Tom Robertson
Veteran Expediter
As I sit here in the early hours of the morning, reading a thread titled "Hazmat Debacle" by JohnO and another posted by Broompilot titled “Patriot Act”, I am very happy with the decision made several years ago to stay away from hazmat loads.
Broompilot fears of hazmat are an echo of mine. Think about the time it actually took each of you with a hazmat endorsement, to obtain the right to haul these materials. Without looking in your manual, can you state the various classifications of hazmat?
Do you as drivers actually take the time to look up exactly what you are hauling? Have you considered that some of the material you are hauling could 1) damage your truck? 2) cause a variety of health problems for you? 3) explode, leak, or otherwise become unstable in its transportation placing your life and others on the road in jeopardy?
Furthermore, do you take the time to read everything about all hazmat materials that you haul, and what is to be done in case of an emergency, or do you just check the classification to make certain the quantities you are hauling are legal?
To fully understand the ramifications of the material you are hauling, it is my belief that one would need much more information than is supplied in the hazardous materials handbook. Even if all the probabilities were clearly outlined about the specific material you are hauling, it would take you some time to become familiar with all the precautions you may need to take. Who pays you for that time? Do you even have the time to consider or study what you are hauling, and still make your delivery deadline?
Chemical compounds can be very difficult to understand, and if the “mix” is off by a couple of percentage points, what impact would that have on the material you are hauling?
Your failure to placard properly, to handle properly, or God forbid to know what you are hauling in the case of an accident, could and probably would place YOU the driver in position of legal liability. Yes... the company could be fined, but your responsibilities may be of more consequence that you have ever considered.
A quick what if...
You accepted a load and arrive only a minute or two before your pickup window is to expire. The load is hazmat, and you are uncertain of exactly what you are carrying, but you take the shippers that the packaging requirements, and quantities you sign for are indeed legal. You look at the clock and know that you have been given only 1 hour more than the time needed to run this load if you average 45mph and it’s rush hour, bumper to bumper. I’d be willing to bet that you proceed without further thought or simply take the “it can’t happen to me attitude”.
The question I think all drivers should be asking themselves is “why am I doing this?”
I will not place my drivers or my company in what I feel is this compromising position. Our customers will not pay any additional funds for hazmat, and even if it paid double, one mishap could cost serious injury or innocent lives. Financial liability could be extended and awarded well beyond insurance coverage. Your career and your ability to earn could end in the blink of an eye.
If the government were really so concerned with the injuries and lives lost, any driver involved in hazmat would have to have the same training as firefighters, and chemical spill experts. That would create a new classification of driver, a lot more schooling, would greatly shrink the number of qualified drivers. This would place these dangerous goods in the hands of skilled and qualified individuals who would know what to do in emergency situations. Obviously everyone would pay a higher price for these goods, but the end result would be safer highways and many lives saved.
In the mean time, what has the government accomplished with the new mandate requiring fingerprinting? Are you the driver any more qualified to handle this material? Will you be tested in greater detail? Will you be paid for the risk you are taking?
You will of course be charged a fee for obtaining this “endorsement” and it will mean nothing more than it means now, which is... not much.
Broompilot fears of hazmat are an echo of mine. Think about the time it actually took each of you with a hazmat endorsement, to obtain the right to haul these materials. Without looking in your manual, can you state the various classifications of hazmat?
Do you as drivers actually take the time to look up exactly what you are hauling? Have you considered that some of the material you are hauling could 1) damage your truck? 2) cause a variety of health problems for you? 3) explode, leak, or otherwise become unstable in its transportation placing your life and others on the road in jeopardy?
Furthermore, do you take the time to read everything about all hazmat materials that you haul, and what is to be done in case of an emergency, or do you just check the classification to make certain the quantities you are hauling are legal?
To fully understand the ramifications of the material you are hauling, it is my belief that one would need much more information than is supplied in the hazardous materials handbook. Even if all the probabilities were clearly outlined about the specific material you are hauling, it would take you some time to become familiar with all the precautions you may need to take. Who pays you for that time? Do you even have the time to consider or study what you are hauling, and still make your delivery deadline?
Chemical compounds can be very difficult to understand, and if the “mix” is off by a couple of percentage points, what impact would that have on the material you are hauling?
Your failure to placard properly, to handle properly, or God forbid to know what you are hauling in the case of an accident, could and probably would place YOU the driver in position of legal liability. Yes... the company could be fined, but your responsibilities may be of more consequence that you have ever considered.
A quick what if...
You accepted a load and arrive only a minute or two before your pickup window is to expire. The load is hazmat, and you are uncertain of exactly what you are carrying, but you take the shippers that the packaging requirements, and quantities you sign for are indeed legal. You look at the clock and know that you have been given only 1 hour more than the time needed to run this load if you average 45mph and it’s rush hour, bumper to bumper. I’d be willing to bet that you proceed without further thought or simply take the “it can’t happen to me attitude”.
The question I think all drivers should be asking themselves is “why am I doing this?”
I will not place my drivers or my company in what I feel is this compromising position. Our customers will not pay any additional funds for hazmat, and even if it paid double, one mishap could cost serious injury or innocent lives. Financial liability could be extended and awarded well beyond insurance coverage. Your career and your ability to earn could end in the blink of an eye.
If the government were really so concerned with the injuries and lives lost, any driver involved in hazmat would have to have the same training as firefighters, and chemical spill experts. That would create a new classification of driver, a lot more schooling, would greatly shrink the number of qualified drivers. This would place these dangerous goods in the hands of skilled and qualified individuals who would know what to do in emergency situations. Obviously everyone would pay a higher price for these goods, but the end result would be safer highways and many lives saved.
In the mean time, what has the government accomplished with the new mandate requiring fingerprinting? Are you the driver any more qualified to handle this material? Will you be tested in greater detail? Will you be paid for the risk you are taking?
You will of course be charged a fee for obtaining this “endorsement” and it will mean nothing more than it means now, which is... not much.
