Can Fuel Haulers Smoke In Their Cab?

I think you have misinformation chalupa: A fair statement, I mispoke...... It is illegal for ANYONE to smoke within 25 ft of the selected groups however many folks pull up beside the fuel tanker in transit smoking violating the rule. I've never seen or heard of deputy dawg ever issuing a citation in this example............

What did happen was a bud got stopped in La., hauling hazmat, routine check.....put the cigarette down in the ash tray ...lit...to get the truck papers out and the bear opened the door...whoops ! Yea, he was cited for that.......

A bigger threat than any cigarette is a driver violating rack policy like the two Coastal drivers whom proceeded to burn down the Crown Petro rack some years back. Fun fun..... ( I was there....for a moment )

 

how did the coastal drivers burn down the rack?

 

It's complicated...... but I'll keep it short. Rack is a "u" driveway, gate on both ends n meters in the middle, hose hangs down. Load pad is concave with drain in middle..... Old rack, no scully or V.R. required. Roll numbers to zero, pull handle n u got gas in the 6".

Big line to load...only two holes, two in front load n pull up ( for printer ) I pull up on pad n load, Mission on other side.....we finish n pull up.....

Two Coastals come in, one two behind me and other behind him.....and printer craps out....wait for reset for docs....finally ! Mission n I walking back from printer n Coastal 1 is loading but back talking to Coastal 2 ( bad idea ) n Coastal 2's engine is running...... Coastal 1 overloads 2750 and it pops out the top, gas going everywhere in pad ( not good ) I head for transport ( fast) and pad overflows, gas is going everywhere ! Coastal drivers and the others run for entrance gate while I'm in truck grabbing gears n praying........ Coastal 2's engine gets whiff of fumes and runs away...and blows...... whaahoof ! Whole thing is burning and pump is still pushing gas. ( remember? No scully, no e-stop ) No sheet !

Never been so scared and I can't tell you why I didn't run instead of taking transport.

Ran into Coastal again in a safety video for a private fleet later on in life, what not to do........

Seems the driver had multiple drops one nite, Dumps everything but the back 2750, heads into a residential neighborhood n whoops, I need to turn around so he tries a 3 point except he needs to bend the truck 90 degrees to make it......and he does.....but jerks forward and the 5th wheel tilts back and the trailer rolls up on 2 wheels.....so he's out looking at the truck up on 2 wheels when deputy dawg shows up......... he's so nervous that he pops out a smoke n lites up...... in front of deputy dawg......not good, he was cited for that too.

 

Must of been a lot of years ago to have such a loading rack. Also some real stupid owners of the tank farm to even allow such a mess. I grew up around these things and I can remember going from top loading to bottom loading. But things were still made safe and hardly ever did a driver blow gas out the top. We all know it happens once in awhile but to add such idiotic moves like smoking just goes to show you there are companies and people out there that do not know their head from a hole in the ground. Those are the ones we read about. You've got to admit it's a different world for us and those of you that know that and take the time to show those who don't should be rewarded. Great job and thanks.

 

Must of been a lot of years ago to have such a loading rack. Also some real stupid owners of the tank farm to even allow such a mess

1989 I believe and a mom and pop no name refinery. Those were the days of blending ethanol and raffinate, no card keys, no scully and no vap rec required. Just pop the cap off or the force of the escaping air would do it for you while loading.

Area fire marshall refused to allow the plant to rebuild the rack due to numerous violations resulting in said fire. Subsequent investigation revealed a too small drain, no meter stops ( pre-sets ) no auto fire suppression, no attendee trained in emergency procedures and so on.

 

Sounds like there's a lot more violations than one would want. It must of been out in the boonies because an operation like that in a city, especially one with bad air, would have people hauled off in handcuffs. I know stage one vapor recovery started before that in most places. The only thing that could be worse is if you told me it was top loading. Stay safe.

 

That sounds like some of the CO-OPS I've loaded at in the past.

 

I've never hauled gasoline but I would say on the remotest chance that's a bad idea. Although I know Minnesota tried passing a law that would make the inside of your cab your "Public work space" thus making it illegal to smoke inside your own truck. From what I've heard though it got shot down.

 

Years ago a propane tanker pulled up on the scale with both valves leaking so bad they were well frosted. Handles on each valve were big vise grips!

I walk up to the cab to talk to the driver and he leans out the window with a lit cigarette in his hand! I was tempted to put it out down his throat.

Oh, yeah, he got cited for it.