3 Tips to transport pesticides safely

Pesticides should always be handled carefully and according to the label. When transporting pesticides, extra precautions are necessary to avoid potential problems in the event of an accident or spill. 

“Most of the risk that we have is not from storage or fires, it’s transportation,” says Fred Whitford, director of Purdue Pesticide Programs. “On a scale of 1 to 10 risk-wise, transportation is a 10 and almost everything else would be a two or three.” 

It’s important to be aware of both federal and state department of transportation (DOT) requirements when it comes to pesticides. “There’s federal regulations and under DOT, farmers are given many kinds of exceptions,” explains Whitford. “Individual states may require additional regulations above and beyond the federal DOT standards.” 

Consider these three precautions to transport pesticides safely.

Secure the load properly

Losing cargo on the road can be serious, particularly with pesticides. Not only is it a loss of product (whatever falls will likely be spilled or damaged), but it can also cause injury to both people and the environment. 

“Making sure all of your mini-bulk containers are, in fact, strapped down is important,” says Whitford. “There are regulations on how one should strap them down. We see a lot of mini-bulks on trailers or trucks that are not tied down or on trailers without enough straps to hold them.”

If insurance doesn’t cover the cost of remediation, you will have to pay for cleanup and restoration. “One mini-bulk on the side of the road cost a farmer $55,000 to have the contaminated soil transported from Indiana to Alabama to a special remediation site” Whitford said. The costs can be much steeper if hospital bills and litigation are added. Some $15 tie-downs and a few minutes of time can save thousands in the long run. 

Proper straps and tie-downs go beyond just pesticides. For more information on properly securing any load, see Purdue's publication “Securing the Load.”

Transport pesticides in their original, labeled containers

Inspect each container before loading, and confirm that none are damaged, labels are attached and legible, all caps are tightly closed and properly sealed, and the outside is not contaminated with pesticides. Protect containers made of paper, cardboard, or similar materials from rain or moisture.

“When hauling, be sure to have materials in proper containers with the proper name,” advises Whitford. “In the event of an accident and spill, the emergency responder will know what products are so they can react appropriately.”

Control, contain, clean up

Make sure you are traveling with proper protective equipment. A spill kit includes chemical resistant gloves, absorbent material — such as kitty litter — gloves and coveralls, a shovel, and a temporary plastic storage container. 

Protective equipment such as gloves and a change of clothing (a Tyvek suit is an easy solution)  should also be stored somewhere within the vehicle away from the pesticide. A significant spill, like in the case of an accident, would require contacting poison control and emergency management. The main goal, says Whitford, is to keep the products from getting into water directly or through drains.

For more details about transporting pesticides, see the University of Nebraska Extension publication, “Safe Transport, Storage and Disposal of Pesticides.”