Working together with the Produce Marketing Association and the Dispute Resolution Corporation, CPMA has developed Transportation Guidelines to aid fresh produce shippers, carriers and receivers in developing an optimal operations environment for the transportation of fresh produce.

Fresh fruit and vegetables are highly perishable and are subject to a multitude of domestic and international laws on the product side, while at the same time being exempt from most economic and regulatory requirements on the transportation side. Deals are often made “on the fly” with limited paperwork and few contracts. As a result, we are increasingly challenged by the availability of quality transportation services for fresh produce loads.

Lack of communication, combined with the lack of awareness of rights and responsibilities throughout the fresh produce supply chain can undermine the productivity of a company. Regardless of the status of the product throughout the supply, chain, the final judgment occurs when the truck arrives at its destination and the customer evaluates the state of the product.

Adopting and implementing best practices across each individual supply chain can be beneficial for shippers, carriers and receivers through:

The environment for finding trucks to haul fresh produce is highly competitive due to factors such as driver or truck availability.  Trucking companies and their drivers will show preference for suppliers and receivers that pay well, pay on time, are efficient in loading and unloading, and most importantly treat drivers courteously.  By following the CPMA Transportation Guidelines, and associated Appendices, shippers, carriers and receivers can ensure that all stakeholders can work together to provide the best operations environment possible for the transportation of fresh produce.