theoldprof
Veteran Expediter
When hauling a hazmat load, do you have to forage through the hazmat book for the proper signs to display, or is that information on the shipping papers?
Thanks. :+ :+
Thanks. :+ :+
Hazmat signs
- Thread starter theoldprof
- Start date
It is the shippers responsabilty to make sure you have the proper placards. It can get really interesting if your have more than one type of material unboard or if the material poses more than one type of threat. But in the end it is the shippers responsabilty to provide needed placards. You can always check with your company to make sure you are given the right ones as well.
The freight will also have the placards required on the drums ,totes etc. Usually if the frt is under 1,000 lbs it is not necessary to placard. Some items such as poison,explosives 1.1-2 always require placards.The shipping paperwork will also indicate the type of freight it is. If in doubt go to your dispatcher as sometimes the guy on the loading dock is not aware of Haz/mat rules.Never let them force you out the door unless you are sure of the paperwork and the load.Also it is very important to have your emergency response guidebook with you.Last year a FDXCC couple were fined $10k in Illinois for not having the guidebook on their truck.
theoldprof
Veteran Expediter
Does your carrier furnish an O/O with a set of Hazmat placards? Are you furnished an emergency response guidebood?
Thanks. :+ :+
Thanks. :+ :+
With FECC...contractor supplies plackards. I belive Response books are free.
Many large HM shippers will hand out stick-on plackards with the PU of the freight.
Although it is the shippers responsibility to have every thing in order, we should be prepaired to help those who only ship these materials every now and then.(Picking up left over drums of paint at a job site comes to mind)
After we are on the road we are the ones looking forward to fines and OOS. if something is wrong.
Many large HM shippers will hand out stick-on plackards with the PU of the freight.
Although it is the shippers responsibility to have every thing in order, we should be prepaired to help those who only ship these materials every now and then.(Picking up left over drums of paint at a job site comes to mind)
After we are on the road we are the ones looking forward to fines and OOS. if something is wrong.
Mostcarriers reqquire you to buy your own placard holders. This is up to you as that way you do not have to use the ahedisive placards which are hard to remove,you can just insert them in the holder.You can also buy a set of flip placards at a general truck facility. These will have the most common placards used such as flammable gas, flamamable liquid, corrisive etc..They are not expensive and you can also buy the emergency response book at full service truck stops,but as the previous poster said ,shippers are required to supply placards if necessary. The times you have problems is when the shipper is not accustomed to shipping haz/mat and they are unaware of the rules. Example is a shipper might be returning a haz/mat load for whatever reason and they do not have placards or a shippers certification.
I haven't had the experience yet but this story was related to me and sounded good so I'm following the example. The driver had a hazmat load and put the paperwork inside the emergency response book at the page for the particular material being hauled. He was stopped by an officer along the way and asked for paperwork. He handed the paperwork still inside the book at the proper page. The officer saw it was set up for that material and sent him on his way. It may just be a story but I don't believe it could hurt anything and if it helps that's all the better.
Leo
truck 4958
Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.
Leo
truck 4958
Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.
One of the things that distinguishes expediters from many other truckers is most (maybe all?) expediter carriers require all their drivers (contractors) to have HAZMAT endorsements on their CDLs. The majority of non-expediting truck drivers do not.
HAZMAT loads are generally no more difficult to deal with than ordinary freight...IF...you have your paperwork in order and comprehend the HAZMAT info HAZMAT-endorsed drivers are expected to know. Acquiring that info is easy. It's in the CDL manuals issued by states and info and training provided by carriers. Comprehending the info and putting it to good use is up to the driver.
For example, I once met a driver that complained about a large fine he had to pay because he was pulling a placarded trailer but the trailer was empty. He knew the trailer should not be placarded but did not remove the stick-on placards because that would have required effort he was not willing to provide. The placards were stuck on pretty good and he had no good tools (a razor scraper or Goo-Gone) to remove them. To this day, he believes his carrier should reimburse him for the fine because "THEY" gave him an improperly placarded trailer. He failed to mention that "HE" was the one stupid enough to haul it down the road when he knew it would be illegal to do so.
That's an example of a driver that received but did not comprehend or practice the HAZMAT info he received. Instead of working hard to remove the placards, he might have easily covered the placards with duct tape (don't leave home without it), but that did not occur to him. Now he's a driver that refuses to haul HAZMAT loads - and thereby forfiets the extra money he could make - because "It's too much trouble."
Regarding the flip-open placards, we prefer empty placard holders because:
1. The shipper is required to supply the proper placards. If that cannot be done, that itself is a red flag to look with suspicion on the load and paperwork. If they did not have the foresight to have placards ready with the load, other things may also be wrong.
2. Laws change about how placards should look. Once, borders were not required on placards (at least some of them). Now they are. Had we purchased non-bordered placards of the flip-out kind, that money would be down the drain with the law change. We do not trust bureaucrats to leave the regs alone. Placard rule changes are likely in the years ahead. Better, we feel, to use the throw-away kind. Rule changes affecting placard images do not then require us to buy new flip-open placards to stay current. Changes are infrequent, but why bother with them at all if you don't have to?
