Cafer Korhan, General Manager of Transbatur Logistics, Few Companies Fulfill Their Obligations, Especially In Pharmaceutical Transportation

Cafer Korhan, General Manager of Transbatur Logistics,

“FEW COMPANIES FULFILL THEIR OBLIGATIONS, ESPECIALLY IN PHARMACEUTICAL TRANSPORTATION”

Yılmaz Korhan, Deputy General Manager of Transbatur Logistics,

“WE CARRY OUT THESE TRANSPORTATION BY TAKING GDP TRAINING BOTH AS VEHICLE AND PERSON”

In the context of these issues, Nuray Pekcan, Editor-in-Chief of My Truck Magazine talked with Cafer Korhan, Transbatur Logistics General Manager, and Yılmaz Korhan, Transbatur Logistics Deputy General Manager, about the details of cold transportation activities and the problems experienced. Details are here...

Cafer Korhan, the General Manager of Transbatur Logistics, who started his speech by talking about Transbatur Logistics, which was established in 2002 and carries out the transportation of medicines and food, statds that the Owner of the Company is Mehmet Dilmen and that he carried out his works as a forwarder when the company was founded. Providing details about the company, Korhan said that; “In the first place, our company started as a forwarder, not investing in vehicles, but buying and selling freight. In 2005, we started to serve in vehicle investment and especially with refrigerated vehicles. We first served to pharmaceutical companies in the sector. At the moment, we continue to transport drugs and we are mainly transporting drugs. We also carry perishable food products. We mostly transport cold and fresh products. Our process after 2005 continued in relation to our growth plans. Until 2011, we were serving the sector only as Transbatur company and we had approximately 50 vehicles. In the process after 2011, we added the Trans Birdal company to our structure. The fields of activity of the two companies are also refrigerated transportation. The two companies have more than a hundred vehicles. We have always acted by considering the satisfaction of our customers. We are one of the leading refrigerated companies in Turkey. We think that we provide the best service in the field of service.”

“After Obtaining FRC Certificate, GDP Certificate Can Be Obtained”

Transbatur Logistics Deputy General Manager Yılmaz Korhan, who deals with the follow-up of cold shipments, states that there are points that customers also pay attention to in the transportation of heat-sensitive products. Stressing that one of the most important demands of the customers, especially in drug transportation, is the age of the vehicles, Korhan spoke about the necessary standards that his customers especially emphasize and said that; “Every year, all vehicle equipment should be calibrated, disinfected before loading and Good Distribution Practices in order to carry out food and drug transportation. (GDP) certificate required. This document is given after vehicle control. After obtaining the FRC certificate, you can have the GDP certificate.”

“We Carry Perishable Products”

Expressing that one of the other important points after the necessary standards are established is the reliability of the load and the temperature recorded during the transportation, Korhan said that; "The temperature is of great importance. Because we carry perishable products. It is also necessary to take precautions against theft incidents. Vehicles must be traceable 24/7 along the road. Drivers who will carry these products must be trained. For this, drivers start work and every 6 months, we provide training on units and what needs to be done along the way. During the journey, drivers are given a security and vehicle navigation form. On this form, drivers write what they do and when they stop. Drivers take control of both the vehicle and its surroundings, complete their documents and deliver them to us. In this way, the driver acts more consciously and he becomes aware of the importance of the product he is carrying.”

“We Are Carrying Out These Transportations By Getting GDP Training”

Adding that the state makes the FRC document mandatory, Korhan states that other documents are requested by the customer within the scope of studies on how to improve the business. Korhan said that; “We carry out these transportations by taking GDP training both as a vehicle and as a person. One of the biggest advantages of this training is that it raises awareness about how the drug can be delivered in a healthy way from the first user to the end user. The government needs to take this issue under tighter control. Because you are trying to compete with people who do not have the same consciousness as you. There is also a serious competition situation in today's shipping market.”

“Companies Fulfill Their Obligations”

Cafer Korhan adds that the number of companies that carry out transportation activities in accordance with the cold transportation standards is a certain number, and draws attention to the need for serious inspections regarding compliance with the standards. Korhan said that; “We are one of the companies in the market that can say "yes, I give the best service to my customer". Especially in pharmaceutical transportation, very few companies fulfill their obligations. Our exporting companies are also very inadequate in this regard and carry out their work unconsciously. This is only in our country. Controls in the process within the borders of Europe are very strict. In order not to reduce the quality of the food or medicine we bring from abroad or to prevent it from spoiling, we keep it in the vehicle to a certain extent. It is important for us that our vehicles keep the product in line with the customer's demand; but the service applied for the process after the warehouse needs to be continued in the same way, we think that serious work and supervision is required at this point.”

“We Are A Fast Developing Country; We Integrate All Kinds Of Troubles And Processes”

Korhan stated that the necessary standards should not only remain on paper and should be audited and said that; “We have great responsibilities in these works. We fulfill our responsibilities, but do we do enough? When we look at the paper, everyone creates a good impression, but when we look at the general image on the field, we cannot provide an effective service. We believe that we will achieve a serious success when it is reflected on the field without being on paper. We will gain momentum as a country. Because we are a rapidly developing country, we integrate into all kinds of troubles and processes. Especially we have experienced and seen this one-on-one during the pandemic period. We have gone through great difficulties and have provided a very good service in the last year and a half logistically. Our drivers and staff showed great dedication. Our industry is always up to date and young. I think we can get better returns for that.”

“We Pay Attention to the Quality of the Vehicles and the Products We Will Serve”

Noting that their customers pay attention to the standards required in cold transportation as much as they do, and that they make requests in this direction, Korhan said that; “For example, we cannot use trailers over 6 years old in our drug transports, or our customers do not allow this. Our customers say, 'Do not send the vehicles over 6 years old for my load, these standards are insufficient for carrying my product'. We pay a lot of attention to this issue. Our customers have double-deck, double-heated or double-cooled demands. In particular, we follow the FRC and caliber issues closely. We pay serious attention to the quality of the vehicles and the products we will serve, both by the customers and the systems we have developed.”

 “EU Does Not Let the Product In When There Is The Smallest Problem”

Emphasizing that there are very strict controls in cold transportation in Europe, Korhan expressed that they have a lot of trouble especially in vehicles carrying perishable products and said that; "We follow the documents in the vehicles day and night. Because in the slightest problem, the EU does not take the product into its country. Europe is very meticulous about this. Especially in Bulgaria, we have problems at border gates and transit documents. Because many companies do not know enough about the legislation, especially when the legislation on paperwork comes into force, there is a lot of trouble.”

“We Use Equipment Conforming to European Standards in Our Refrigerated Vehicles”

Korhan stated that the industry has developed a lot, especially that equipment suppliers have updated both their units and in-vehicle systems, and that they have received positive feedback from their customers in this regard. Korhan concluded his words by saying that; “We use equipment that complies with European standards in our refrigerated vehicles. We are making our investments as an innovative company open to continuous development in the sector. Our vehicles have remote access (dual communication) and it provides a great advantage for our industry.”