Hazmat

Whether the load was hazmat batteries or not, it was under 1,000 lbs, therefore it was limited quality did not need placards.

I've hauled lots of batteries and had the same arguments. Some battery loads require placards and others don't.

 

I thought rule is you must have hazmat endorsement to haul any hazardous material...reportable quantity is just for placard requirements...

 

I don't believe you need a hazmat endorsement of the total weight is under 1,001 lbs or it's a limited quality item. I believe the deciding factor is whether the load needs to be placarded.

https://docketsinfo.dot.gov/reports/rspa/2006-06/060072.pdf

 

There are some loads that aren't Haz-Mat ...... until you spill them or they shift. Had a hush hush load once... Hey man we need you to do us a favor! I got this haz-mat spill I need you to haul from San Antonio up to Fort worth so they can dispose of the stuff and we need it done quietly. Hmmm ok sure. So I go pick the load up.... Coka cola syrup 3 pallets of the bagged stuff fell over and busted open. Was consumer quantities right up until they busted open. I was like Oh this is nothing LOL. ran it up to fort worth to a dump the Mexicans get all the garbage out then I take it over to the terminal and go into the shop and tell them I need a red tag. They are like "Whats wrong with it?" I'm like youre gonna need to wash this one out big time. LOL

Car batteries are like that. As long as they are shrink wrapped to the pallet youre good. Shift them or bust them open.... Instant Haz-Mat spill.

 

It was a full truckload, but packaged for consumer sale. Dick's Sporting Goods, as I recall... I picked up at the manufacturer, and delivered to the distribution center.

 

General rule of thumb. If the paperwork says display placards you MUST have hazmat. Otherwise you are OK to haul the load. You go by what the paperwork says. This should be reported to your carrier and you should be aware of this before you even enter the shippers property. I can't believe some of the replies I have read on this thread.

 

That's what I was thinking when I picked it up... but both the shipper and the safety office at the carrier indicated that it was good, because of the packaging size. I would not have wanted to be a firefighter, putting out a truck fire like that, but arguing with my own safety director is not a good way to stay on the payroll... anywhere... so I ran the load. Nothing terrible happened, so I guess I lucked out...

Thankfully, those days are over. I'm a postal driver, now, and most of the time, I'm pulling an empty trailer. I'm a useless cog in a machine that accomplishes almost nothing, but the job is comparatively easy and low-stress, it pays decent, I get home often, and I don't have to haul ammunition...

 

Picked up my first hazmat load,un2794,trailer is placarded,corrosive,from the original driver,Im completing the trip.
My company told me the placards are not required because they were loaded at one shipper,and no other hazardous materials are on board.
Why would the shipper provide placards if they aren't required?