Transporting transformers

How many gallons of oil is it before I need a hazmat endorsement. We are regularly transporting 6-10 transformers at a time if not more on our trucks. All filled with oil

 

This is a good question.

 

I think it is measured in pounds, not gallons.

 

Also does it change things if it possibly has PCBs

 

It won’t have PCB’s.
There is no Hazmat requirement for Mineral Oil.
Counting six to ten is irrelevant. What size? It says right on the nameplate, all the information.
There are transformers so big. GE has a train car that is nothing but two ends. Welded on the transformer for transport. It is completely stripped down and just does meet railroad clearances. Oil is removed for transport.

 

On average new oil is not hazmat except in California.
Used oil is another matter.
PCBs were not in an oil as manufactured. It was arcing and sparking in a transformer surrounded by oil that produced the PCB. Changing to a new oil blend stopped the process of PCBs being created. Most of this occurred back in the 80’s. So if you get an old transformer with original oil, it may have PCB in it.

 

1.001 lbs

 

so 'baby oil' is hazardous in Cali? Wow they have it bad...

 

I didn’t know anything about Hazmat and mineral oil. They test every single transformer for PCB’s.
Old mineral oil filled transformer will create flammable gasses in the oil. Arcing will start it on fire. City of LA is very good at dragging off burning transformers and letting them burn.
I did a sample on one old transformer at a refinery in LA. It smelled flammable. Turned out it was ready to lift off to the moon. Our lab called them and told them to de energize it immediately.
You could transport PCB oil on purpose? It has to go somewhere. Definite Hazmat. But never in a transformer.
I used to test transformers for a living. There is no such thing as a transformer creating pcb. It was manufactured that way.