hazmat question

If the truck has not been cleaned then yes, the load requires placards. Clean is not just dry inside but free of any vapors.

Now if it is in fact clean, the all markings indicating any hazard it would h ave when loaded must be removed or covered during transportation. So any placards on it and any wording that indicates "Aviation Fuel" or "100 LL AVGAS" must be covered. If it is clean then no hazmat or tank endorsement required.

49 CFR Ch 1

§ 173.29 Empty packagings.

(a) General. Except as otherwise provided in this section, an empty packaging containing only the residue of a hazardous material shall be offered for transportation and transported in the same manner as when it previously contained a greater quantity of that hazardous material.

(b) Notwithstanding the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section, an empty packaging is not subject to any other requirements of this subchapter if it conforms to the following provisions:
(1) Any hazardous material shipping name and identification number markings, any hazard warning labels or placards, and any other markings indicating that the material is hazardous (e.g., RQ, INHALATION HAZARD) are removed, obliterated, or securely covered in transportation. This provision does not apply to transportation in a transport vehicle or a freight container if the packaging is not visible in transportation and the packaging is loaded by the shipper and unloaded by the shipper or consignee;
(2) The packaging—
(i) Is unused;
(ii) Is sufficiently cleaned of residue and purged of vapors to remove any potential hazard;
(iii) Is refilled with a material which is not hazardous to such an extent that any residue remaining in the pack-aging no longer poses a hazard;
or (iv) Contains only the residue of— (A) An ORM-D material; or (B) A Division 2.2 non-flammable gas, other than ammonia, anhydrous, and with no subsidiary hazard, at a gauge pressure less than 200 kPa (29.0 psig); at 20 °C (68 °F); and
(3) Any material contained in the packaging does not meet the definitions in § 171.8 of this subchapter for a hazardous substance, a hazardous waste, or a marine pollutant.

(c) A non-bulk packaging containing only the residue of a hazardous mate-rial covered by Table 2 of § 172.504 of this subchapter that is not a material poisonous by inhalation or its residue shipped under the subsidiary placarding provisions of § 172.505—
(1) Does not have to be included in determining the applicability of the placarding requirements of subpart F of part 172 of this subchapter; and
(2) Is not subject to the shipping paper requirements of this subchapter when collected and transported by a contract or private carrier for reconditioning, remanufacture or reuse.

(d) Notwithstanding the stowage requirements in Column 10a of the § 172.101 table for transportation by vessel, an empty drum or cylinder may be stowed on deck or under deck.

(e) Specific provisions for describing an empty packaging on a shipping paper appear in § 172.203(e) of this sub-chapter.

(f) [Reserved]

(g) A package which contains a residue of an elevated temperature material may remain marked in the same manner as when it contained a greater quantity of the material even though it no longer meets the definition in § 171.8 of this subchapter for an elevated temperature material.

(h) A package that contains a residue of a hazardous substance, Class 9, listed in the § 172.101 Table, Appendix A, Table I, that does not meet the definition of another hazard class and is not a hazardous waste or marine pollutant, may remain marked, labeled and, if applicable, placarded in the same manner as when it contained a greater quantity of the material even though it no longer meets the definition in § 171.8 of this subchapter for a hazardous sub-stance.

[Amdt. 173–224, 55 FR 52614, Dec. 21, 1990, as amended by Amdt. 173–227, 56 FR 49989, Oct. 2, 1991; Amdt. 173–231, 57 FR 52939, Nov. 5, 1992; Amdt. 173–251, 61 FR 28676, June 5, 1996; Amdt. 173–260, 62 FR 1236, Jan. 8, 1997; 64 FR 10776, Mar. 5, 1999; 68 FR 48569, Aug. 14, 2003; 69 FR 64473, Nov. 4, 2004; 75 FR 72, Jan. 4, 2010]

 

Drop my tank at tank wash. When cleaned the tank wash employee removes HM placards. I never remove myself.

 

Normally yes, but if they forget then it's up to the driver. I have seen drivers not put placards on a trailer they insist that is the shippers responsibility. After thirty years of pulling tankers around I saw a whole lot of stupid stuff being done.

 

If you are flying placards your shipping papers must contain at least the following:
1) Basic description of the hazardous material in the proper order and format.
2) The quantity of the hazardous material
3) A shipper's certification that the shipment has been packaged, labeled, and identified correctly.
4) An emergency contact telephone number.

There are also rules as to where and how the basic description must appear. Typically if it's the first item on the BOL and has an "X" in the hazmat column that'll work.

From your post I'm guessing you might be missing the shipper's cert. Here's an example of what it needs to say. And don't forget, certified means signed.

“This is to certify that the above-named materials are properly classified, described, packaged, marked and labeled, and are in proper condition for transportation according to the applicable regulations of the Department of Transportation.”

And finally, keep in mind that when a shipper doesn't even know how to prepare shipping papers for a hazmat load they will often give you the wrong placards.

 

The book you are REQUIRED to have is called the ERG, or emergency response guide. You can pick up blank bills of lading at most truckstops. Just make sure there is a HM column on the left side. You mark an X in that column. Then in the description you record the UN or NA number,the-proper shipping name, the hazard class then the packing group. IN THAT ORDER. You also need to record an emergency response phone number that is manned 24/7. If you haven’t been given one, write- 1-800- chemtrec. It is a good idea to take one copy of your BOL, and place it in your emergency response guide like a bookmark, on the page for your particular load. The rule says paperwork must be within reach while you are seatbelted in drivers seat, and on the seat, or in the door pocket when load is unattended. If you walk into the scale house with all copies of BOL, you are in violation. If asked for bills on roadside, hand them the book, with the papers bookmarking that loads information.

 

As a side note, I take care of diamonds on and diamonds off that tractor trailer always with one big exception. A big fat flat battleship grey paint can for the ship containers that had diamonds on either the big bulk tank or liquid loaded bulk inside box. pfffth. no more diamond. Just a big grey blotch when done.

No one else gets to deal with "My Truck" unless its either DOT, shipper, reciever or company under my watch. I usually tried to double check everything.

I am rusty in HM now but still have the Book sitting in one corner and still dive into it out of interest in the topic to keep from forgetting. I turned in my HM some years ago to get rid of a problem dispatcher who cannot stand to wait on me legally bypassing city on HM loads. I had about enough of that one. And so... I realized also a big point, the careful nursing, handholding, clucking over the details and checking off this, that other and god only knows what other details before rolling did not earn me a penny more for my stress. So... that's out. I had my run. Im happy just to try and stay ahead of the situation and not forget this stuff.

We had a bulk tanker on US 67 a few days ago go by with a UN Number that was very interesting. Looked it up and it was a form of Cyanide and combined with another substance. Probably for smelting gold or some other really good stuff. A form of poison as far as I am concerned. I told my driver lets back off him and let him go. Hes got cyanide on board. Her eyes got this big because she knew what that stuff was having had survived a accident versus that stuff years ago. (Long story) and we let him go.