Pulling first Hazmat load, need a quick refresher

My main job was hauling 40K+lbs of Sodium Nitrate out of Syracuse to various places... AL, VA, MA, OH, MO, MI, ME, VT, IN, IL, NY... I can tell you that the number one thing that will get you pulled over and inspected is visibly physical damage to your truck. I was assigned a 2013 Volvo... previous driver had encounter with deer. Company fixed the light assy's and removed some of body panels that were heavily damaged... other panels, bumper, covers, etc... that were damaged but not destroyed, they left in place. My routes were routine... and for example, Ohio... until the PUCO man saw me traveling through every week on same days... they would pull me over and go over rig with fine tooth comb. Be careful choosing routes and don't trust NAVIGO, your DM's or LP's. Cleveland for example... traveling I-90 west from PA... only one legal route around Cleveland... I-90W, I-271S, I-480W, I-80/90W.

 

You can with an alliance tor uniform hazmat transport permit & a green light. See post 7 & 17. The signs that say hazmat vehicles must enter refer to pick up trucks with hazmat:

 

Yes, must be locked! I got pulled into a scale in California, going from one drop to the next, and I didn't have the lock on. BIG no no! I guess DOT was in a good mood that day, he just gave me a warning. I had just forgot to put it back on when I pulled out and shut the doors, because I always lock every load. That was a close call, because it is a hefty fine!