A Tennessee carrier has been placed out of service by the FMCSA for hauling Class 1 explosives while displaying such “complete and utter lack of compliance” with safety regulations, that the carrier continuing to operate would “substantially increase the likelihood of serious injury or death for its drivers and the motor public.”
The carrier, Rock City Stone Company, LLC, which does business as RC Stone & Farms, was hauling a large amount of explosives to a work site in Marion County, Tennessee. The non-placarded pickup truck that the company was using to haul the explosives was stopped by the Dunlap Police Department on TN-28 just south of Dunlap on March 23rd. When officers saw what was being transported, the Tennessee Highway Patrol was called in as well.
Authorities found multiple cases of Class 1 explosives including an ammonium nitrate-fuel oil mixture piled haphazardly in the truck bed next to metal pipes, tools, and toolboxes. Nearby in a cardboard box, they found detonators and detonating cord, as well as blasting caps. All of which are required to be stored separately from explosives in DOT-approved containers.
Not only did the driver of the vehicle not have a Hazmat endorsement, he didn’t even have a CDL. The truck didn’t have any of the proper placards. And the company didn’t even bother to prepare hazmat shipping papers.
According to the FMCSA, this wasn’t a one-time job for the company either. Since January of 2018, RC Stone & Farms has transported hazardous materials to approximately 44 blasting sites around Tennessee using the same system.
Because of the frequency and severity of the safety violations, the company may face civil or even criminal prosecution which could result in fines or even jail time.
Source: overdrive, FMCSA, FMCSA, gobytrucknews, 1057news, dunlapnews
Shane Price says
didnt know you needed a CDL to drive pock up truck.
Ryan says
That’s not the point.
Daniel says
The type of vehicle is irrelevant. They need a placard for Class 1, Division 1 (Class 1.1) – mass explosion hazard. The reason they need a CDL is, you cannot haul explosives in a private vehicle – it has to be a commercial vehicle to qualify for hauling explosives and you cannot haul explosives without a CDL and Dangerous Goods certification that allows you to haul hazmat/dangerous goods PLUS specifically Class 1 – Explosives. Same for Class 7 – Radioactive Materials. You MUST be Commercial; must have CDL; Dangerous Goods certification for Class 7; PLUS INSURANCE THAT COVERS IT. LOL.
Oneoldtrucker says
You need a HASMAT ENDORCEMENT to haul explosives.. Therefore you need a CDL to drive this pick up truck..
James says
You don’t need a CDL to drive a pick up truck, but you need a haz-mat endorsement. The only way to have the haz-mat endorsement is to have a CDL. You have to follow the exact same regs that we do when hauling haz-mat in any vehicle.
DJ says
Shane
They don’t just let anyone shuttle class 1 explosives around the country for obvious reasons.
weed man says
But us.. CDL. Holders cannot smoke weed..
Tbone says
They some really dumb folks in this world & then some of these comments are just as dumb !
Fred blogs says
It falls under a class c cdl with haz mat endorsement
Jeremy says
In cases like this,if a tragic result occurs from such ignorant practice,there isn’t enough physical evidence left to conduct an investigation.As long as nobody involved in the regulatory violation sings,investigators can only speculate and cannot derive any provable conclusion.
I remember such an occurrence near Lively,Ontario,Canada around 20 years ago,when a big truck crashed into a rock cut on Hwy 17 and blew a massive crater in a brand new section of highway. Extreme measures and massive resources were implemented in the investigation including invited participation from explosive experts from the FBI.Bits and pieces of this wreck were gathered and reconstructed in a warehouse the same way an that a crashed airliner would be.No definite conclusion was ever drawn.It was assumed the carrier must have been transporting dynamite and blasting caps in the same load,an accusation the carrier and the shipper categorically denied.
Steve P says
There is a prime example of a hillbilly outfit. I’m surprised that they did not find any moon shine in the truck or wild critters. Lol.
Powder River says
Well the mixture is flammable but it can’t explode without the discharge of the blasting cap and cord, however the failure to keep separated the caps and cord is stupid you never keep the detonators next to the explosive. Any static discharge or electrical pulse could set off the detonators and cause the propellant to explode.
Will says
Wow, I worked for a blasting company in the 90,s and man cap like that would get you fired and your assistance kicked. This guy had a death wish carrying detonate and class 1 explosives in the bed of his truck