Food manufacturers and processors of perishable commodities go to great lengths to incorporate internal operating policies that guarantee quality

and safety of the products they produce. Within the confines of fixed asset locations, such as processing facilities and warehouses, the readily available hands-on management structure can rapidly execute quality control measures that are essential to attaining the highest levels of product integrity. The ability to observe and react to HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points) violations or substandard conditions within these controlled environments can be spontaneous, therefore, substantially reducing the threat of food contamination and spoilage. However, once products leave the discipline of well supervised operations and enter into transportation channels, the ability to watch over perishable goods is greatly diminished. Consequently, transportation is looked upon as the weak link or dark hole within supply chain management. Traditionally, transportation and distribution of sensitive refrigerated items were given much leeway regarding how products were managed from point of loading to point of delivery. Due to a lack of visibility, exposure of product to quality threatening temperatures and humidity lost a sense of urgency once the product was placed on-board a transportation vehicle and was no longer under the supervision of the generating facility. As long as commodities arrived at their final destination appearing in good condition and temperature levels were either confirmed by the driver or by a blast of cold air when the doors to the vehicle were opened, the product was received. Until recently, there was little industry could do to incorporate hands-on supervision of product temperatures and product security while in transit. Rejecting shipments predicated upon visual analysis or reading temperatures from a non-certified thermometer upon delivery were and in many cases still are the standards employed. With the advent of technology, a better informed industry and modern food safety legislation, there is a new and different emphasis being placed upon the conditions perishable items experience when being transported through the supply chain. Custodians of product on-board refrigerated mobile assets are being held to higher standards and are being mandated to prove adherence to those standards. This is to validate the safe handling of goods in route. The days of the unknown or dark hole within supply chain management are coming to an end. The most significant development in the protection and proactive management of refrigerated goods throughout transportation and distribution is the advancement in technology. From smart reefer units on trailers, to the availability of data loggers and RFID wireless solutions, the industry has access to information not attainable just a few years ago. The questions now surround what technology or solutions are most advantageous to supporting internal business rules, ROI requirements and meeting customer and regulatory compliance. Recorded data from reefer units or data loggers have been very instrumental when making decisions to accept or reject loads after they have arrived at the receiving dock. They are also instruments in forensic (after-the-fact) investigations when determining who is liable for reconciliation when loads were lost. However, the technology that has had the greatest impact on food safety, security, prevention of lost loads and ROI issues is that which generates real time proactive information and alerts. When selecting technology, do not get hung up on the traditional barriers that have presently discouraged or confused 85% of the transportation industry from endorsing technology. All solutions and customer support are not the same. Wireless technology if designed properly is like having your own supervisor on board a vehicle in transit. Cooltrax was designed and built upon feedback from industry businesses that requested a solution to assess conditions in a real time view of remote vehicles that are transporting and delivering their product. This allows

perishable goods owners to address problems or system failures proactively. The ability to do so has prevented substantial product losses, equipment failures, security violations, customer frustrations from rejected loads and has enhanced risk avoidance. When employing GPS, geo zones, two way reefer management, door security, alarms, limitless product and ambient wireless temperature sensors and information from a variety of diverse reports, Cooltrax isthat supervisor in your truck.