Indiana Packers Corporation Procurement Department

Truckers Quality Assurance Program

The TQA Program was written to educate drivers and the producers who haul hogs to packing plants.  The overall purpose of the program is to improve the quality of pork products through better handling and transportation.

• Drivers are an important part of America’s pork producing industry and play a key role in providing healthy, safe and nutritious pork products to consumers.

• Both their knowledge and actions with the proper handling and transportation of the animals directly affects the prosperity of the industry as well as the quality of the food we put on the dinner table.

• The drivers are not just hauling hogs; they are helping to deliver quality food.

Program Overview

This program is a good opportunity to share valuable information and insight about handling, loading, unloading and transporting hogs to the plant.  The program also addresses animal welfare and bio-security measures that help transport hogs more easily, eliminate contamination and consequently ensure that quality standards are followed and maintained through the transportation process.

The program utilizes: Instruction Group discussions Videos Written test required for certification Topics of discussion: Driver attitudes and behavior Unloading and loading procedures Standard operation procedures for downers Livestock Weather Safety Index Spacing Bio-security
For more information or questions regarding the TQA Program, contact Chuck Bieghler at Indiana Packers Corporation. Toll Free Phone  (800) 472-7201	Run  in conjuction with the National Pork Board, P.O. Box 9114, Des Moines, IA 50306    Phone (515) 223-2600

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