To HazMat or not to HazMat?

Discussion in 'Hazmat Trucking Forum' started by Ken S LaTrans, Aug 12, 2018.

  1. Mack185

    Mack185 Medium Load Member

    448
    262
    Feb 25, 2008
    0
    Drove for Brenntag for quite a while, all hazmat all the time, tankers and van. I've never had any issues other than being singled out by DOT because they do have to inspect so many hazmat carriers every month. That only happened a few times but, our branch transfer trailers would usually have around 7 placards on them so we were a big target. Going around some cities can be a pain but, nothing serious.

    It's like anything really. Within Brenntag, you'd have guys that would run solvent tankers but not corrosive and vice versa. Some people have irrational fears.
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. Ken S LaTrans

    Ken S LaTrans Bobtail Member

    26
    78
    Aug 11, 2018
    0
    That made me laugh. Thank for that.
     
    TripleSix Thanks this.
  4. austinmike

    austinmike Road Train Member

    6,465
    43,798
    Jul 11, 2011
    Missouri
    0
    Hazmat - Definitely Hazmat -
     
  5. TripleSix

    TripleSix God of Roads

    17,737
    124,501
    Apr 10, 2009
    Copied in Hell
    0
    You and your future co driver had an edge. Lots of people look into getting into trucking because they’ve never done tough labor and “trucking is just sitting there holding a steering wheel and anyone can do that.” They realize that trucking is tougher than it looks and got caught totally unprepared and so they hate the job, or anything more than setting the GPS and emptyheadedly (a new word!) following its directions.

    That’s NOT you. To get into the higher end driving jobs, you’re going to need that hazmat endorsement. PERIOD. Consider it an an investment in yourself.

    Luck in battle.
     
  6. camionneur

    camionneur Road Train Member

    1,239
    758
    Oct 18, 2013
    0
    For one thing, it can triple the period of license suspension for a first violation of several laws or result in greater civil or criminal penalties, including that which results from whatever maintenance issues fall squarely on your shoulders to detect, which can come up a lot.

    Then shippers behave as if they don't know what they're shipping half the time, not providing placards, and don't have them on the premises, while loaders don't secure the hazmat, or may load incompatible materials, and it at least takes a while to go through the paperwork with a fine toothed comb, or perhaps find it in the trailer and awkwardly try to secure it afterwards, if you have the equipment to do that in the first place, or make them take it off the load, and try again next time. I suspect most of the time they get away with this, and the driver is assuming it will be okay, or it's just me, and they like to jerk me around at their own expense (but I still have the endorsement, because I know hazmat will end up on there anyway—that's so I'm qualified to tell them they screwed up, although I don't get a whole lot done that way, well at least I'm not in jail yet). I really don't do hazmat in that case.

    Not to complain, I've seen the footage of tankers exploding and all, so be careful what you wish for (note to self).
     
    Last edited: Nov 22, 2018
  7. mustang190

    mustang190 Road Train Member

    2,717
    5,801
    Jan 18, 2011
    Florida Panhandle
    0
    I wish more drivers would not get Hazmat and tanker endorsements.
     
    Jwhis and FredZeppelin77 Thank this.
  8. scott180

    scott180 Road Train Member

    1,212
    4,180
    Dec 10, 2012
    Tooele, UT
    0
    I had several police tell me the Gas haulers were held to a higher standard. This can be good and bad.

    I did get red tagged at a scale house once for a crack in a weld underneath the tank that had a small drip. Told me I could not move the truck or I would be arrested. I told him that I would have to pump off to another tanker before the truck could be towed. He kindly told me to move the truck to our yard.
     
    Sirscrapntruckalot Thanks this.
  9. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

    68,040
    142,340
    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
    0
    .....lol
     
  10. Jaybird53

    Jaybird53 Bobtail Member

    13
    8
    Dec 19, 2018
    0
    Wow! Thats good to remember, thank you
     
  11. Jaybird53

    Jaybird53 Bobtail Member

    13
    8
    Dec 19, 2018
    0
    Thank you, thats a good word, indeed.
     
    MACK E-6 Thanks this.
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.