With June just a few days away and the summer solstice fast approaching, we’re already in the thick of the prime season for ice cream consumption, and its star ingredient is, quite literally, milk.

We’ve already moved on from the yoghurt ice cream craze; for a few years, everyone was eating the same ice cream, with the only variation being a few toppings that made for a highly profitable combination for brands that grew at breakneck speed. But traditional ice cream parlours also capitalised on that craze and gained significant momentum, which enabled many to stay in business and consolidate their position.

Today, ice cream is no longer a seasonal product as it was a decade ago, and its peak consumption in summer is extraordinary, giving an extra boost to milk production and transport and helping to absorb a supply that sometimes exceeds demand.

We all think that milk gives ice cream its characteristic flavour, nutrients and creaminess, but it also provides functional molecules that are essential for the production and preservation of ice cream, for which fats and proteins are responsible.

Good milk for ice cream production would be milk with good organoleptic characteristics and consistent, constant protein levels across all production batches. In this way, the same production process will result in a predictable flavour and texture in line with consumer expectations.

To achieve this, it is important to maintain processes and supply points, whilst ensuring that milk is transported with the utmost care so as not to alter its properties. We have previously discussed here how we collect milk from farms, as well as the strict temperature controls required during milk handling and storage times.

A change in the properties of the milk can ruin entire production batches of dairy products, such as ice cream, altering crucial aspects like flavour and consistency, with significant costs in terms of product loss and damage to reputation.

MEPs on the Transport Committee have proposed a reduction in tolls of up to 75% for sustainable heavy goods vehicles.

This proposal has come a long way since it was first mooted, which began with free tolls for electric lorries until June 2031; but we already know that the roll-out of this type of vehicle has been slower than expected and that its implementation is more complex than anticipated, partly due to a lack of charging infrastructure. Therefore, in an attempt to extend the benefits to less polluting combustion-powered transport, the discount has been extended to a 75% reduction in tolls for efficient vehicles, and this includes trailers and semi-trailers.

At Rios Sangiao, we provide our food liquid transport services using isothermal tankers capable of maintaining the load’s temperature for 72 hours with fluctuations of less than 2°C. Without refrigeration units. We see efficiency in this operation as our trailers consume neither fuel nor electricity to maintain a stable temperature.

However, the European directive on the efficiency of trailers and semi-trailers stipulates that only trailers equipped with electric refrigeration technology are eligible for these incentives.

We would like to point out here that ‘zero consumption’ is more sustainable than reduced consumption, and our state-of-the-art isothermal tankers represent the highest level of efficiency in the temperature-controlled transport of liquid foodstuffs.

International conflicts such as those in Ukraine or, more recently, Iran are having a significant impact on the food liquids transport sector through rising fuel and raw material prices.

As documented by UETR, logistics and transport companies are on the front line of the energy crisis, bearing the direct and immediate brunt of the additional costs arising from the sudden rise in fuel prices.

Furthermore, we are finding it difficult to pass on these costs to the services we provide with the same speed, either due to the existence of approved framework contracts or because of the disparity among carriers when it comes to applying these increases to rates.

UETR calls for direct aid and European coordination

In light of this situation, the UETR is calling for the urgent adoption of support measures at national and European level, such as:

• Direct financial support for transport companies
• Simplified eligibility criteria for SMEs
• Effective mechanisms for passing on costs within the logistics chain

Formula for passing on fuel surcharges

On 16 April, the decree-law came into force that enshrines the obligation to adjust transport prices in line with fuel price fluctuations. Thus, this law ensures that transport prices are updated solely using the formula for passing on the cost of diesel. This requirement has been in place since 2022, but the new decree removes the possibility of contracts including any other method of updating prices.

As has been the case, this adjustment must be made when the change in diesel prices is 5% or more between the date the contract is signed and the time the transport takes place, and must be itemised on the service invoice.

Failure to comply with this new regulation may result in fines for shippers ranging from €401 to €6,000, which may rise to €18,000 in the event of a repeat offence within a year.

The formula

The variation in the contracted transport price is calculated by multiplying the change in the diesel price between the week the contract was signed and the week the transport took place (this percentage is provided on the Ministry’s website), by the transport price set out in the contract, by a coefficient(which we will look at below). The result of this calculation must then be divided by 100.

