The international transport company VCHD Cargo has successfully completed the certification process and received authorisation to transport pharmaceutical products in accordance with GDP Pharma. The Good Distribution Practice (GDP) for this segment includes a range of measures to ensure product integrity and quality and also sets out rules for transport. VCHD Cargo has thus extended its range of services to a very specific and demanding market segment.
GDP Pharma stands for Good Distribution Practice for products in the pharmaceutical industry. It contains the minimum standards that a transport company should fulfil to ensure that the quality and integrity of pharmaceuticals is maintained throughout transport, that contamination is prevented and that the right products reach the right recipient within a certain time frame.
‘We consider certification for the transport of pharmaceuticals to be a significant step for our company,’ says Petr Kozel, CEO and Chairman of the Board of VCHD Cargo a.s., and adds: ’GDP Pharma opens the door to this demanding segment and we are ready and equipped to fulfil the requirements of our customers.’ This type of highly complex transport requires special vehicle technology that, among other things, enables the semi-trailer to be opened and closed remotely and brought to a complete stop if the driver loses control of the vehicle. The vehicle must also be equipped with temperature control. High demands are also placed on the management of the entire transport process.
‘In connection with the GDP pharma transports, we had to thoroughly train our drivers and dispatchers and ensure a different approach to data handling than is the case with normal customers,’ explains Petr Kozel. The company must not only provide the customer with all information about the consignments, including, for example, a record of the temperature profile during transport, but also keep it for five years after the transport.
VCHD Cargo’s fleet comprises more than 240 tractor units and dozens of trailers and swap bodies. The new transport service – GDP pharma-compliant transport – is offered in both export and import mode.