3. Flip-out placards collect road spray and store dried road salt between them. They require extra effort to keep clean. Empty placard holders do not.
4. People at shippers and some jokers on the road like playing with flip-out placards. Once while securing our load, I heard from inside the truck the people outside opening up the flip-out placards for the load. On my pre-trip walk around, I noticed one of the placards was opened to the right color and word but wrong number. Three placards said "Flamable 3" one said "Flamable 2". Oops! How much might that fine have been if I did not notice it and got tagged at a scale?
I also dislike the "joker" risk flip-open placards present. While you are empty and asleep at say a rest area, a michievious person that really means no harm but is just trying to be funny, might decide to flip open your placard to "Poison" or "Radioactive" or "Explosives". In theory, you'd catch that on your pre-trip walk around the next morning. But also in theory, you could be found in violation when Smoky Bear rolls through the rest area and knocks on your door.
I never thought of that risk until I saw something funny at the Louisville truck show. Someone had opened the flip-open placard on on a truck at an expediter recruiting booth where the recruiters work. Among all the glitz and glitter the carrier set up in the booth was a sign that read, "Inhalation Hazard."
5. As often as not, we find ourselves hauling HAZMAT loads where the freight does not match any flip-open placard we have on our truck. We end up having to use the shipper-supplied throw-away placards anyway.
Throw-away (peel and stick) placards carry the risk of blowing away while you drive down the road. The placard holders are not always that reliable. A bit of clear packaging tape helps hold the placards in the placard holders. We do not use the peel and stick feature. Some of those glues go on easy and then stay on, even when you don't want them to.
It's also a good idea to ask the shipper for one or two extra placards in case one does blow away or a joker decides to remove one of yours. Shippers are almost always willing to give you extras.
Finally, while HAZMAT compliance is routine for drivers that know what they are doing, it's not something to take lightly. HAZMAT loads are one area where the much-maligned dispatchers can be worth their weight in gold. While it's sometimes a pain to dot all the I's and cross all the T's in a departure call to dispatch when you are eager to get underway, the attention to detail our dispatchers (FedEx CC) show on HAZMAT loads is very much appreciated.
More than once, shippers have had to redo their paperwork because our dispatchers caught errors that might have otherwise gone unnoticed. We'd like to think we would have caught the errors ourselves before we left, but just the same, it's nice to have good people backing you up.
HAZMAT loads are generally no more difficult to deal with than ordinary freight...IF...you have your paperwork in order and comprehend the HAZMAT info HAZMAT-endorsed drivers are expected to know. Acquiring that info is easy. It's in the CDL manuals issued by states and info and training provided by carriers. Comprehending the info and putting it to good use is up to the driver.
For example, I once met a driver that complained about a large fine he had to pay because he was pulling a placarded trailer but the trailer was empty. He knew the trailer should not be placarded but did not remove the stick-on placards because that would have required effort he was not willing to provide. The placards were stuck on pretty good and he had no good tools (a razor scraper or Goo-Gone) to remove them. To this day, he believes his carrier should reimburse him for the fine because "THEY" gave him an improperly placarded trailer. He failed to mention that "HE" was the one stupid enough to haul it down the road when he knew it would be illegal to do so.
That's an example of a driver that received but did not comprehend or practice the HAZMAT info he received. Instead of working hard to remove the placards, he might have easily covered the placards with duct tape (don't leave home without it), but that did not occur to him. Now he's a driver that refuses to haul HAZMAT loads - and thereby forfiets the extra money he could make - because "It's too much trouble."
Regarding the flip-open placards, we prefer empty placard holders because:
1. The shipper is required to supply the proper placards. If that cannot be done, that itself is a red flag to look with suspicion on the load and paperwork. If they did not have the foresight to have placards ready with the load, other things may also be wrong.
2. Laws change about how placards should look. Once, borders were not required on placards (at least some of them). Now they are. Had we purchased non-bordered placards of the flip-out kind, that money would be down the drain with the law change. We do not trust bureaucrats to leave the regs alone. Placard rule changes are likely in the years ahead. Better, we feel, to use the throw-away kind. Rule changes affecting placard images do not then require us to buy new flip-open placards to stay current. Changes are infrequent, but why bother with them at all if you don't have to?
3. Flip-out placards collect road spray and store dried road salt between them. They require extra effort to keep clean. Empty placard holders do not.
4. People at shippers and some jokers on the road like playing with flip-out placards. Once while securing our load, I heard from inside the truck the people outside opening up the flip-out placards for the load. On my pre-trip walk around, I noticed one of the placards was opened to the right color and word but wrong number. Three placards said "Flamable 3" one said "Flamable 2". Oops! How much might that fine have been if I did not notice it and got tagged at a scale?
