Alcohol trade and transportation are some of the staples in America. Go to any store, and you will find shelves stocked with all kinds of alcoholic beverages. While this may be a bit exhausting for truckers who are constantly behind the wheel, transporting goods all over America is necessary to satisfy the demand. However, for the products to reach store shelves in every corner of America, they must be transported first. This cannot be done by just anyone, as there are regulations to follow when transporting alcohol. The beverage must be transported legally, according to safety standards, and efficiently in order to arrive to the customer on time.
The effect of the pandemic on the transportation of goods
With the arrival of the pandemic, alcohol transportation has become a bit more complicated due to the introduction of new regulations. On the other hand, there has been both a shortage and an increase in demand for truck drivers. With more and more people getting used to their food and beverage being delivered to their doorstep, the demand for professional drivers increased as well. Therefore, with truck driving being such a lucrative job, now is the perfect opportunity to get your CDL license.
Although the lockdowns have been enforced all over the world, the products had to be transported to keep the food and other supplies accessible to everyone. Luckily, with the pandemic slowly becoming more stable over the years, things are slowly returning to normal.
Alcohol shipping regulations
Bulk alcohol transportation has different regulations depending on the state you are transporting to and from. This is something truck drivers, and alcohol suppliers have to be acquainted with at all times.
For example, Mississippi, Utah, and Alabama strictly prohibit any kind of alcohol shipping directly to consumers. On the other hand, Louisiana and Indiana have policies that force wineries to decide to whom they ship their goods. Wineries that ship their products to wholesalers are not allowed to ship directly to individual consumers, and vice versa. This limits their freedom to switch between the type of consumers they want to partner with. Now, let’s cover some of the more general regulations to follow when transporting alcohol.
Alcohol shipping cross-state varies depending on several factors, such as the quantity, the distance, and the storage methods. In addition, if you wish to ship alcohol from outside the United States, you will need additional permits like the Federal Basic Importer’s Permit or Wholesaler’s Basic Permit.
Beer transportation
Every state has breweries. This means that the regulations vary quite a bit depending on the state you are shipping to and from. While one brewery may allow its products to be shipped cross-state, others prefer to stay localized within their home state. Therefore, there is more to learn about the regulations to follow when transporting alcohol like beer than other kinds of alcoholic beverages.
Wine transportation
The laws surrounding wine cross-state shipping are much more lenient compared to beer transportation. This is because wineries are more scarce and concentrated only in certain parts of the U.S. Fortunately, most states allow wine distribution from retailers and wineries.
Liquor transportation
Cross-state liquor transportation has more and stricter rules than beer and wine, unfortunately. On the one hand, most states have laws that allow liquor shipping directly to the consumer. On the other hand, most laws only address brewers from out of state.
Luckily, these laws have started being given more attention recently. More states are now improving their laws on how to ship liquor, making both the brewers and the consumers happier.
Other types of alcoholic beverages also have their own strict regulations. Therefore, even if you are transporting hard cider or spiked seltzer, there are laws to follow regarding their transportation.
Tips for transporting alcohol
For the transportation of alcoholic beverages, the experts at evlmoving.com advise paying attention to the conditions the goods are in during transportation. Light and temperature-sensitive shipments, such as alcohol, will require proper conditions to be met. Otherwise, your transported goods will spoil. Make sure your truck’s cooling systems function and that the alcohol is packaged properly.
These two factors will mean little if your goods arrive in broken containers. Alcohol is most commonly stored in glass bottles, which are more fragile than other products you might be used to transporting. Separating the glass bottles, so they don’t clash with each other is key to preventing them from breaking during transportation. No matter how carefully you’re driving, the truck’s engine and turbulence are enough to cause the products to shake.
Your focus and health as a driver are two key things to worry about during any kind of transportation. Truck drivers in America drive approximately 140 billion miles every year. This can be detrimental to anyone’s health. Sitting for that long is both physically and mentally draining. Therefore, make sure you are well-rested for the journey and don’t hesitate to take short breaks when you feel the need to.
Final thoughts
Alcohol is one of the staple products being transported in the United States. Every state has its own rules and regulations for alcohol transportation. Therefore, where you are shipping to and from will vastly affect how you can do your business with your clients. Some states and breweries are strict about alcohol exportation, while others will force the supplier to choose whom they partner up with. Some states allow alcohol delivery to the customer’s door, while others don’t.
Overall, despite the regulations to follow when transporting alcohol, truck driving is an extremely lucrative career. And with the recently increased demand for truck drivers, now is the perfect time to consider getting your commercial driver’s license.
Author Bio: Dominic Cunningham is a freelance writer who has been in the content writing business for three years. He specializes in the topics of transportation and helping new drivers get started quicker.
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