It's all a word game. I have heard people request illegal things without saying it. Implying it is NOT a request really as long as it's open to interpretation.
It's different in a tanker than running a box with hazmat. I've never been inspected in a tanker but they know us and we have a very good record with keeping our sh-t together. But tankers are less to have problems with paperwork and all the other requirements over a box that pulls hazmat once in awhile. A driver would have to be crazy to pull a hazmat load and not be qualified to do so.