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.

Nowadays, technology is present in every aspect of our lives and cybersecurity has become essential, specially in sectors such as transport, where cyber-attacks were triplicated between 2021 and 2023.

Transport not only drives the economy in Spain, but also plays a vital role in the connectivity and mobility of both goods and people. So, if cyber threats are not properly managed, they could lead to interconnection problems.

How cyber security works in transport

The efficient performance of modern transport systems relies heavily on digital technology, from traffic control to fleet management to logistics. This means that we are always connected to networks and IT systems, which expose us to cyber-attacks.

Specifically, in the freight transport sector in Spain, cybersecurity becomes a basic pillar to protect the integrity, confidentiality and availability of data and systems. At the end of the day, in a world where efficiency and competitiveness depend to a large extent on technology, protecting against cyber-attacks is a priority for us.

Moreover, we must not forget that freight transport is fundamental to the Spanish economy and is also a crucial element in global trade. Every stage of the process, from logistics to distribution, relies on interconnected computer systems that manage information and coordinate operations. The problem is that this interconnectedness can also be exploited by cyber threats that could bring the supply chain to a complete halt if not properly managed.

Cyber-attacks in the transport sector

There are several ways in which cyber-attacks can affect the freight industry. From data ransomware to denial-of-service attacks (DDoS), which disrupt operations. Predictably, the consequences can be devastating in both financial and reputational terms. If fleet management systems were to be compromised, the chaos could be severe, with trucks being stranded in the middle of the road or even being directed to the wrong destinations.

In recent years, cyber-attacks in freight transport have become a national security concern, in addition to the economic risks. Given the importance of transport in the supply of basic and strategic goods, if our systems are vulnerable to external manipulation, it could lead to major implications for the stability and security of the country.

Importance of cybersecurity in transport

Based on the above, cybersecurity in the transport of goods is an essential need. For this reason, at Ríos Sangiao we adopt a proactive approach when implementing solid cyber protection measures that address both potential technical vulnerabilities and internal security practices. We implement cyber security measures and provide training to our staff.

In conclusion, cyber security in transport, in our case freight, is not a luxury. Keeping our systems secure is a vitally important factor today.

The new intelligent tachograph has been compulsory for hauliers since last August. Are you obliged to install it in your truck, and is it necessary to operate outside Spain? Read on, because in this article we tell you all about it!

Smart tachograph: who should use it?

The incorporation of the intelligent tachograph (SmartTach2) has become mandatory in the equipment of newly registered trucks over 3.5 tonnes. This new tachograph model represents a technological advance over digital tachographs in the freight transport sector.

Both companies and the self-employed that carry out national or international transport services, and more specifically to the United Kingdom or European countries such as Norway and Switzerland, must have this new technological implementation.

Although this update may lead to some confusion, it should not cause any complications for hauliers, as the challenge lies with the manufacturers of this type of vehicle.

However, hauliers should remember the mandatory tachograph update, bearing in mind that the European Commission indicates that the first-generation smart tachographs installed in vehicles operating on international routes will have to be replaced by 19 August 2025.

New features of the intelligent tachograph

This new version of the digital tachograph has many advantages compared to the first-generation digital tachograph, which has been in use until now. The functional improvements are:

• A higher accuracy in data recording, as it uses a global positioning system (GPS) through which the location of the truck is recorded. In this way, it allows a more accurate calculation of the driver's driving and rest hours.
• It is a clear improvement in terms of safety, detecting and warning of dangerous or risky situations, such as speeding.
• It is easier to use than the first-generation digital tachograph, as its screen is not only touch-sensitive, but its menus are also more intuitive and easier to use.

Penalties and recommendations

Infringements in relation to tachographs can lead to significant financial penalties. We therefore advise you to comply with the new smart tachograph regulations in the transport sector and to take the following measures into account:

• Driver training is a major factor in ensuring the correct use of the new tachograph.
• Upgrade first generation digital tachographs to new ones in trucks operating international routes.
• Install the intelligent tachograph in all newly registered vehicles with a load exceeding 3.5 tonnes.

