Hazmat question - placards ripped, need replacements

Someone may correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought it was the shipper that was responsible for giving you proper placards, and are in violation of the law, if they don't. Years ago, we wouldn't even put placards on, as it singled you out as "the one to stop". (foolish, now that look back on it, but we were outlaws) A compliance officer told me once, to keep the placard "dangerous" with me in case of a situation like you mention, as she said, "dangerous" is the worst thing you can put on a trailer. If you haul hazardous on a regular basis, I'm surprised your company doesn't have those "flipper" type placards on your trailer. I suppose that would make sense, though.

 

Schneider Bulk gave us placard kits, basically every kind of placard plus numbers. They were awesome and really helpful but I don't know where they got them though. I quit and moved on but that kit must have fallen into a bag by mistake because I'm still using it.........

To the OP, losing placards happens all the time, even if you tape the crap out of them, enough rain and wind will pull them free. Or worse, when it's raining when you go to put them on, rain and new tape don't mix. If you are going to be doing this a lot, look into stockpiling.

By the way what placard is it, I don't remember you saying?

 

I had three come up missing while showering once. Takes a special kind of dirtbag to steal another drivers placards. And it was that stupid dead fish one that my placard kit doesn't have.

 

Op how did you rip the placards?I never had problems getting them to stick no matter how cold it is.First off always use ductapt and do not remove the backing.The longer they're on the trailer the harder it is to remove them.Secondly make sure the area you're taping the placards is clean and free of dirt,otherwise no matter how hard you try they will not stick.

 

Your company more than likely has placards as well, before leaving? Did you ask if they had spares they can give you?

 

[QUOTE="semi" retired;4410486]Someone may correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought it was the shipper that was responsible for giving you proper placards, and are in violation of the law, if they don't. Years ago, we wouldn't even put placards on, as it singled you out as "the one to stop". (foolish, now that look back on it, but we were outlaws) A compliance officer told me once, to keep the placard "dangerous" with me in case of a situation like you mention, as she said, "dangerous" is the worst thing you can put on a trailer. If you haul hazardous on a regular basis, I'm surprised your company doesn't have those "flipper" type placards on your trailer. I suppose that would make sense, though.[/QUOTE]

Yes, however, he picked up the load at a terminal.

SO to the o/p, when you can, either buy up a few placards or when at ANY shipper for a trailer, ask for a duplicate set (4) or at the very least 2 extras. Now here too, when you are at the receiver's places, and the trailer is unloaded (empty) remove THOSE placards and store them. Even at your terminal yard, check the empty trailers, and if empty and if placarded, then take those as well. It's how I built up my stash! AND IF you ever have to buy ANY set of placards, give the receipt to your company to be reimbursed.

 

"Place them on the nose, the side that faces the scale, and on the rear." Doesn't that make 4 sides, with scales on both sides in soplaces?
"If they pull you in explain the situation. Risky yes. They may shut you down with or with out a ticket, then again they may just give you a warning, and of course you may pull it off." No. Don't do this. They'll never "give you a warning" on a HazMat load. Never. ur The fines are horrendous, and they're your HazMat fines on your CDL.
"buy any four placards that match and are as close as possible to the correct ones and slap them on there just to get past the scale and replace with correct ones as soon as possible." No. Do NOT do this. It's just bad, irresponsible, driving. It's all about you.
"Or you can just pull all of them off and pretend its not Hazmat." Get caught doing this one time, and we'll all wave goodbye.
"Having the wrong ones maybe less of an offense if you don't have them." No. The wrong placards are a real bad scene.
"Then again you could leave the truck stop, go away from the scale with the bad ones, and go around the scale in some fashion." No. The police all know where the go-round routes are. This is not a cheap Burt Reynolds movie, it's real time. Do NOT intentionally commit crimes until you've become weary with being a professional driver. Of course, nothing matters until you're caught, that's always something to consider.

When I gave my word that I'd obey the laws and be responsible for my truck and cargo, I mean it. I don't cheat, and you shouldn't either.

Your major error was accepting the load without an extra placard from the shipper. Once you take it, it's all about you.

Now I'm not advocating you break the law. I repeat I'm not telling you to do that.
Now for the hard bitter truth. They may just let you sit there until you get desperate enough to try one of things I just posted. Don't think they don't have the financial resources to do that.

Why not call a taxi once you've located the placards? Or, get some overnight on FedEx when your DL finds some? Anything is better than rolling an illegal load, especially, and really importantly, a HazMat load. DOT, all police, are really sensitive about HazMat violations. Be legal, it's worth it. Next time, you'll know more about it. Personally, I took a vow (to myself) never to risk my CDL and my livelihood, nor to compromise my professional standing, for anybody.

 

I used to take my small propane torch, and dry off the area that the placard was going on, and it worked great. I realize the irony of using a propane torch to apply flammable placards.