8 Facts about Food Industry Truck Drivers

Last Updated on November 30, 2024

Your favourite products travel from all over the world to get to your door step.

Many of them were produced in factories miles away and transported to distribution centres or directly to stores. For smaller shipments, businesses might use couriers, but when it comes to delivering large volumes of goods, especially from manufacturing plants, the process becomes much more intricate.

Food Industry Truck drivers play a vital role in this journey, ensuring items like your favourite cookies move seamlessly from factories to store shelves. Without the dedication of truck drivers specializing in factory-to-market deliveries, you might not be able to enjoy your favourite treats as easily!

In this article, we’ll explore how truck drivers expertly handle the challenges of transporting goods from factories to ensure products make it to stores and, eventually, to your home.

1. Food Industry Truck Drivers transport processed food products

Food industry truck drivers are responsible for loading, transporting and delivering food orders to customers in a timely order. They work for a variety of employers, including food manufacturers, distributors, and logistics companies. The type of employer often determines the kinds of loads they carry and the vehicles they drive. For example, long-haul drivers transport goods across provinces or countries, spending days on the road, while local delivery drivers focus on shorter routes to ensure fresh food reaches stores, restaurants, or distribution centres nearby.

These drivers are the backbone of getting food to where it needs to go, safely and on time. They follow strict food safety guidelines to protect the integrity of the products they transport. This might include washing their trucks between delivery loads.

Food industry truck drivers also face unique challenges, such as managing tight schedules and hauling perishable goods, where even a small delay can result in spoiled products and financial losses.

Many times truck drivers act the face of the company when delivering items. They’re also often the face of the company, so being friendly and solving problems on the spot with customers is a huge part of the job. And let’s not forget the physical side—long hours behind the wheel and lifting heavy stuff mean staying in shape is key.

Overall, effective truck drivers need to plan smart routes, communicate clearly and always stay on top of whatever the job throws at them.

2. Food Industry Truck Drivers adhere to food safety standards

Maintaining food safety is essential at every stage of the supply chain, from the farm to processing and ultimately to consumers. Drivers play a crucial role in this process by adhering to strict hygiene practices. This includes regularly cleaning their vehicles, wearing protective gear, and following food safety standards. For example, vehicles must be cleaned regularly to prevent cross-contamination during transportation.

In Canada, food transportation is governed by the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR), which outline the necessary rules to keep food safe during transit. Failing to comply with these regulations can result in serious consequences, such as fines, harm to a company’s reputation but most importantly can cause serious sickness to the consumer. To ensure compliance, drivers must document their procedures, demonstrating that they have adhered to safety standards. These practices are vital for keeping food safe and of high quality from production to delivery.

3. Food Industry Truck Drivers require a driver’s license

To become a truck driver in the food industry, the requirements can vary based on the size and type of commercial vehicle being operated. Generally, a high school diploma or GED is necessary to ensure foundational skills, and a valid driver’s license in good standing is required for operating smaller vehicles, such as light-duty delivery trucks.

For drivers handling larger vehicles—such as the heavy-duty trucks often seen on highways—a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) is mandatory. Acquiring a CDL involves passing both a written knowledge test and a skills test, which assesses a driver’s ability to operate the vehicle safely and responsibly.

Many companies in the food industry offer training programs tailored to their specific needs. These programs not only teach new drivers how to operate specialized equipment, such as refrigerated trucks (reefers), but also provide guidance on maintaining proper food storage temperatures during transit to ensure product safety and quality. Training may also include an overview of critical food safety regulations, such as those set by the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), as well as best practices for transporting perishable goods.

4. Food Industry Truck Drivers need to manage their time

Food products differ from other consumer goods, like clothing or electronics, because they have limited shelf lives and need to be delivered to customers promptly. Delivery delays can result in spoiled products, which can incur significant costs and pose food safety risks.

For example, delivering dairy products or frozen foods often requires navigating early or late-night routes to avoid delays and maintain quality. Unpredictable demand, especially during peak seasons, adds complexity, necessitating that drivers remain flexible and adaptable.

5. Food Industry Truck Drivers need to have customer services skills

These professionals act as the face of a food company to customers such as store managers, restaurant staff and other clients. If they are truck drivers with regular routes around the city, they are likely to interact with the same people on a regular basis. Therefore it is essential for them to be professional and communicate clearly. It is encouraged for drivers to build relationships and troubleshoot problems on the fly. Not only is this valuable for securing repeat business, but it also makes the job much more fun!

6. Food Industry Truck Drivers must be physically fit

Truck drivers in the food industry spend many hours on the road and face physically demanding tasks at delivery sites. They may be required to lift boxes weighing 40 to 50 pounds or more, such as those not part of a pallet that can be moved with a forklift or pump lift.

Additionally, the job requires sitting for extended periods while driving, which can strain the back and legs over time. To alleviate this, truck drivers will take breaks every few hours to walk around. Many large companies now require drivers to pass fitness tests to ensure they are physically capable of handling the job demands, including lifting and enduring long hours behind the wheel.

7. Food Industry Truck Drivers are continuously using technology in their work

Gone are the days when it was just a truck driver with a paper list and their cargo. Today, technology is becoming increasingly used in a truck driver’s job.

• Electronic Logging Devices: These devices automatically record a driver’s hours of service (HOS) to ensure compliance with regulations. So truckers don’t overwork themselves!
• Collision Mitigation Systems: These systems use sensors and cameras to detect potential collisions and take corrective actions such as warning the drivers or applying the brakes.
• Cargo Tracking and Management Systems: Some advanced trucks even have sensors that provide data on trailer temperature, humidity and load stability.

For example, a driver transporting fresh dairy might use temperature-monitoring apps linked to sensors within the refrigerated truck. These monitoring apps allow them to respond to any deviations instantly, ensuring the product’s safety.

8. Food Industry Truck Drivers must plan their routes, communicate well, and stay attentive

Being a food industry Truck Drivers demands a diverse range of skills, but some are absolutely essential. These skills are not just beneficial, they’re crucial for success in this role:

• Route planning: Although companies will assist truck drivers in planning their routes, unexpected delays and other issues such as poor weather or traffic may arise. Drivers need to know how to update their routes if something arises continuously.
• Communication: While a driver’s job often involves spending much time alone on the road, communication remains essential. For instance, drivers must inform their managers, customers, or planners about delays or issues. If they don’t communicate, it can lead to late deliveries and problems with scheduled tasks.
• Preceptiveness: Preceptiveness is the ability to notice and understand things others might not. Truck drivers need to know what is happening around them at all times. Being able to read the roads keeps not only them but others safe as well.