got away with one

Hauling an empty(sort of, had residue BOL) chemical trailer. Got pulled around back at a chicken shack. They were training in new DOT guys this day and wanted to test the emergency shutoff valve... The chemical being transported is highly poisonous and reacts violently to water and water vapor(air).

Here is what went down:

Mr DOT and training DOT, "We would like you to pull the emergency shutoff".

Me, "Sorry cannot do that without an emergency, as it will send a signal though my tracking system".

Mr DOT, "You need to do as your told"

Me, "Not that, but I will release the load and liability to an authorized person and they may let you".

Mr DOT, "Who's authorized"?

Me, "My understanding is a Deputy US Marshall or FBI agent, has that authority... but I'll find out in a sec after I make this call". I then call my boss and tell him the situation.

Mr DOT, "That's BS, and stomps off to the scale house".

I sit and wait... boss calls the state in question and about 20 minutes later... Mr DOT, comes out and tells me I'm free to leave.

Naturally, I decide to F with him a bit... I say, "I cannot leave just yet". I have to document this stop... I need your badge # and need you to sign my log on the nature of the stop and I'll have to write up a incident report on your request.

Ya'll should have seen the look on Mr DOT's face...as I'm sure that he got a call from his boss telling him to let me go ASAP.

Mr DOT says, "Really"?

Me, "I'm afraid so, company policy".

I then collect info and leave...

Wondering if Mr. DOT will remember being on the other side of the fence?

Unfortunately probably not.

 

Wish fellow drivers could have been there to see it...

Mr DOT looked like a deer in a set of headlights when I told him I needed to document his request... it was classic.

 

I too don't know why he wanted to pull the emergency shut off. Perhaps to show the DOT in training? Just my guess? I didn't say US marshalls or FBI have anything to do with inspections. I said, they(I think US customs special agents also have that authority) can take possession of HazMat loads, under certain circumstances (ie driver in charge of the load is under duress). Remember reading it in training. Breaking a seal was not the issue... However, even this DOT guy was not this stupid, as the reactivity of the chemical would not make it wise to break and open ANY valve... even though it just contain residue as stated on the BOL. As far as signing my log... He did initial it at the time of the incident.(oops can I get him in trouble for this)??? I admittedly, was sort of shining him on about the incident report. I did take down his badge number, he seemed overly nice after my boss called the state, I'm guessing he got a call from someone about it... his boss? again speculation?

FYI: this was a bulk chem trailer.

 

Good question, the simple answer would be that nobody opens the locked door. Actually, I can really see this happening after finding out the market value of some of these bulk chemicals. (your talkin' a worth of $100-$200 per gallon... or $450,000 to $900,000 market worth per load).