hazmat placard rule

I can understand why we are not on the same page it is hard for me to read as well.

the trailer placards should'nt be removed until the freight is off the trailer (haz-mat) then remove the placard

however, the trailer is considered an extension of the dock.

I have called the haz-mat response person to this question and am waiting for them to return my call.

 

First,keep the placards on until your unloaded.As a driver or the carriers representive,you are responsible for the load until it is off loaded and the shipping papers have been signed off.This thing about "extension of dock" concerns me.I have never heard this in 27 years of driving.The tractor,the trailer are still in you or your companys possession and your liable for the load until it's off the truck.If an accident does happen while unloading,perhaps a fire,do you think the company that was unloading you will take responsability for the damage including tractor,trailer, load and warehouse?I doubt it.Also include emergency responders who see a bad situation but can't perceive the danger because the trailer placards were removed before the load was off.You might have a load of pillows on board or you might have a load of class 8 with a poison inhalation hazard.How are they supposed to know?If you are loading your trailer with haz mat and can't determine whether you need placards or not call your carrier and find out.Just because you have haz mat on doesn't mean you need placards.That will be determined by the class,weight and category of the product.Shippers are supposed to provide this information but not all read the rules.Your the driver.You are in charge.Don't pickup the load or deliver the load unless your sure everything is in compliance.Don't ever hesitate to ask or research the rules.I have hauled haz mat for 12 years and still need guidance.One other thing before I ramble on.Don't ever try to haul a load that needs placards with out putting them on.A driver I know stopped before the Baltimore tunnel,flipped his placards off.The tunnel police were notifyed by a motorist.He was fired and the company was fined six figures.He stated he was just trying to save time.Now he's doing time.

 

This extension of the dock does not make sense. The reason we placard a load is to communicate that there's a hazard on the trailer. It could be not an extension because the first responders have no idea what's on the trailer but they do know what's in the building. Or I should say they should be.

You keep the placards on until there's no more hazard. I wouldn't care what anyone say's because if there's a fire and there's no placards and someone gets hurt it won't be the dock that get's to go to jail. It's common sense.

 

The placards should be kept displayed on the trailer until unloaded. As with the previous posts, if there was an emergency, responders would know the contents. Proper placards means a lot! Big differance between 'flammable' and 'flammable gas'.

Keep track of your placards when enroute! There may be some idiot out there that will think it would be 'funny' to change the placards. Or, if they blow off, or become illegable.

 

How much can a driver be fined for having improper placards?

 

When I have hauled HazMat the Company has told me to remove Placards after material is unloaded. From what I have seen if you drop the trailer in the door, the reciever pulls Placards after trailer is unloaded.

 

Socy grad wanted to know about the fines involved in not properly placarding a load.The fines vary depending on the seriousness of the violation.Product class,material type and weight come into play.The fines will be not less than $250.00 to $50,000.00.If a death or serious injury is involved,the fines can go over $100,000.00.Jail time has also come into play.I posted earlier about a driver that worked for my previous employer.He had haz-mat on and also placards.he stopped a couple of miles before a tunnel which prohibits haz-mat,and took the placards off so he could save time by not going around the tunnel.A motorist saw him do this and notifyed the tunnel authority.He was stopped,arrested,fined and fired.Along with the fine he also did jail time.The company was also fined six figures.

 

Wow... That's crazy. Thanks for the explanation Which Way. I assume that the driver himself is responsible for the fine and not the company?