Can I bob tail home if hailing hazmat?

Geez, there ya' go driving away business. Do you know how many hours I spent getting my degree?

 

the whole test is confusing. i have friends that haul oil. none of them can pass on the first time. takes me 3 times. i don't know why i keep it. but the minute i drop it. i'll see some type of job that wants it. NEVER see them WHILE i have it. only when i don't.

only used my endorsement one time. applying for one of them oil jobs. guess i'm glad i didn't get the job. owner is going through drivers like crazy.

 

I unhook from fuel wagons all the time (not with a full front compartment and nothing in the others, lol). Its completely legal to unhook and bobtail home if the trailer is clearly placarded and secured from theft.
I was recently under a partial load of transmix (old diesel pulled from a contaminated tank on a cattle ranch, about 2500 gallons) that was going to be dumped in a friends tank on a farm so we had no BOL. It was an old trailer that was borrowed from a friend of his.
I made my own BOL and taped it to the front of the trailer, had placards on all four sides, kingpin locked, the gate to get in the yard was locked, it is a safe haven in an industrial parking area....

Legal.

 

Sorry to be harsh but this is common sense, you don't leave a hazmat load unless you are told to by someone who is taking over responsibility.

Don't care what the PA hazmat manual says, it is not the governing regulations - the FMCSA regs are.

Here they are - you can look them up in your green book.

397.5 Attendance and surveillance of motor vehicles.


(c) A motor vehicle which contains hazardous materials other than Division 1.1, 1.2, or 1.3, materials, and which is located on a public street or highway, or the shoulder of a public highway, must be attended by its driver. However, the vehicle need not be attended while its driver is performing duties which are incident and necessary to the driver's duties as the operator of the vehicle. (my comment, to me this does not mean going to the bathroom, getting something to eat of bs'ing with other drivers in the lounge at a truck stop)

(d) For purposes of this section—(1) A motor vehicle is attended when the person in charge of the vehicle is on the vehicle, awake, and not in a sleeper berth, or is within 100 feet of the vehicle and has it within his/her unobstructed field of view. (2) A qualified representative of a motor carrier is a person who—(i) Has been designated by the carrier to attend the vehicle;(ii) Is aware of the nature of the hazardous materials contained in the vehicle he/she attends;(iii) Has been instructed in the procedures he/she must follow in emergencies; and(iv) Is authorized to move the vehicle and has the means and ability to do so. (3) A safe haven is an area specifically approved in writing by local, State, or Federal governmental authorities for the parking of unattended vehicles containing Division 1.1, 1.2, or 1.3 materials.(e) The rules in this section do not relieve the driver from any obligation imposed by law relating to the placing of warning devices when a motor vehicle is stopped on a public street or highway.

 

Thats why I posted my previous comment. It seems some people have a hard time comprehending what they read. I didnt think you were just unhooking while parked on a city street...

Its a little disheartening when EVERY post I read is "tell your dispatcher" or "ask your boss". What if YOU ARE THE BOSS? Who takes responsibility then? Some of us have to make decisions on our own.

 

You all need to take Hazmatn atest over again if your saying you can leave ur Hazmat trailer loaded it clearly states you must be within site of your trailer.

Now if you were to park at your home this would be ok as long as you can see your trailer like in your yard or street you might get a visit by police if they or someone calls them about the placards.

 

i dont think somebody has a little green book.....or the other 2 for that matter....

 

Even parking it on "private Property".....

Is someone there that can do something about the trailer if it's needed?

Private party as in "employer"? Receiver? truck stop?

 

i was under the impression that all hazmat loads had to be secured and watched.

been awhile since i took the test and i'm not scrounging around for the book. LOL.

but what about the paperwork that goes with the load. cuz if some type of emergency response team had to come out. i couild see BIG problems with no one knowing what the load is, and how to take care of that load.

correct me if i'm wrong but don't the paperwork DESCRIBE what the load is AND how to be handled in an emergency situation. along with who to call.