Frequently Asked Questions
Warehouse
What specific food safety certifications and regulatory compliance standards (e.g., FDA, HACCP, USDA) do your cold storage facilities maintain?
At Nova Foods and Logistics, Inc., our cold-storage facility is fully food-grade certified and maintains compliance with FDA and USDA regulatory requirements for food storage and distribution. We are SQF-certified, operating under globally recognized, HACCP-based food-safety and quality standards.
In addition, our facility is Organic Certified by Organic Certifiers, allowing us to properly store and handle certified organic products in accordance with federal organic regulations. We support frozen, refrigerated, and ambient temperature zones, with systems designed to maintain product integrity and ensure safe handling throughout the storage and logistics process.
How do you ensure continuous, stable temperature control, and what real-time monitoring and alert systems are in place for temperature excursions?
At Nova Foods and Logistics, Inc., we maintain rigorous, continuous temperature control across all storage zones, including frozen, refrigerated, and ambient areas. Our facilities are equipped with advanced monitoring systems that track temperature in real time, ensuring optimal conditions are consistently maintained for all products.
In addition to regular checks, we have an automated alert system that immediately notifies our team of any temperature deviations within the facility or on our trucks during transportation. This proactive system allows us to take swift corrective action, safeguarding product integrity and maintaining compliance with all regulatory and food-safety standards. Our approach combines technology, strict protocols, and trained personnel to ensure the cold chain remains uncompromised at all times.
Do your facilities offer segregated storage zones for different temperature requirements (e.g., chilled, frozen, deep-freeze), and how are cross-contamination risks mitigated?
At Nova Foods and Logistics, Inc., we take a highly structured approach to receiving and storing all products to ensure the highest standards of food safety and quality. Upon arrival, every shipment is carefully inspected, documented, and entered into our inventory management system, creating a full digital record of the product, including lot numbers, expiration dates, and handling requirements. Once logged, items are immediately segregated by temperature zone—chilled, frozen, or ambient—so that each product is stored under optimal conditions tailored to its specific requirements.
To further safeguard product integrity, we also segregate products by allergen categories, reducing the risk of cross-contamination and supporting compliance with food-safety regulations and customer specifications. Our facility is designed with dedicated storage areas and clearly defined zones to maintain strict separation between temperature categories and allergen types.
How is inventory tracking managed within the cold environment (e.g., WMS integration), and do you support FIFO/LIFO based on product shelf life requirements?
At Nova Foods and Logistics, Inc., all incoming products are carefully received and assigned lot numbers, ensuring that every item is fully traceable throughout its time in storage. Our inventory is managed with a focus on accuracy and accountability, and our team is thoroughly trained in both FIFO (First In, First Out) and LIFO (Last In, First Out) rotation methods. This ensures that products are distributed according to their shelf-life requirements and customer specifications, maintaining product quality and safety. By combining lot-level traceability with rigorous rotation practices, we provide reliable inventory management across all storage zones.
What is your emergency plan and backup power protocol in the event of a sustained power outage to prevent product loss?
At Nova Foods and Logistics, Inc., we follow SQF (Safe Quality Food) protocol to ensure the safety and integrity of products during any emergency, including sustained power outages. We have a comprehensive emergency response plan that includes continuous monitoring, automated alerts, and documented procedures for rapid corrective action. All personnel are trained on SQF-compliant emergency procedures, including product handling, relocation if necessary, and communication protocols. This rigorous approach ensures that product quality and safety are maintained even during unexpected power disruptions.
What physical security measures (e.g., controlled access, surveillance) are in place to protect high-value frozen and refrigerated goods?
At Nova Foods and Logistics, Inc., we maintain a robust physical security program to protect all high-value frozen goods. Our facility uses a FOB-based access control system, with unique credentials assigned to all employees to ensure controlled entry and restricted access to sensitive areas. In addition, we have surveillance cameras strategically placed throughout the facility and surrounding premises to monitor activity at all times. To further enhance security, we also employ on-site security personnel who provide an additional layer of protection. These combined measures ensure that our inventory remains safe, secure, and under constant oversight.
