Liquid Totes And Tanker Endorsement

Driver in the JCT forum reporting hauling a bunch of 55 gallon drums of juice that since it is frozen, does not require a tanker endorsement. hope it doesn't thaw out lol

 

55 gallon drums are below the threshold for being a tanker endorsement anyway.

 

I should know that since I'm TX

 

I used to haul liquid totes of stuff they used in spray foam insulation. Non hazmat. In those 250 or 300 gallon totes. Nothing said during inspection. Not sure if that helps you or not. :/ They had the viscosity roughly of water. Could feel the surge while driving. Learn to drive careful. Hauled in a reefer; keep at 65 to 80 degrees.

 

I've been to 4 shippers that use the liquid totes. All 4 of them have a sign posted about needing the tank endorsement to haul the loaded totes. I've only been checked for the endorsement at 2 of the locations. The other 2, I don't pull loaded totes out of them. Just brand new empty ones.
It appears that shippers are taking responsibility to make sure the drivers are qualified to haul the product. And it makes sense.

In a wreck the shipper will be investigated as to their loading practices and if they loaded an unqualified driver, then why?

 

Very possible.

I may have also met the only 4 shippers in existence that check for the endorsement.

 

A lot of the responsibility falls to the driver as well. Don't accept a load of loaded totes if you don't have the endorsement.

You wouldn't accept a load of spent fuel rods from a nuclear plant with the proper endorsement, it's the same thing.

 

I think this is a recent development. I've hauled liquid totes without the endorsement. But, a couple of years ago, the company came out with a requirement for the endorsement.