Hauling Small Quantities of HazMat

Hello,

I was trying to determine whether we need to placard when we transport some of the cleaning chemicals we use at work. They're received at one warehouse and then I usually load them in a straight truck (26,000 GVWR, so no CDL) and take them to whichever plant they're needed at. I'm usually moving small quantities, three or four big blue barrels. I'm not sure what a barrel weighs, but I'm guessing between 500 and 800lbs each. I'm not sure what class they are off hand, but I'm guessing either Class 8 or Class 5 (IIRC that's corrosive and oxidizer, respectively) because I believe they usually contain sodium hypochlorite [bleach] or sodium hydroxide. I know bleach is an oxidizer and sodium hydroxide is a strong base, so that should be corrosive. One product is 37% Nitric Acid, 4% Phosphoric Acid. I dunno about the latter, but nitric acid is serious, serious stuff- used in making explosives.

I never even thought about it until tonight when I was bringing empty barrels back. I remembered reading the definition for a Class C CDL, and it occurred to me that hauling these materials might require a CDL even if the truck's GVWR is below that needed for a Class B.

If I'm only going to one plant I'll only have 4 barrels, which if it's AC-55-5 RED (the nitric acid product) should be about 600lbs per barrel, or 2400lbs. It's being hauled between 1 mile and 10 miles (depending on plant). What about if I'm going to two plants and have eight barrels, which would be about 4800lbs.

Does the distance traveled bear any influence on whether placards are required (and whether a license is needed).

Thanks!

Hammilton

 

Yeah. I'm pretty sure this requires placarding then.
I have read the MSDS, that's how I know what's in it (when I saw nitric acid I had to read it to see why we use it, what it's used for. I mean the stuff literally dissolves even silver)

This isn't the exact product but it's an older version of it: http://www.kelleysupply.com/custome...ecolab/ecolab_msds_sheets/46967_AC-55-5CL.pdf

I think it might be 1,001 pounds actually, but regardless, if I have one barrel of this, and say another barrel with Quorum Green, which contains sodium hypochlorite (msds here: http://www.kellysolutions.com/erenewals/documentsubmit/KellyData%5CAK%5Cpesticide%5CMSDS%5C1677%5C1677-144%5C1677-144_Quorum_Green_Verde_2_22_2010_12_05_05_PM.pdf). Now each one is below 1001lbs but combined they're over. Does this require placarding?

Those would both be Class 5, so if I understand correctly, that would be a yes, right?

This (http://www.kelleysupply.com/custome...lab/ecolab_msds_sheets/51288_QUORUM_BROWN.pdf), another product I haul, is class 8. If I have 600lbs from Class 5 and 600 from Class 8, does this require placarding?

These rules and laws are complicated to a newcomer, and now that I've realized this is a legal issue, I want to make sure I have it right. I have moved these things hundreds of times and it never occurred to me until a few hours ago, and I want to make sure it gets done correctly. I don't want anyone getting in trouble over cleaning chemicals.