6-FV

The MacroTote 6-FV is a lightweight single piece tote designed for harvesting, storage and distribution of produce with multiple vent holes to facilitate quick cool down and easy viewing of contents. Reinforced sidewalls allow for high stacking, as tote is equally supported around the sides and corners of the tote. The purpose of this guide is to review all aspects for the safe use of the MacroTote 6-FV.

Table of Contents

Transporting
Cold Storage
Field Handling
Maintenance
Cleaning
Recycling

Transporting

The MacroTote 6-FV was designed to transport produce in a 6 down configuration, 10 high on a 40” x 48” standard pallet.   The stacking configuration is illustrated below. When stacking full totes on pallets, efforts should be undertaken to ensure the corners of the totes line up with the slats on the top of the pallet, not over the spaces between the slats. This will provide maximum support to the totes under the corner posts, reducing deformation from high stacking loads and forces generated while transporting full totes on the road.

6-FV Pallet Stack
6-FV stack layout

Full totes are secured to the pallet using vertical cardboard corner braces along the corners and top of the forklift entry sides of the pallet. 3 horizontal straps are used to secure the corner braces at the middle of the block and 2 rows from the top and bottom of the stack. 2 vertical straps are run through the forklift opening of the pallet and over the top to secure the stack of totes to the pallet. The photo below illustrates properly secured pallet of full totes ready for safe transporting and storage.

Load 6-FV pallet on truck
Load 6-FV pallet on truck
Load pallets side by side
Load pallets side by side
Add pallet to top of each stack
Add pallet to top of each stack
Strap down stacks
Strap down stacks

If fully loaded pallets are to be transported on flatbed trucks or trailers, proper tie-down load securement measures must be taken to ensure loaded pallets are safely secured to the truck bed or trailer. To effectively secure a load of pallets, each row must be strapped down as illustrated in the above photo sequence.

Because the tote sidewalls are not designed to handle the forces generated when to straps are winched tight enough to secure the load, a pallet is placed on the top to distribute strapping forces evenly over the top of the loaded pallet as illustrated in the photo sequence above. V-boards could also be employed to protect the top row of totes from deformation due to concentrated strapping forces. When securing a load that will be transported over the road, the securement system must comply with DOT Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations listed under 49 CFR 393.100 – 393.114.

Field Handling

The 6-FV is compatible with all current handcarts and field-handling equipment used to transport totes into and out of the field.

Cold Storage

The reinforced corners allow stacking 3 pallets high in cool down and cold storage operations. Multiple vents facilitate very quick cool down in cold storage facilities.

Maintenance

Cracks on the sidewalls can be repaired using a hot air welding system.   Damage to the corner support sections cannot be repaired.

Cleaning

Totes can be cleaned using a high-pressure spray washer. High-pressure steam cleaners should never be used.

Recycling

For information on recycling damaged or worn-out totes, visit http://www.macroplastics.com/services/recycling/.