Hazmat and Tire Checks

The Maryland CDL manual says every 2 hours or 100 miles for the duration of the trip.

 

What can we tell you that isn't in the links you found ? I know you are correct but I recently renewed my hazmat in KY and that rule was on the test . It was multiple choice and no choices were actually correct .

 

The rule, 397.17, requires tires to be inspected at the beginning of each trip, and each time the vehicle is parked. The old rule, every 2-hours, every 100 miles, and each change of duty status, was changed around 2003, memory serve to simplify the rule. You must also remember 392.9 as well over and above the haz mat rule. You must also remember that a carrier has the right to impose a more restrictive rule which in this case, the old rule is. The carrier rule may not be less restrictive.

Here's the present rule:

TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PART 397_TRANSPORTATION OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS; DRIVING AND PARKING RULES--Table of Contents Subpart A_General Sec. 397.17 Tires. (a) A driver must examine each tire on a motor vehicle at the beginning of each trip and each time the vehicle is parked. (b) If, as the result of an examination pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section, or otherwise, a tire if found to be flat, leaking, or improperly inflated, the driver must cause the tire to be repaired, replaced, or properly inflated before the vehicle is driven. However, the vehicle may be driven to the nearest safe place to perform the required repair, replacement, or inflation. (c) If, as the result of an examination pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section, or otherwise, a tire is found to be overheated, the driver shall immediately cause the overheated tire to be removed and placed at a safe distance from the vehicle. The driver shall not operate the vehicle until the cause of the overheating is corrected. (d) Compliance with the rules in this section does not relieve a driver from the duty to comply with the rules in Sec. Sec. 397.5 and 397.7.

From a retired federal DOT haz mat official

 

Just Had to do my Haz_mat for NC and the test question was for the old rule. Hmmm Go figure

 

How is the HAZMAT test now these days? I mean in terms of difficulties and amount of questions they trow # you? And final thing, what is more difficult, HAZMAT or TANKER test?

Vale

 

In Ky , the Hazmat test is 30 questions , multiple choice . I think you need a score of 80% or better to pass . You need to really study the manual to pass . The old (wrong ) tire checking rule is there as well as asking in which order proper shipping name , UN number , and hazmat class have to be on the BOL . I believe that rule has changed also . I've had a tanker endorsement for years . It doesn't require retesting so I don't even remember how dificult it was but I'm sure the hazmat was much tougher .

 

I just took my hazmat, dbl/tpl and tanker. By far the Hazmat was the toughest. It was 30 questions and I failed the first try. The other two tests I just read the whole section quickly then at the end of the section were "questions that may be on the test" so I made sure I knew the answers to those question by memory. Tanker and doubles/triples it worked great passed first try. Hazmat was a different story. There were questions on the test I thougt for sure were NOT in the book. After taking and failing the test I read the hazmat section again and highlighted the information that pertained to the test I acutally took. The answers were in the book and after reading the section about 10 more times I was able to pass the second try.

I just got finished with Roehl training and they also said you must stop and check tires every 2 hours or 150 miles for the duration of the trip. Maybe they are not aware of the rule change either but they do go above and beyond most rules to be sure the drivers are being extra special.

 

There's nothing special about making extra stops . Every extra stop creates additional risks merging with traffic to get going again . It also hurts your fuel mileage . Might as well add it increases driver fatigue and more risk of slipping and falling in icy weather .

 

Not to mention where the stops might be made. If in a truckstop, easy to add 15 min to half hour. No doubt that anywhere else such as a ramp is not a safe place and many of the rest areas are not convenient.