Anyone hauled class 7 / radioactive?

Discussion in 'Tanker, Bulk and Dump Trucking Forum' started by MYSTYKRACER, Dec 24, 2020.

  1. MYSTYKRACER

    MYSTYKRACER Medium Load Member

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    So like I've said in a few other posts I'm just finishing my first year of otr hazmat tanker. All told things went pretty good for me, no major incidents, problems or catastrophes. Living in the Houston area I hauled mostly petroleum byproducts and other class 3 and class 8 chemicals. I was just wondering if anyone out there hauls class 7 radioactive and how it may differ from other chemicals? Any special precautions? What's the loading and unloading like? Do you need any special plant clearances other than typical hazmat endorsement and a TWIC?
     
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  3. MACK E-6

    MACK E-6 Moderator Staff Member

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    What’s radioactive and a liquid, besides a molten reactor core?
     
  4. MYSTYKRACER

    MYSTYKRACER Medium Load Member

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    There are some liquid radioactive waste byproducts that come from the creation and processing of nuclear fuel:
    Frequently Asked Questions About Liquid Radioactive Releases

    Also, and this I've heard a little bit about living in TX, there's some naturally occurring radioactive material that gets brought to the surface due to oil and gas drilling and also from fracking fluid:
    Radioactive Waste Material From Oil and Gas Drilling | US EPA

    And apparently the Department of Energy operates an entire radioactive liquid waste tank farm in Savannah River, South Carolina:
    https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2019/02/f59/Radioactive Liquid Waste Facilities.pdf
     
    Last edited: Dec 24, 2020
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  5. Lilj

    Lilj Medium Load Member

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    I’ve hauled poison and inhalation hazard type chemicals, but nothing radioactive
     
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  6. RockinChair

    RockinChair Road Train Member

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    I've heard that fuel rods are suspended in water, or maybe heavy water, during transport.

    Yes, there will definitely be special precautions, but I've never messed with radioactive material so I can't speak from firsthand experience. There will be a facility orientation at every plant you visit.

    And I'm almost certain you would need a security clearance on top hazmat and a TWIC.
     
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  7. REO6205

    REO6205 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    The people who are hauling radioactive material probably aren't allowed to say anything about it.
     
  8. nikmirbre

    nikmirbre Road Train Member

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    Yes Ive hauled Radioactive out of a place in Aiken SC.
     
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  9. heyns57

    heyns57 Road Train Member

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    It was way back in 1969 that I teamed on a load of radioactive waste in drums within a lead-lined cylinder set on end on a drop deck. We were company drivers for Tri-State Motor Transit. The load went from Yankee Atomic Electric, Rowe, MA to a fill and cover dump at West Valley, NY. We had state police escort on the New York Thruway. We wore film badges and pocket dosimeters which became part of our personnel file. When leaving West Valley after the cylinder was unloaded, we had to be checked for radiation at the guard shack. Rumor had it that another Tri-State driver had to leave his boots behind. The company bought his next pair of boots. Our tractor was often used to deliver radioactive on college campuses, and had a short exhaust stack for the tree limbs and a lead liner within the rear of the cab. Yankee at Rowe, MA, was the first atomic electric plant to be mothballed in the USA, in 1992.
     
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  10. GreenPete359

    GreenPete359 Road Train Member

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    I have hauled Radioactive more than a few times. It always went into a van trailer not a tanker. I wouldn’t want to deal with it in a tanker unless it was a d&h on the delivery end.
     
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  11. MYSTYKRACER

    MYSTYKRACER Medium Load Member

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    Thanks for the responses!

    Was that the DOE facility at Savannah River, SC? Did you need any kind of special security clearance like mentioned above?


    Agreed, I'd want nothing to do w/ that kind of unload of a tanker. Just point me to the lead lined driver's room bunker and let me know when it's done! I kind of figured if radioactive material did go in a tanker it would be some sort of specially designed vehicle. Like some kind of heavy duty lead-lined acid barrel maybe?

    Did you need special security clearance?
     
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