I also dislike the "joker" risk flip-open placards present. While you are empty and asleep at say a rest area, a michievious person that really means no harm but is just trying to be funny, might decide to flip open your placard to "Poison" or "Radioactive" or "Explosives". In theory, you'd catch that on your pre-trip walk around the next morning. But also in theory, you could be found in violation when Smoky Bear rolls through the rest area and knocks on your door.
I never thought of that risk until I saw something funny at the Louisville truck show. Someone had opened the flip-open placard on on a truck at an expediter recruiting booth where the recruiters work. Among all the glitz and glitter the carrier set up in the booth was a sign that read, "Inhalation Hazard."
5. As often as not, we find ourselves hauling HAZMAT loads where the freight does not match any flip-open placard we have on our truck. We end up having to use the shipper-supplied throw-away placards anyway.
Throw-away (peel and stick) placards carry the risk of blowing away while you drive down the road. The placard holders are not always that reliable. A bit of clear packaging tape helps hold the placards in the placard holders. We do not use the peel and stick feature. Some of those glues go on easy and then stay on, even when you don't want them to.
It's also a good idea to ask the shipper for one or two extra placards in case one does blow away or a joker decides to remove one of yours. Shippers are almost always willing to give you extras.
Finally, while HAZMAT compliance is routine for drivers that know what they are doing, it's not something to take lightly. HAZMAT loads are one area where the much-maligned dispatchers can be worth their weight in gold. While it's sometimes a pain to dot all the I's and cross all the T's in a departure call to dispatch when you are eager to get underway, the attention to detail our dispatchers (FedEx CC) show on HAZMAT loads is very much appreciated.
More than once, shippers have had to redo their paperwork because our dispatchers caught errors that might have otherwise gone unnoticed. We'd like to think we would have caught the errors ourselves before we left, but just the same, it's nice to have good people backing you up.
Prof: Many of the vans, including mine, do not have the placard holders for the temp card mentioned above. Here's what I have done over the years with much success for removal and attachment. On th epeel and stick type, I remove the peel off part, cut one inch from two adjacent sides of the peel-off, then return it to the sticky side of the placard in a manner that there is 1/2 inch sticky exposed all around the perimeter. This holds them on very nicely and removes easily. Van generally don't sit on hazmat very long so the placard adhesive doesn't get a chance to permanently bond with your paint. If you receive placards of the non-sticky type, use white electrician-like tape all around. It'll stay put.
theoldprof
Veteran Expediter
If my memory serves me right, a placard must be displayed on all four sides of the vehicle. For the placard on the front of the truck, such as a cargo van, can it be fastened to the top of the hood, or must it be fixed to the grill or front bumper?
Thanks. :+ :+
Thanks. :+ :+
Placards must be displayed on both sides plus the front and rear of the vehicle. Your front bumper or grill would work fine,but if you put something on your grill make sure you don't interfere with air flow to your radiator.
As far as flip placards getting dirty?? I have never cleaned mine nor have I ever seen a buildup of road salt on them nor do I know of anyone having to clean their placards other then normal truck washes.The set I have now in addition to the holder placards are 18.5 years old and have been on 3 different trucks. They work just fine.
The only time I have an individual other then me flip the placards is the safety guy at Nuclear power plants when leaving with a radioactive load.It is his function to make sure the placards state radioactive,other then that no one has ever touched mine. I could add 2,000 more words but you get the picture.
As far as flip placards getting dirty?? I have never cleaned mine nor have I ever seen a buildup of road salt on them nor do I know of anyone having to clean their placards other then normal truck washes.The set I have now in addition to the holder placards are 18.5 years old and have been on 3 different trucks. They work just fine.
The only time I have an individual other then me flip the placards is the safety guy at Nuclear power plants when leaving with a radioactive load.It is his function to make sure the placards state radioactive,other then that no one has ever touched mine. I could add 2,000 more words but you get the picture.
some carriers like Panther won't allow pacarded loads on Cargo-vans. Anything that needs placards goes C unit or goes with someone else I guess.
I had them on my van when I started. I was told it would be best to remove them. Now you can see the outlines of where they where
I had them on my van when I started. I was told it would be best to remove them. Now you can see the outlines of where they where
My experience running 1.3 G explosives Display(old Class B) Fireworks on Ryder Rental trucks i to take the corners of the stick on palcards and after peeling the backing turn two or three of them under about 1/2 in once you start them peeling off theyre usually not bad(except in very cold weather)
White Elec tape is god.. but the theater industry "Gaffer" tape is better.. holds like a weld. peels easily and doesn't leave residue.
White Elec tape is god.. but the theater industry "Gaffer" tape is better.. holds like a weld. peels easily and doesn't leave residue.
Signs are the resonsibility of the shipper, along with all the documentation that goes with it. But if they don't furnish it, it is up to you. You are the one that is going to be fined, lose time, and have to put up with all the bs!! I drive a 1-ton van and will not haul haz-mat in it because I live in it. I don't know if its against the law to haul haz-mat in the passenger compartment, but it should be!! To get a CDL in my state {IN}, and most companies, require that you are familiar with the Haz-mat book!!
kma637
kma637