Carrier Best Practices
The best practices in this document reflect a general agreement and cooperative effort among shippers, receivers, carriers, and transportation brokers to codify accepted protocols for transporting fresh produce.
Produce Carriers Best Practices Highlights
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At the Shipper’s Dock |
At the Receiver’s Dock |
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Loading by appointment whenever practical |
Seal(s) serial #s to be verified by receiver prior to opening doors |
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Shipper to communicate receiver’s delivery requirements |
Temperature recorders to be retrieved and read by receivers before unloading |
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Driver responsible to understand and acknowledge delivery requirements |
Party that receives load to print and sign name on BOL |
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Driver responsible for clean, pre-cooled trailer in good repair |
Note time of arrival and tender of delivery in the event of a delay in unloading |
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In the Event of Product Problems Caused by Carrier:
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Driver should count and take pulp temperatures of load; if constrained from doing so, shipper should mark bills as “shipper’s load and count”, driver should notify dispatcher or transportation broker |
Receiver must immediately notify shipper and carrier or transportation broker |
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If driver cannot count and pulp, receiver or contracting third party needs to be contacted for instructions by either dispatcher or transportation broker |
Shipper, receiver, or carrier must request federal inspection at receiver’s facility as soon as possible (usually within 8 hours), or otherwise obtain written agreement from carrier to independent third party inspection |
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Shipper to document location and serial # of temperature recording units on BOL |
Receiver must email results of inspection to all interested parties within 3 hours of inspection |
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Shipper to document who loaded and checked product |
Any and all arrangements must be documented in writing between all parties |
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Re-delivery charges must be agreed to by all parties |
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All parties interested should agree on proof of disposal by way of certificate or other documentation |
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Receiver should make all reasonable efforts to resolve and properly document claim issues without delay |
The Carrier Synopsis was originally developed by the North American Produce Transportation Working Group and updated by the United Fresh Produce Association Supply Chain Logistics Council.
This guidance represents the collective thinking of associations and the Council. It does not create or confer any rights for or on any person or company and does not operate to bind members of any association which has endorsed the document, nor those with whom they do business.