Question about sealed loads

I don't know about a law requiring a seal. If there is such a law, I've violated it many times. I've never sealed my own loads with the usual seal that gets used, but I have locked my doors before.

I'm no help am I... Sorry!

 

DOT DOES NOT REQUIRE loads to be sealed...

the shipper or receiver does...

you NEVER break open a sealed load..EVER..!!!

police, fire, customs, FBI, home land security, CIA, NSA, border patrol, ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT (or fire crews) ONLY...!!!

yes, if YOU sealed the load, YOU CAN break it open.....AS LONG AS...YOU DID NOT RECORD THE SEAL AND WROTE IT DOWN ON THE SHIPPING PAPERS...!!!

once you DOCUMENT the seal number... IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM......it's a SEALED LOAD....DO NOT OPEN IT....!!!

and you can pretty much FORGET about checking the load...!!

now, of course we are talking about loads in a van trailer....

flatbeds, YOU WILL CHECK the straps, chains, dunnage, tarps, etc,etc.

your instructor/teacher should have said what i did, "if you document a seal YOU PUT ON, YOU CANNOT BREAK IT"......

and frankly, i really cannot think of ANY driver that stops to check the load inside of a van trailer....just ain't "normally" done....close doors, and GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.....!!!!

 

To my knowlege, there no requirement to seal. The shipper may want it though.

The only instance I know of where a seal is required is on van/reefer loads originating in the USA going to Alaska, and vice versa. This is a canadian customs law, not a DOT one.

 

Sealing a load verifies it's integrity and that it was not entered between shipper and receiver. It's common practice and required by most shipper/receivers. Hazmat loads, pharmacueticals and food grade loads have to be sealed per regulations. The DOT, FDA and USDA all have regulations. I'll find them here in a minute. Hazmat loads require you check your tires every 3 hrs/150 miles is probably what he is refering to. Once you pickup a load, the trailer will be sealed and noted on the bill of laden. If the numbers don't match, or the seal is missing, the receiver can reject the load.

You do what the instructor tells you. Once you get on the road, it's a different thing.
You don't have to stop every 150 miles. You can check your trailer and seal when you stop for fuel and breaks. You will not be breaking the seal. Only the receiver and a DOT officer can break the seal. If a DOT officer breaks it, he has to verify the new seal # on the bills and sign.

If you pick up a sealed load and damage occurs because it wasn't secured properly, you won't be held accountable. Most loads, you'll get loaded, then you secure your load, then it gets sealed. No need to check after that. As long as you practice good securement and drive like you are suppose to, you will never have damaged freight. When you wake up and do your pretrip, make sure your seal is intact. Things can happen when you are sleeping.
You'll find half of your customer don't even check the seals. Others are strict.

Like Gears said, there's plenty product that doesn't get sealed. You just lock it up for your own peace of mind and go. Nobody is going to steal 2500lb rolls of paper and such.

 

You can, but why seal it? Just use a lock. I have worked for companies that require you seal everything. But I use common sense and they never say a word when I don't. They are scared if there is a shortage they can prove the trailer wasn't entered. I never been charged with a shortage. Usually there will be an overage on something else that cancels it out or you can see the shortage on the packing lists.

Your instructor is right. But it would look awfully strange when you have multiple seal numbers denoted on your bills. It's not common for you to enter the trailer once it's been sealed. He's teaching you something that is not normally practiced.

 

thing here though, is we don't at least teach it...?? the student can do something wrong then blame us for NOT teaching something....a catch 22 situation....

i usually say something like, "get your license, come back here then i'll tell you what we REALLY DO".......

otherwise, "teach by the book"......it's what we have to do by the education guidelines set by the state.

 

You might find and instance where you do want to check a load while under way (possible load shift), just make sure you contact someone, claims, dispatch, manager etc....before you break the seal and make sure it's documented on the bills with names, dates and times and reason. CYA.

 

When you are in school, just agree with the instructor. It ain't worth the hassle. Once you are out of school, you can do things the "right" way. (That is, if you can ever figure out just WHAT the "right way" is.)