Thanks to this obligation, we have a new opportunity to improve the efficiency and safety of our fleet of trucks and, therefore, of our freight transport services on both national and international routes.

As transporters of food liquids, including the transport of olive oil, we are up to date with the characteristics necessary for its correct conservation and transport, as well as the regulations and legislation required for the olive oil to reach its destination in an optimum state.

Olive oil is one of the most important products in the Spanish agri-food sector, as Spain is the world's leading producer and exporter of olives and olive oil. Currently, in order to reach the different places where this product is distributed, the most commonly used means of transport is by land, through the use of food tanks that guarantee that the olive oil retains all its qualities and, in short, its essence.

The transport of olive oil by road

As is well known, Spanish olive oil is of great prestige worldwide, one of the reasons why it is important to take into account certain essential factors that guarantee that the oil retains its essence.

On one hand, we have to know the market we are targeting, as each country has specific legislation regarding the import of agri-food products, as well as tariffs and specific regulations for olive oil.

On the other hand, it is essential to know the conditions of this raw material in order to maintain its quality and not lose any of its properties during transport.

At Ríos Sangiao we have extensive experience in the transport of olive oil by road. We offer a careful service with the distribution of the raw material transported to our customers, while at the same time opting for a more ecological and less costly transport than by air.

We must emphasise that our isothermal tanker trucks offer the maximum guarantee of safety and conservation of the olive oil, as their cylindrical shape does not allow the oil to be shaken by the movement of the truck itself. Furthermore, they comply with a large number of health and quality controls, as well as strict compliance with the required legislation and the ATP regulations in force, all with the sole purpose of ensuring that the food liquid arrives in optimum conditions.

Likewise, we continue our commitment to our food liquid collection service, guaranteeing perfect traceability, quality and conservation of olive oil and other food liquids. That is why our tankers are equipped with the latest technology on the market, ensuring that traceability is guaranteed.

Why should olive oil be transported in tanks?

As we have mentioned before, the transport sector in this route case is highly demanding in terms of quality, because we must know very well the raw material that we are going to transport, which ensures a good treatment of olive oil.

Another important point to consider is the increase in the price of raw materials and the impact that this has had on consumption. This is why the choice of olive oil transport by tanker trucks not only becomes a safe option within the sector, but it is also an option that is more accessible than air transport and faster than sea transport.

If you are interested in knowing more about the collection, storage and transport service of the agri-food sector, please do not hesitate to contact us to resolve any doubts.

In Ríos Sangiao we are specialised on food liquid transport in a national and an international level, we continue to evolve technically equipping our vehicles with the ultimate technology to amplify and improve our services.

Currently, we remain committed to our food liquid collection service, guaranteeing the perfect traceability, quality and conservation on the product collected in every livestock farming. To do that, we have on dispose trucks equipped with the ultimate technology on the market, so the traceability is guaranteed. Also, we have the correct measurement of the collected litres through drip sampling, which is on the daily job of the driver, and at the same time is certified as food handler and sample taker.

Evolution and advantages of the traceability of food liquids

With the collection service, traceability and transport we guarantee to our clients the opportunity of having a precise tracking of the transported raw material. Achieving that each farmer has a revision of the specifical quality that the milk has.

We make the verification of this quality analysing the fat and protein of the milk in this case. These parameters are collected with laboratory equipment of the company where we take an exact and precise sample of every livestock farming, to analyse the fat and protein that is been transported in an external homologated laboratory.

In our company we respect in every moment the traceability of the food chain, following the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), to guarantee the security, also the hygiene and temperature of the milk and other raw materials.

Focused on satisfying the needs of our clients

Since our foundation in 1994, in Oroso (A Coruña), we are clear about our values and goals. We are committed to complying with the highest specific quality standards, as well as following the required regulations and legislation. For this reason, we have certifications such as ISO 9001, which determines the requirements of a correct Quality Management System, with international recognition. In addition, we also have GMP certification, which ensures hygiene in the food chain based on a series of previously established requirements.

Likewise, and within our main objectives, we ensure the delivery of raw materials to all the places where our customers arrive. For this reason, we not only cover the entire national territory, but we also reach the United Kingdom and countries within the European Union such as Germany, Belgium, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Portugal.

