Shippers not reporting HAZMAT on bills?

You're partially correct: yes, most HM, under 1000 lbs, doesn't require placards. HOWEVER, HM must still be listed on the bills, and the driver must have those bills in case something should happen (accident, trlr fire, etc).
Truckerjaw is right, certain types of HM require placards, no matter how little you may be hauling (radioactive,Explosive,Poisonous gases).

TDC, this post got me reminiscing, back when I was doing P&D for ground, we not only had to bring in our P/U sheets, but also any HM paperwork AND the actual HM packages to our dispatch office. After the paperwork was checked (to make sure it was in order), the packages were then palletized to be loaded on outbound pups (on the rear, so they would be removed first). This was done , I'm sure, to keep track of the HM and to keep it from getting mixed in with general freight.

 

"No Route Directions Available"

second tip-off: Shipper is located at Nitro, WV,
true story

think it was Paraquat
http://www.mevis.de/~hhj/Lunge/imabc/BC_KE40.JPG

 

I personally havent had any occasion that the shipper attempted to smuggle hazmat into a load but have had hazmat loaded and provided with the inappropriate placarding.
I literally had to argue the point with a shipper in mississippi a few years ago before leaving the account to provide me with the correct placarding. Helps immensely to have
knowledge of the hazmat manual. From what I've heard its a heck of a fine if you run into
a dot officer who know his p's and q's on that issue.

 

Fred Meyers tried to sneak on almost 900 pounds of white fuel, propane cans, lighters and matches onto a drop and hook load without telling anyone. Fred Meyers is now on my list of places I'd like to choke people at.

 

Here is a different spin on Hazmat loads and the DOT

Had a buddy who was hauling for a major auto parts store. Had a drop & hook load set for export to Puerto Rico. BOLs stated he was hauling battery acid (a Hazmat load that was placarded correctly). He was stopped for inspection, but when DOT cut off the seal they found cookies and candy (that were NOT listed on the BOL) also in with the battery acid. This resulted in a $250 fine for the driver!

When he called the company to @&#&$, they informed him that it was his fault -- that it was his responsiblity to know what he was hauling and he should have gone inside the shippers and asked the supervisor to cut off the seal so he could verify his BOL with what was inside the trailer!!!

Apparently this company was trying to save a few bucks on the taxes/tariffs associated with exporting the cookies and candy!

Talk about injustices to drivers... this has to be about the worst case scenario.

 

make sure your seal is intact and the shipper has signed the paperwork,you need to be able to read thier signature,and then maybe the officer won't take you to jail

 

I'm told that "Shipper loaded and sealed" will help - never experienced it myself

 

I am not a driver yet, but I think at this point, I would have stayed at the dock and called the local Police or DOT and have that guy arrested or something. What an ##### wipe!

Regarding the pre-sealed trailers; do you think it would make good practice to have the shipper break the seal for inspection and then reseal it once your done? Seems to me that if this were your normal policy (perhaps company policy), over time it might help reduce this type of thing from happening.

Am I wrong?