What is your procedure for temperature verification upon receipt and dispatch, and how do you handle products that arrive or leave outside acceptable temperature ranges?
Temperature verifications are performed on the truck settings, inside temperature of the trailer, and the product prior to unloading, during unloading, and after all items have been unloaded. Any deviations in temperature requirements will cause the product to be rejected. Customers will be notified of the rejection and documentation will be sent to confirm the abuse in temperature.
Can your facility accommodate specialized cold storage needs, such as controlled atmosphere storage or handling for pharmaceutical/medical products?
Yes, we have temperature-controlled rooms that are monitored 24 hours a day 7 days a week using state of the art monitoring.
Logistics
What are your primary geographic service areas for local transportation, and what types of vehicles are available in your fleet to handle varied load sizes and requirements?
We are currently servicing a 25 miles radius from our Vernon location. We currently have box trucks and 53 foot semi trucks that can handle anywhere from 1 pallet to 26 pallets per load.
What real-time tracking capabilities do you offer for shipments, and what is your standard procedure for providing signed proof of delivery (POD)?
We currently do not provide access to any tracking systems we use but can provide ETAs upon request. We provide all PODs via email by end of business day for all deliveries performed that day.
What is the guaranteed maximum dwell time for a typical load entering and exiting your cross-docking facility, and what are the associated service fees?
We are currently well under the 2 hour window we provide for all inbound and outbound loads. Service fees for cross docking are based on the amount of pallets being handled. We do not charge any lumping fees for loads arriving on pallets.
How do you ensure driver compliance with federal Hours of Service (HOS) regulations, and what is your safety record for local and regional hauls?
We ensure full compliance with federal Hours of Service (HOS) regulations through the use of Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) integrated within our Samsara system. Samsara provides real-time visibility into driver hours, duty status, and required rest periods, allowing us to proactively monitor compliance and prevent violations before they occur.
All drivers are trained on FMCSA HOS requirements, and driver logs are routinely reviewed to ensure adherence. Any potential issues are addressed promptly through corrective action and coaching.
Safety Record (As of 12/14/2025, updated daily via FMCSA SAFER):
- DOT Safety Rating: Not Rated
- Out-of-Service (OOS) Rates:
- Vehicle OOS: 0.0% (National Average: 23.2%)
- Driver OOS: 0.0% (National Average: 6.4%)
- Hazmat OOS: Not applicable
Our 0.0% vehicle and driver out-of-service rates demonstrate a strong commitment to safety and regulatory compliance, particularly for local and regional hauls.
What is your liability policy for damaged or lost freight during transit, and what is the process and typical timeline for filing and resolving a freight claim?
It depends on the reason for the damage/lost freight, but we have a $250,000 line of coverage for property in transit. Process is started by initiating a claim and then based on the information provided, timeline of claims processes being finalized is very much a case by case basis depending on how quickly info is provided, who the other insurance carrier is, their response, etc.
Can your Transportation Management System (TMS) integrate directly with our existing enterprise resource planning (ERP) or Warehouse Management System (WMS)?
We are currently not utilizing a Transportation Management System (TMS). At this time, we use Samsara, which is a fleet management and telematics platform and is not considered a traditional TMS. While Samsara does not provide direct TMS-to-ERP or WMS integrations, it is capable of supporting several related operational functions, including:
- GPS tracking and real-time vehicle visibility
- ELD and Hours of Service (HOS) compliance
- Driver safety monitoring (dash cameras and behavior tracking)
- Vehicle diagnostics and preventive maintenance
- Real-time driver and fleet status reporting
Do you offer expedited or just-in-time (JIT) transportation services, and can you handle specialized freight like oversized loads or equipment?
We can assist with just in time transportation services but prefer 24 hour notification in order to ensure on time deliveries.
What are the daily cutoff times for booking local transportation services, and what is the process for scheduling recurring or dedicated route services?
Customers can reach out via email to schedule a pick up or delivery Monday through Friday before 2pm.
