Unattended Parking

Discussion in 'Hazmat Trucking Forum' started by 201773, Jul 29, 2021.

  1. 201773

    201773 Light Load Member

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    What are the rules for unattended parking of Hazmats, other than Class 1?

    Specifically, can one park a bulk Class 8 load at a rest area and go home for a 34 hour reset?
     
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  3. buddyd157

    buddyd157 Road Train Member

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    personally, i'd not do that.

    if i recall hazmat rules, one must be in direct sight of the vehicle

    @Moose1958
     
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  4. npok

    npok Light Load Member

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    Only class 1 has to be attended IIRC.

    Sounds like a Q for your company to answer. You can, but SHOULD you?
     
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  5. 201773

    201773 Light Load Member

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    In FMCSA section 397.5, ‘Attendance and surveillance of motor vehicles' it states:

    (c) A motor vehicle which contains hazardous materials other than Division 1.1, 1.2, or 1.3, materials, and which is located on a public street or highway, or the shoulder of a public highway, must be attended by its driver. However, the vehicle need not be attended while its driver is performing duties which are incident and necessary to the driver’s duties as the operator of the vehicle.

    So if it isn't parked on a "public street or highway, or the shoulder of a public highway" does it have to be attended, legally?

    Should you is another story.

     
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  6. kemosabi49

    kemosabi49 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    I might park it at a truck stop but not at a rest area. Best to do as @npok said and ask your company. Always CYA on this type of thing.
     
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  7. REO6205

    REO6205 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    Unattended HazMat loads are often stolen. Thieves watch for them. Is your Class 8 load a load of batteries? If so, it could disappear fast.
     
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  8. 201773

    201773 Light Load Member

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    Thanks for the replies!

    Yes, got to CYA. Looks like I'm gonna get the load on Monday instead of Tommorow. My company is concerned about the rule.

    Not batteries by the way, It's raw flexible plastics.
     
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  9. Rubber duck kw

    Rubber duck kw Road Train Member

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    I wouldn't ever leave the truck parked in a rest area, unless you're being hauled off to the ER.
     
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  10. ZVar

    ZVar Road Train Member

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    One thing to remember. Rest areas are part of the public highway.
    Parking there is no different in that regard than parking on a shoulder.
     
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  11. Brandt

    Brandt Road Train Member

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    I believe you can't leave any hazmat load unattended. They even use the rest area example in hazmat test. Because if anything happens, you have be their to be their to call for help and protect the area. You would have to be their to keep people away or upwind from say a fire till the fire department arrived. If you need a truck repair or help. Your supposed to send someone to get help and you stay with the hazmat load.

    You can leave hazmat load in a Safe Haven or drop yard that has someone like security guard that can watch the load and call for help if needed. You can leave hazmat load to go eat and stuff say in truck stop. You can't drop trailer and go eat. That's my understanding and I believe it in the hazmat rules.
     
    Last edited: Jul 30, 2021
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