tanker placard question

What you say is exactly the way I thought till about 2 weeks ago. I, as you are, was wrong.

Remember why those placards are there in the first place. They communicate the risk when you are not able to. If someone can see that the trailer has 3 compartments, each one of them is a separate problem. They need to know the risk for all the compartments. If you are not there to explain that all 3 have the same product, how could they know?

Maybe if they had a placard that said "All compartments same Material", but they do not. so.....the guy was right. Each compartment must have it's own placard.

 

Welcome to the forum kett.

 

There are a few guys here who will be able to quote the regulation on this, and I will have to defer to them, but it is my understanding that each compartment must be labeled with an 1805 placard (or corrosive and orange and black 1805) on the side of the trailer, but you could get away with only a single placard on the ends. I believe it wouldn't even need the un number, just corrosive.

That said, I'd err on the side of caution and put placards on each compt as well as 3 on the ends. You should definitely be ok with that.

I'm not sure how gas haulers get away with just the 4 placards, unless there is some special exception for them, which there may very well be.

 

Here is a response from the DOT that references the applicable regulations . http://docketsinfo.dot.gov/reports/rspa/2007-01/060203.pdf

 

The CFR 49 parts 178 to 199 will tell you how and what is required. The proper shipping name is Phosphoric Acid. Hazard class is 8. Identification numbers are UN1805. Placard requirements are as follows. 172.504- General. placards must be attached on each side and each end. You'll have to show me where each compartment needs a placard. As far as communicating the hazard the shipping papers are in the truck either on the seat or in the door if the driver is gone. 172.516 list all the placard requirements as far as placement and type. 172.519 deals with construction of the placards.

172.302 (a) Identification numbers (UN1805) No person may offer for transportation a hazardous material unless the packaging is marked as required by 172.332 ( tells you how to construct the Identification Numbers) with the identification specified for the material in the 172.101 table ( tells what the number is) . When required by 172.328 (in this case) tells you need to mark the placards with the number.

As far as loading different hazmat in the compartments you needs this regulation book to know how to go about it. It's like gasoline and diesel. You can haul diesel with gasoline ID numbers (UN1203) but you can not haul gasoline with the diesel numbers. You have to use the book and mark your placards with the more hazard material.

I highly recommend that drivers that haul hazard materials get familiar with this book. It's the meat of hazmat and there's tons of requirements a driver needs to know. I know it's a pain to read and typical of government writing but take it slow and protect yourself.

 

You don't have to put individual placard for all the different products in your truck. Google "hazmat placarding flowchart". Also check with your company to see if they have guide for you. If still not sure, pull out the regs snd start reading.

 

You only have to placard for the one with the lowest flash point. IE: Hauling gas and diesel you would placard for gas as it flashes at the lowest temp.