It is this efficiency and commitment to quality in our deliveries that have earned us the trust of important customers in the dairy sector and the food industry.

If you are interested in finding out more about our collection, storage and transport service for the dairy sector or other food liquids, please do not hesitate to contact us to resolve any queries you may have.

At Rios Sangiao we are progressively evolving towards innovation and updating the sector with our recent presence and participation in national and international congresses and trade fairs.

In recent times, we have been actively committed to digitalisation to boost the quality of our processes and services through, for example, internal management applications. In addition, we have been incorporating high-performance electric vehicles into our activities.

Analysis of current and future trends in the food industry

The Anuga 2023 trade fair in Cologne (Germany), held between 7 and 11 October, was a unique opportunity to learn about the main innovations in the food industry and establish contacts with potential future customers.

Anuga is the world's most prestigious international trade fair for the agri-food sector. Around 140,000 trade visitors from more than 100 countries attended this year's Anuga, one of the most important events for the sector, which this time focused on sustainability.

Sustainable growth is a key issue for our company, which works daily for the responsible and efficient use of available resources. Optimising supply chains and applying electromobility in the daily operations of Rios Sangiao is fundamental, with the realisation of routes to adapt these electric vehicles to their regular activity.

In addition, the German trade fair is a meeting that particularly promotes dialogue and cooperation between companies in the industry and organisations.

Developments in the goods transport sector

Attendance at the ninth edition of the National Tanker Congress, which was held in Madrid on 17 and 18 October, allowed us to exchange views on the latest developments in the tank transport sector.

The congress, organised by the Spanish Association of Tank Transport (CETM Cisternas), brought together many professionals from the sector who witnessed a complete exhibition of transport vehicles, tanks and companies providing different services.

At Ríos Sangiao we have isothermal tanks suitable for the transport and conservation of any liquid food product. This work must comply with a series of specific health and quality controls, as well as following the required regulations and legislation.

Thus, the National Tanker Congress served to put several issues on the table, such as the improvement of the Transport Chain Law, the implementation of the 44 tonnes in the sector, the extension of the network of dangerous goods routes, the exemption of traffic restrictions on food products, the establishment of rest areas or the implementation of aid to make the profession more attractive.

If you are interested in finding out more about the freight transport sector, do not hesitate to contact us to resolve any related queries.

The logistics sector is one of the most digitised sectors today, with advances in technology allowing the automation and optimisation of processes and improving the security of each operation.

In addition, the growing improvement in corporate responsibility in many companies has led to an increase in awareness of issues such as sustainability.

In this post we explain in general terms what are the current trends in the logistics sector and those that will stand out in the coming years. Read on!

Digitisation of tasks

The digitisation of logistics procedures is becoming more and more common in the day-to-day work of companies, with the main objective of reducing costs and increasing efficiency.

The use of tools such as software or hardware or internal management systems such as our ERP system (Enterprise Resource Planning) are just some of the many possibilities that digitalisation offers companies. A current trend that will continue to be a trend in the future.

Robotisation and artificial intelligence

The implementation of robotic technology will also continue to be a key trend. Autonomous robots are an important aid in reducing delivery times or improving the efficiency of the supply chain.

Thus, RPA (Robotic Process Automation) technology, which is the robotic automation of processes, is used for tasks such as copying and pasting data, creating files, etc. It also helps in more efficient tracking and tracing. It also helps to track goods and delivery and pick-up service more efficiently.

In addition, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly becoming the order of the day, especially for improving process planning, increasing productivity, calculating transport routes and forecasting market trends with reliable data.

Similarly, software robots can help predict market supply and demand based on sales data or market indicators that can be analysed.

Cloud Computing

Cloud computing enables a new way of organising the supply chain in companies. In logistics, having access to warehouse management software (WMS) in the cloud improves the security of information management because data is stored using this cloud computing technology, generating backup copies automatically.

Drones

Drones are everywhere, and the logistics sector is no exception. The delivery of orders by drones allows, mainly, to reduce costs, speed up shipments and reduce the pollution generated by road transport.

