volvo FMX Electric: with a range of up to 320 kilometres and maximum combined mass of up to 44 tons.
• Volvo FE Electric: with a range of up to 200 kilometres and maximum combined mass of up to 27 tons.
• Volvo FL Electric: with a range of up to 300 kilometres and a maximum combined mass of up to 16.7 tons.

In addition, their DC chargers allow 80% of the vehicle's battery to be charged in just 90 minutes.

Features of Rios Sangiao's upcoming electric heavy-duty trucks

Volvo Trucks is currently conducting an orography study of the terrain on which our electric heavy-duty trucks will be working. In a project of this size, every aspect must be studied in detail to ensure an optimal result in practice.

The electric trucks they are developing are 40 tons and must be self-sufficient for 14 hours at full capacity. That is the time it takes from departure to return to base. They are going to be used for inter-city routes nationwide.

Implementation and future prospects

In December 2022, we will conduct the first test with a heavy-duty electric truck. From this date, we will progressively increase the presence of these vehicles. The aim is for them to represent an increasingly important percentage of our total fleet.

The implementation of electric HGVs goes hand in hand with our current objectives, such as digitalization and the expansion of services, with the storage of food liquids.

In Spain, as in many other countries, road safety in road freight transport is a vitally important issue. Safety in this sector is essential to protect both drivers and other road users. Therefore, we will highlight the most important points for maintaining good road safety in road freight transport.

Compliance with rules and regulations

To begin with, when we talk about road safety in the transport of goods, we have to start from the basis of mandatory compliance with the rules and regulations established by the authorities. Specifically in our country, there are specific laws that control elementary factors such as driving and resting hours, the maximum weight limit for each type of vehicle and safety in the transport of goods. Compliance with these regulations is essential to reduce the risk of road accidents.

Road safety in transport - continuous training

If we want to guarantee road safety in the transport of goods by road, it is essential to have the appropriate training and to keep up with any updates that may arise in this aspect. For this reason, at Ríos Sangiao we make sure that our drivers are fully trained in subjects such as defensive driving, the correct handling of loads and the proper use of truck safety systems.

As we mentioned earlier, it is essential to maintain continuous training through refresher and recycling courses to ensure that drivers are up to date with the latest developments and regulations.

Security and technology

Another point to bear in mind is technological advances, which have led to the creation of a wide variety of safety systems aimed at increasing the protection of land freight transport.

Today, technology offers us everything from emergency braking systems to GPS tracking devices that contribute to road safety in transport, preventing accidents and reducing the consequences in the event of an accident. That's why investing in this type of technology in our trucks is essential for us.

Road safety in transport: awareness and responsibility

In road freight transport, road safety is not only the responsibility of drivers and transport companies, but also includes other road users and the authorities. So, promoting awareness of the importance of road safety, either through awareness campaigns or through educational programmes that encourage responsibility in each individual, is very important at the societal level.

In summary, to ensure road safety in road freight transport, a comprehensive approach is needed, ranging from compliance with current regulations, to the implementation of new safety-enhancing technologies, as well as the promotion of road safety awareness. Because if we all work together, road journeys are safer.