Global Cold Chain Alliance

Do your cold carrier's practices meet or exceed U.S. food safety standards?

The Global Cold Chain Alliance's Certified Cold Carrier program, launched in mid-2019, requires certificants to demonstrate proof that they are following published industry best practices.

Why? So that you can have an added layer of confidence - and documentation - that your shippers are doing their utmost to ensure the safety and sanitation of your perishables shipments, protecting your brand.

Questions? Click here to request a member of our staff team to follow up with you.

U.S. Regulatory Requirements with Global Applicability

The Certified Cold Carrier program helps ensure carriers use practices that will meet or exceed requirements of the U.S. Sanitary Food Transportation Act of 2005 (2005 SFTA) and the Food Safety Modernization Act of 2011 (FSMA).

However, no matter where you are on the globe, aligning your company with FSMA best practices is highly beneficial.

Here are the carriers that have already made the commitment to become Certified Cold Carriers.

Protecting Your Brand

Your cold chain 3PL partners have an important role in maintaining the safety and quality of your perishables shipments - and therefore, the integrity of your brand. Carriers that have made the commitment to become a Certified Cold Carrier have taken extra steps to demonstrate their commitment to your success. The Certification provides an added layer of confidence - and documentation - that your shippers are doing their utmost to ensure the safety and sanitation of your perishables shipments, protecting your brand.

Proof of Knowledge and Training

Proof of knowledge of the carrier's management team and driver training are integral components of the Certified Cold Carrier program. Each certificant must submit a copy of their company's quality assurance manual as well. Those manuals must contain information on procedures, monitoring, and inspections, among other things. View a complete list of company requirements here.

Industry Best Practices

Certificants agree to to use IRTA's Refrigerated Transportation Best Practices Guide, which spells out industry best practices concerning cleaning, inspection, maintenance, loading and unloading of, and operation of vehicles and transportation equipment to ensure that food is transported under the conditions and controls necessary to prevent adulteration linked to food safety. 

These practices cover sanitary procedures that meet or exceed the U.S. Sanitary Food Transportation Act of 2005 (2005 SFTA) and the Food Safety Modernization Act of 2011 (FSMA). The Guide is available free of charge using the link above.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who developed these best practices?

The International Refrigerated Transportation Association (IRTA), a core partner of the Global Cold Chain Alliance, worked with cold chain industry professionals and other stakeholders to develop this guide to help shippers, loaders, carriers by motor or rail vehicle, and receivers involved in transporting human and animal  food to use documented sanitary practices to ensure the safety of that food.

What do these best practices cover?

The Program evaluates requirements of the U.S. Sanitary Food Transportation Act of 2005 (2005 SFTA) and the Food Safety Modernization Act of 2011 (FSMA):

• cleaning, 
• inspection, 
• maintenance, 
• vehicle loading and unloading, and
• operation of vehicles and transportation equipment.

Which carriers are certified?

• A current list of certificants is maintained on the GCCA website.

Can I obtain certification for my fleet?

• Yes! Visit our how-to page for earning your certification to learn more about the requirements. Both food companies with trailers and cold carriers with at least one refrigerated trailer asset are eligible to apply.

How often are carriers reviewed?

• The Certified Cold Carrier term of validity is three years. A yearly renewal is required to show that the Carrier is conforming to the certification requirements. Visit our how-to page for earning your certification for more details.

Do you have additional questions?

• Please contact the GCCA staff here.