To celebrate National Dairy Month, we wanted to highlight some of the unique steps we take to ensure we operate competitively and efficiently in the industry for our dairy customers, delivering their products strategically from point A to point B.
Tailored solutions based on each state’s regulations, receiving facilities, and production schedules.
At Ruan, our team members are up to date on each state’s milk transportation regulations, ensuring that the safety and quality of milk products are not disrupted. We are experienced in 24/7 milk hauling operations and understand that they require responsiveness.
There are many variables to consider when transporting milk, and Ruan tailors solutions proactively to prepare for varying regulations, requirements, and schedules.
- Cows naturally fall off regular production due to illness, feed changes, or environmental factors, which can delay milk pickups. At Ruan, we adjust driver schedules to ensure timely transport to the plant. Since cows must be milked consistently, we also ensure dairy silos are emptied on time to prevent overflow and product loss.
- Ruan follows a rigorous Clean In Place (CIP) process. Our milk tanks are unbaffled, which allows them to be cleaned properly. If CIP guidelines are not met, it can cost the transporter the entire amount of the load, so there is high risk. Once a tank is washed, it remains usable for 72 hours. As soon as a new product enters the tank, it’s considered wet. Our team works to ensure that the product is delivered within the restricted time frame after the tank is considered wet to mitigate our risk.
- Ruan has developed best practices to not only comply with state, city, and county regulations and strict requirements, but also to meet the needs of our customers. We have implemented monetary incentives for our drivers to work additional hours, especially in times when we are unexpectedly short-staffed and during holiday seasons.
Increased visibility with access to tracking and sanitation measurements.
Our technology allows us to build customized reporting for our customers on how their product is moving from the dairy to the plant and gives visibility to breakdowns and real-time data on the costs associated with transporting the milk. "For one customer, we built a report showing each truck’s wash cycle, including the last wash date and available clean trucks – helping them manage equipment and maintain proper wash schedules," said Randy Flowers, Operations Team Leader at Ruan.
When our drivers load milk, they obtain a state license and a weigher and sampler license. Our drivers are trained to follow strict sanitation procedures while pulling samples of milk, including wearing gloves, agitating before loading, sanitizing all equipment to pull samples. Our drivers recognize the importance of pulling quality samples to keep bacteria counts low so our customers can get the maximum price for their product. A two-ounce sample of milk must be at 32 to 34 degrees, and our drivers use the proper equipment to maintain this temperature so that the integrity of the product remains.
On-time pickup at receiving facilities, with strategic driver schedules.
With the unpredictability of production and receiving, we need to have the flexibility to adjust at a moment’s notice. As an asset-based 3PL, Ruan strategically stages our equipment, especially during holidays, allowing us to proactively position clean tanks for timely plant delivery, even with potential delays. Our team also utilizes specific team member scheduling for both drivers and dispatch so that we can meet the demands and needs of our customers.
Our team has also implemented utilization of super tankers that have a fourth axle. These trailers are specially designed to take on a larger number of gallons so that we can be more efficient in picking up and dropping off milk to help avoid any waste of product or driver schedules.
Trained drivers who are knowledgeable about PMO and the important role they play in the quality of the final delivered product.
PMO (Pasteurized Milk Ordinance) is a basic guideline that all states follow, with some being more restrictive than others. Ultimately, plants can decide what they will and won’t accept, and we must adjust to make sure we meet their requirements.
No matter the industry you operate in, the Ruan team works strategically with our customers to meet their demands and needs by providing vertical-specific tailored solutions and trained team members that become an extension of your team and brand. We’d love to be a resource for any upcoming transportation planning when the time is right.
Learn more about our dairy-specific solutions here or email Allison Meiners so we can be a resource for your dairy supply chain goals.