Placarding your Hazmat load wrong

Was there any line on the manifest that had an "X" designating it Hazmat? If so what exactly was it's description? And were there other lines with an "X" and how much did the total to? Shippers aren't in the habit of steering drivers wrong and drivers aren't generally prone to placarding things that don't need to be placarded unless they are completely clueless and not willing to make a phone call.

 

Why?

Because if anything is wrong with it, it is most likely a fixable thing but if the driver doesn't check everything out, then it is on him at the point of inspection (on the side of the road, or in a coop), not on the company, not on the shipper if there is more.

Yes the driver is responsible to have the proper knowledge, but they are also responsible for what is on their truck.

Yes call them every time if there is a question or a problem because there is a good saying - your CDL isn't worth the risk.

 

Even drivers who haul HazMat every day struggle with the regs. Your manifest must show ISHP in that order: ID number, Shipping name, Hazard Class and Package group. All Haz must be listed in that order and using the correct designation. An emergency phone number MUST be listed.

If the only HM on that trailer was a single, 35# cylinder of non-flammable, non-toxic (i.e., 2.2 Non-Flam Gas), you don't need placards or HazMat routing. Generally, the lower the class, the higher the danger. For example, all the 1.x's are explosive. So 2.2 anything should have put you on notice to dig further.

You don't mention the shipping name or package group, whether I, II or III. I'm assuming III because just one 35# cylinder. You need the shipping name. The orange ERG, Emergency Response Guidebook, is your guidance. You need to know the sections and how to use it.

There is also a compatibility chart you need to reference with a HazMat load. If your cylinder went along with less than 1001 pounds of something else, we would likely fly a dangerous placard at minimum, depending on what it was. If over 1,001 aggregate (combined) you would need placards for your 2.2 and the other--assuming it's compatible. If over 2,205 of something else, a placard listing the UN (United Nations) number of all items with qty over 2,205 pounds and probably a Dangerous for the rest (the 2.2 Non-Flam cylinder).

Lots of shippers, even those heavily into HazMat, do not know the regs. Because you didn't know, yes, you should have called. But you did the right thing as far as you went. Pulled the placards off. You knew it wasn't Flam-3 Liquid. It was not okay to stop your investigation there.

What you should have done is look up the shipping name that SHOULD have been correctly listed on the manifest to be sure what it is, whether correctly matched with hazard class and, if possible, checked the cylinder inside the trailer to verify the HM labels on the cylinder. Called dispatch for permission to break the trailer seal and check the trailer contents.

And, why, you ask, go to all this trouble?

Minimum fine to you is $250 and up and that's without a HazMat event. HazMat shipping papers need to be within arms reach at all times or visible on your seat or dash if you exit the truck. There are specific limitations where you can park and routes.

 

It also matters if the description is correct on the Manifest. By calling the company, they could call the shipper (or you could also) and verify what is what. What if there is a new shipping clerk in there that has not made out a BOL before with hazmat. Could be possible that there were 1,300 cannisters in there and they just screwed up. Yes you could call and they can have you break the seal but what are the odds of you actually seeing anything unless you unload some, or most of the trailer. Calling the company will cover some of your bases. So yes it was a questionable load and yes the op should have looked at everything on the bills, including destination before he left.

 

Download an app called HazMAT Hero. Punch in the info & it'll tell you the correct placards

 

Actually, it is always on the driver. Always, even if the shipper's mistake. Call or no call, if the shipper made a mistake, they are held responsible also.
I read it as... the OP was confused about the "mis-placarding", but not about the manifest hazmat info listed. Maybe I'm wrong on this, but only he knows for sure.

True rockee, providing you mean "if the manifest description is confusing or shown incorrectly".
If the manifest info is clear (the OP hadn't suggested otherwise in his original post), then there would be no reason to call, as the driver should have the knowledge to placard it correctly.
New shipping clerk? 1,300 canisters?
Actually, what's to say ANY manifest on a sealed hazmat load would be 100% correct? Do we call on every one? See my point?

OP, First, on any "meet & greet swap", it's vitally important to make sure you fully check the manifest from the meet-up partner before he has a chance to hook & book. Then if there is any discrepancy or questions, it is dealt with in-person, before moving. You should have at least called your meet-up driver on cell phone, to ask why he had Class 3 placards on it, the moment you discovered the discrepancy.

The fact the first driver had Class 3 Flammable placards on the load is a far more "troubling" of a mis-placarding, than if he had (same class) Class 2.2 Non-Flammable Gas placards on it when the actual 2.2 hazmat weight was under 1001 lbs, and therefore not need placards.

road_runner,, any "different class" misplacarding should warrant extra scrutiny of your manifest info. Are you sure there wasn't any Class 3 (≥ 1001 lbs) on your load?
If any part of the manifest wasn't clear or understood, then by all means call your company or shipper.
But my earlier point was,, I see soo many cases of drivers simply placarding a load because they picked up the trailer from another driver with those placards OR someone else with the company or shipper says "Use X-this-X placards", without the driver even reading the manifest and knowing exactly what hazmat he/she has, or if the "advising party" is even correct.

road_runner, If you were sure of your manifest, I'd say you did the smart thing by using your brain instead of not even questioning the placards because simply "the first driver had it placarded that way". If you weren't sure of manifest hazmat info, stop & call before moving.
I've had to correct placarding several times that a previous meet-up driver would bring me to swap trailers with. Most times were "same class" mistakes, where it was placarded when it shouldn't have been or not placarded when it SHOULD have been.
My own company's dock manager would attach a "placard this way" note on all the manifests. They were not always correct. The "blind faith" drivers would just flip to those placards and take off running, not even knowing if actually correct.
But the "smart drivers" would always check their load/manifest first, to verify what was the correct placard(s) to use.