Operating instructions

Dole – Drivers Reference Manual
Page 2
Please take the time to become familiar with the information contained in this manual;
distribute it to any of your agents, servants, employees or drivers who may enter a Dole
terminal or handle Dole equipment; and keep it handy for reference when a situation occurs
that requires knowledge of Dole’s policies and procedures.
You and your agents, servants, employees and drivers, including independent contractors,
must strictly follow all safety procedures contained in the Dole Driver's Reference Manual,
applicable to any Dole terminal or communicated by Dole while on Dole premises. You are
solely responsible to convey all safety procedures and to provide the Dole Driver's Reference
Manual and any related materials to your agents, servants, employees and drivers.
If you have any questions or comments concerning this information, please direct them to
your dispatcher or to Dole Maintenance and Repair personnel.
Container Interchange Agreement
The Container Interchange Agreement is a contract between each carrier and Dole Fresh
Fruit Company. This contract agreement outlines the Carriers’ responsibilities and
requirements for the use of Dole equipment and provides the basis for procedures set forth in
this manual. Each motor carrier who enters into the Container Interchange Agreement should
be familiar with all provisions of the agreement as it is legally binding on all parties. The
parties to the Container Interchange Agreement are independent contractors. They are not
agents, servants, employees, or joint venturers.
Although you may chose not to advise your drivers of all the stipulations of the contract,
you should advise them of the basic terms of the agreement: particularly the provisions
concerning DELIVERY, RETURN AND INSPECTION OF EQUIPMENT and the
importance of the Equipment Interchange Report (EIR) which is the document used for
transferring equipment at Dole terminals. This section deals with requirements for receiving
and returning container equipment and states in part:
“THE PARTIES SHALL JOINTLY INSPECT THE UNIT, AND SUCH JOINT
INSPECTIONS SHALL BE PERFORMED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
PROVISIONS OF THE EQUIPMENT INTERCHANGE REPORT”.
“FOR THE PURPOSES OF DETERMINING WHETHER CARRIER BEARS THE
RESPONSIBILITY UNDER THIS AGREEMENT FOR REMEDYING ANY
DAMAGE, DEFECT OR CONDITION EXISTING IN THE UNIT AFTER ITS
RETURN, THE PARTIES SHALL BE BOUND BY THE INFORMATION
CONTAINED IN THE EQUIPMENT INTERCHANGE REPORT”.
In complying with this requirement, it is extremely important that your drivers
conscientiously inspect the equipment and monitor the inspection of equipment by any
checker at a Dole terminal and be aware of the content of the Equipment Interchange Report