Operating instructions

Dole – Drivers Reference Manual
Page 64
GUIDANCE ON COMMODITIES PROHIBITED FROM TRANSPORT IN DOLE
FOOD COMPANY CONTAINERS
EXHIBIT A
The purpose of this guidance document is to describe materials that are
prohibited from being transported in shipping containers that are used to carry Dole
food product. The Dole Food Company guarantees the safety and high quality of its
produce. As part of that guarantee, Dole ensures that no material which has the
potential to harm or otherwise damage Dole food product will be hauled in a
container (refrigerated or dry) that might be used to transport Dole food product.
Every Dole employee and contract carrier is responsible for understanding and
following the protocols outlined below.
Our primary objective is to assure that Dole food
products are clean and safe when they reach the customer. To
accomplish this objective, we protect Dole transportation
equipment and containers that are used to transport Dole
product against exposure to any materials, substances or
conditions that our customers and consumers would deem to be
incompatible with their use in shipping fruit and vegetables.
To accomplish these purposes, we prohibit the transport, in any containers
that are used to carry our food products, of "Hazardous Materials" as that term is
defined by the applicable regulations of the U.S. Department of Transportation at 49
C.F.R. § 171.8, unless it can be clearly demonstrated that those materials are in a
form, formulation or composition which presents no risk of contamination to the
containers and no risk of potential adverse impacts on fruits or vegetables that might
be transported in such containers. The list of prohibited materials includes, but is
not limited to, pesticides, certain chemicals, explosives, certain gases, flammable
liquids, certain metallic compounds and any other commodity that could result in
damage to the container or to any food product to be shipped in such container. See
specifically the list of Hazardous Materials provided at 49 C.F.R. § 172.101.
The following items are examples of materials that are specifically prohibited from transport:
 Pesticides and fertilizers in any formulation, except as
described below. The term “pesticides” is used generally
to refer to any product used to fight pests or plant
diseases, including but not limited to: insecticides,
fungicides, herbicides, rodenticides, nematicides, or any
other such product that displays terms such as “Danger”,
“Poison”, “Caution”, or “Warning” on the label. The
following fertilizers must not be shipped in refrigerated
containers: sea bird guano, chicken manure, steer manure,
blood meal and potentially corrosive fertilizers.