The coefficient by which the transport price and the change in diesel prices must be multiplied depends on the vehicle’s maximum authorised mass (MAM) and the pre-tax price of diesel. In any case, this is indicated on the Ministry’s website.

At Rios Sangiao, as is only to be expected, we adhere to current legislation and apply this formula to all the services we currently operate, ensuring that the prices for our food liquid transport services are as fair as possible for all parties.

We are confident that we will soon see a return to stability in fuel prices and, of course, that the armed conflicts causing these losses for economic areas such as ours will cease as soon as possible.

This March we have been extremely busy with our usual workload, plus the added task of preparing the documentation for accreditation against the quality standards required to obtain IFS Logistics certification.

This certification is aimed at transport and storage logistics companies. It focuses on activities involving storage, distribution and transport, as well as the loading and unloading of goods.

What does the IFS Logistics certification entail?

This standard ensures that quality remains consistent throughout the food sector’s production chains. With this certification, we demonstrate full compliance with safety, quality and legal regulations regarding the transportof liquid foodstuffs.

IFS (International Food Standard) certification is based on the ISO 9001:2000 standard, which incorporates legal safety requirements, principles of good manufacturing practice and HACCP risk analysis processes within a quality management framework.

The current IFS Logistics standard is in its second version and was published in 2012. It was developed to fill the gap in the foodchainfor logisticsactivitiesnot regulatedbyanyinternationalstandardand applies to road, rail, river, sea and air transport.

The aim of obtaining certification under this standard is to ensure transparency regarding our quality management processes and to enable our clients to engage us as suppliers of liquid food transport services, havingmet allqualitystandardsthathave been previously audited externally.

The certification saves on future administrative procedures and simplifies processes in work environments where traceability and quality control are subject to constant monitoring.

This standard is important for all food companies, whether producers or distributors, and particularly for those working with perishable products or requiring delicate logistics to preserve their characteristics.

At Rios Sangiao, we continue to innovate and demonstrate the qualityof our processes to ensure and showcase excellence in everything we do.

No, we don’t have women drivers, but we would love to. Still, it’s no coincidence that 100% of the women who are part of Rios Sangiao work in administration, quality control, logistics coordination, and other roles that are always within the office environment.

We start from the fact that the transport sector has traditionally been a male‑dominated world, and the of food liquid transport is no exception.

A lot of work has been done to get to where we are today, to the point where it no longer feels strange to think that a woman is just as capable as a man of performing the job of driving any of our regular services. Fortunately, no one today would dare to think otherwise… right?

But this is not really the problem nowadays. Well, maybe a little… it’s possible that there are still a few stragglers — men or even women (OMG) — who doubt a woman’s ability to handle 44 tonnes of liquid food. In our company, that’s certainly not the case.

The real issue we see when it comes to achieving gender parity in driving positions is a structural one, and we fear it is far from being solved: social gender roles.

The job is demanding — no doubt about it — because it involves full days behind the wheel and often requires several days away from home. This applies to our transport routes within Spain and our international routes across Europe (we operate in Germany, Belgium, France, Italy, and the Netherlands).

We also have shorter routes for daily milk collection, which start and end on the same day, but the challenge there lies in the very early hours required to collect the milk so that the distribution chain doesn’t stop.

The issue we’re referring to is that it is “accepted” for a man to be away from home for days, but not so much for a woman. In the same way, family caregiving roles (whether for older adults or children) are often assigned to women “by default.” A fairer distribution of these caregiving responsibilities would lead to greater gender equality in roles like the ones we’re discussing.

We may already accept (or at least be on the right path toward accepting) the need for real equality between men and women, but unfortunately we still have a long way to go within the family sphere.

So, kudos to those couples who openly discuss how to divide household and caregiving tasks and who don’t assume that these responsibilities automatically fall on women.

Until then — and beyond, because there are still many areas where gender equality needs progress — March 8th will continue to be a day of social advocacy and celebration, a day to challenge customs that have been in place forever but are not necessarily better for it.

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.

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.