The Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA) recently outlined five federal policy priorities during meetings with members of Congress to support cold chain operations and food logistics. The alliance, which represents the cold chain industry, brought cold chain professionals from 13 states to Capitol Hill to advocate for legislation and regulatory changes.

GCCA called for congressional support of the FRIDGE Act as part of the Farm Bill. The legislation would direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service to fund needs assessments, training, and technical assistance to strengthen cold chain and port infrastructure in developing export markets.

The organization also urged lawmakers to advance guidance and legislation that distinguishes non-owning logistics providers from audit and certification requirements they cannot legally provide. GCCA also backed the Food Date Labeling Act (H.R. 4987) and the Feed the Community Act (H.R. 5840) to help expand food donation programs.

The group's advocacy follows a two-day fly-in that included discussions on trade policy, Capitol Hill updates, food traceability requirements under the Food Safety Modernization Act Section 204, presentations from USDA FSIS and FDA officials, and a briefing on the 2026 U.S. midterm elections.

“The cold chain is the backbone that keeps this country’s food supply safe, affordable, and moving. Today, our members are showing up on Capitol Hill to make sure policymakers understand what that takes,” Sara Stickler, GCCA president and CEO, stated. “By working together on essential cold chain modernization, we can build a regulatory environment and make practical investments that keep pace with global change. None of this happens without strong relationships—with members of Congress, with regulators, and with each other.”

What this means for the trucking industry

The priorities outlined by GCCA could affect refrigerated carriers, third-party logistics providers, cold storage operators, and food distributors that move temperature-sensitive freight. Proposed changes to food traceability, certification requirements, export processes, and food donation programs may reduce compliance challenges for some logistics providers while supporting more efficient movement of refrigerated goods. Fleet leaders involved in the cold chain may want to monitor these legislative and regulatory discussions as they could influence future operating requirements and supply chain efficiency.