And they can also be very useful in warehouses: drone inventory is an application that allows drones to scan the barcodes of products in order to communicate the units that are stored to the logistics software. This helps to locate possible mismatches in the inventory.

Use of electric vehicles

The current and future trend is for more companies to incorporate the use of electric vehicles into their activity, taking into account that fuel costs are lower than those of other vehicles, and efficiency is greater.

In addition to the use of electric vehicles, there are other alternatives to improve the sustainability of the company's activity.

Sustainable warehouses

Warehouse management needs to be designed with the aim of causing as little environmental impact as possible, which is why sustainable warehouses exist. In this sense, it is possible to reduce the carbon footprint of logistics processes, as well as to recycle and reduce waste in the warehouse.

It is clear that these current trends in the logistics sector are going to be key in the development of the market, and that is why it is essential to know them in depth and apply them in the daily activity of companies. Digitalisation and sustainability are the present and the future!

The National Road Transport Inspection Plan for 2023 has been presented to national transport associations and approved on November 21, 2022.

This plan has been elaborated by the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda (MITMA) with the Civil Guard Traffic Group, the National Road Transport Committee (CNTC), the Autonomous Communities and other bodies competent in road transport.

Goals of the Transport Inspection Plan

The general subdirector of the Land Transport Inspection of the Ministry of Transport states that the main objectives of this plan are to ensure the rights of transporters and compliance with the rules. The Transport Inspection Plan has as a finality to ensure a minimum rentability of the work and that the subcontracting is used in a fair way. Also, it takes part of the advance to the economic sustainability of freight transport.

It has a special emphasis on the morosity control, transport prices, the prohibition to load and unload and the control of mailbox companies.

News of the Transport Inspection Plan

With the goal to guarantee that the prices of the transport cover the costs, the inspection services will analyse the CMRs and other contractual documents, so they can check if all of the details are correct and that the price is justified.

The Transport Inspection Plan incises on the control of the transport prices, looking for respecting the maximum agreed prices.

The fight against morosity in freight transport has a heavy weight in this plan, since it has a negative repercussion on the competitivity and rentability. The news in this field looks for a fair competitivity and rentability.

To fight against the fraud in contracting workers, the control of dislocation of companies on the UE has increased.

It is fomented the use of the complaint mail, between a series of online inspection and control tools. This way makes it easy for every user, simple and anonymous to post a violation against the rules. You can access this mail from the web of the Ministry of Transport.

Controls and sanctions of the Transport Inspection Plan

The Transport Inspection Plan endures the controls and the sanctions.

They will be done estate inspections and autonomic inspections. Even more on this type of controls:

• In loading and unloading, to comply with Royal Decree Law 3/2022 of 1 March and Royal Decree Law 14/2022 of September 2022. These establish that drivers must not participate in the loading and unloading of goods. These controls will be carried out in person by Transport inspectors.
• In large loading companies and logistics centres. Both in Spain and in other EU countries.
• In mailbox companies, which together with delocalised companies often exercise unfair competition. Following the actions set out in the Strategic Plan of the Labour and Social Security Inspectorate.
• In the hiring of workers. The Transport Inspectorate and the Labour and Social Security Inspectorate are working together to prevent fraud in the hiring of workers. Likewise, the aim is to eradicate the fact that the self-employed in the sector sometimes have to work at a loss.
• On driving and rest times. Tachographs are analysed to check that drivers' rest periods are respected and that overtime is not being worked.
• At the busiest points, so that controls are more effective. Ports, industrial estates, logistics centres, bus and train stations, large loaders, etc.

If anomalies are detected during these inspections, the penalties can be up to 4,000 euros, depending on the penalty.

The Road Transport Inspection Plan is related to and complements some points of the Transport Chain Act. This was approved by the National Committee a few months ago.

Combating late payments, monitoring unfair competition, controlling fraudulent contracts and ensuring compliance with driving and rest times are the key points of this plan. It serves to support and complete some of the measures that had been approved in previous legislation and to improve the situation of hauliers.