The Logistics of Logistics Podcast: Five Keys to Cold Chain Success with Tyler Hildebrand

Five Keys to Cold Chain Success with Tyler Hildebrand

Jul 7, 2019

Tyler, please introduce yourself (your title / company / location)

I’m Tyler Hildebrand and I am an account executive at Reliable Transportation Solutions in Cincinnati, OH

Please tell us about your background. Where did you grow up? Go to school? What was your major in college?

Born and raised in Cincinnati, OH
Growing up I worked in lots of warehouses and was very interested in art
Attended college at Ringling College of Art & Design in Sarasota FL, where I studied illustration

You have had an interesting career path, tell us a little about your story

Owned and operated an art gallery
As an artist, I was commissioned to create artwork for some iconic organizations like the Chicago Cubs, Notre Dame football, etc.
As a freelance marketer, I often worked closely with clients in the transportation and logistics space, so I began to understand the business
I joined a university as an art professor, was promoted to administration and was even considered for the president of the university
Transitioned to transportation and logistics when a recommended me for an opportuniy

Before we dig into the “Five Keys to Cold Chain Success”, let’s cover the basics. What is the cold chain?

A cold chain is a temperature-controlled supply chain for perishable food products, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals in order to maintain their quality and increase their shelf-life
A cold chain is essential because it:
- Reduces food loss due to spoilage
- Enhances food safety and quality
- Balances and manages the supply and demand of food

Talk a little bit about the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)

Biggest overhaul of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in history
Signed into law Jan. 4, 2011
Ensures safety and security of the food and feed supply to protect human and animal health.
Significant impact to the food supply chain
FSMA applies to:
- Food transported in bulk, where the food touches the walls of the vehicle (Example: juices)
- Packaged foods not fully enclosed by a container (Example: fresh produce)
- Food that require temperature control for safety (Example: beef)

Tell us about the cold chain infrastructure

Now that we know the basics, what is the first key to cold chain success?

Creating the Right Culture
- Continuous improvement
- Risk management
- Chain of custody
- Problem resolution
- Root cause analysis

What is the second key to cold chain success?

Develop a food safety plan - FSMA Requires it
- FSMA in a Nutshell
  - Process Summary
  - Written food safety plan
  - Identify potential hazards / risks - Document every potential risk to food safety
  - Implement a preventive control that will minimize or eliminate every risk
  - Monitor controls to ensure they are done
  - Training
  - Documentation
The food safety plan should be created with input from the extended team (suppliers, carriers, team members, experts and customers)
The food safety plan is a living document that should be updated on a regular basis
PROCESS/HAZARD/CONTROL/MONITOR

What is the third to cold chain success?

Leverage technology
- To ensure food safety and comply to FSMA, companies should try to use technology to monitor temperature control
- Real time monitoring and alerts for non-compliance
- The technology needs to be calibrated / updated
- Technology doesn’t quit or call or sick

What is the fourth key to cold chain success?

Cold Chain Transportation that is sanitary (regardless of mode – air, road, ship, etc..)
- Appropriate temperature control during transport.
- Sanitation, including:
  - Monitoring and ensuring the sanitation and condition of transportation vehicles is appropriate
  - Pest control
  - Sanitation associated with loading & unloading procedures
  - Clean out
  - Prior loads
- Appropriate packaging/packing of food products and transportation units (e.g., good quality pallets, correct use of packing materials).
- Good communications between shipper, transporter and receiver.
- Employee awareness and training.

What is the fifth key to cold chain success?

Choose supply chain partners who are FSMA compliant and who value food safety as much as your company does
- Partners should have all appropriate certifications for their industry
- Update procurement and carrier agreements to include FSMA provisions
- The FSMA raises the bar on monitoring, data management and processes. Software can make these activities easier.
- If possible, use sensors and electronic alerts to monitor important functions like temperature, testing and process compliance.

Tyler, thank you so much for the education – really good stuff. Please wrap it up for us

What’s new over at Reliable?

Reliable Transportation Solutions is an asset based 3PL specializing in refrigerated food transportation
Centrally located in Cincinnati OH
In addition to our own fleet (reefers/dry vans) we also have a full service brokerage

To Learn More: