Fueling Precautions While Truck Driving

When you fuel up while carrying hazardous materials, be sure the engine is not operating. Also, make sure someone is in control of the fueling process at the point where the fuel tank is filled.

Smoking

Smoking of cigarettes, cigars or pipes is very dangerous around certain types of hazardous materials. The MCSR says that no one may smoke within 25 feet of a vehicle containing explosives, oxidizing materials, or flammable materials, or within 25 feet of an empty tanker which was used to transport flammable liquids or gases.



The Pre-Trip Inspection

In addition to your normal, by-the-numbers pre-trip inspection, you should check additional things if you are hauling hazardous materials. If you operate a cargo tank, check for defects in welds, piping, valves and gaskets. Don't drive a tanker containing flammable liquid (any quantity) until all manholes are closed and secured and all valves and unloading lines are closed and leak-free. Be sure all closures are securely closed before you head off. Check carefully for leaks and report any leaks to your supervisor immediately.

Special Tire Precautions

The MCSR gives strict regulations regarding tire safety on vehicles hauling hazardous materials. That's not too surprising since faulty, underinflated or overheated tires can cause tire fires and other accidents. One of the things listed in Section 397 is more frequent examinations of tires.

Routes

Generally speaking, drivers of hazardous materials must avoid highly populated areas in planning their routes. They must also avoid tunnels, narrow streets, alleys, and places where crowds are assembled. If a carrier is hauling Class A or Class B explosives, the carrier has to prepare a written route plan before operating the vehicle. The route must avoid the things listed above (populated areas, tunnels, etc.). Be prepared because if you begin your trip someplace other than your terminal, you may be the one to plan the route. Be sure you plan it in compliance with Section 397 of the MCSR.

Parking

If you are hauling Class A or Class B explosives you may only park in specified locations. For example, you may not generally park on or within five feet of the traveled portion of a street or highway, on private property, near an open fire, or within 300 feet of a bridge, tunnel, dwelling, building or place where people work or get together for other reasons.

Other Recommended Precautions to Take

1. Don't smoke around any kind of hazardous materials.
   
   
2. Handle packages carefully:
   
   
   a. Don't drop them, jar them, or bump them.
   
   b. Protect them from moisture.
   
   c. Protect them from extreme heat.
   
   d. Be very careful not to damage them with bailing hooks, forklifts or other loading equipment.
   
   e. Heed warning signs, such as "This Side Up."
   
   f. Load them so that anyone entering the trailer can see their labels immediately and be aware of the nature of the cargo.
   

FINAL NOTE: As mentioned several times above, we have not attempted in this workbook to give you all of the specifics you need to know about hauling hazardous materials. We have simply tried to introduce you to the kinds of guidelines you must expect to follow as a professional driver hauling hazardous materials. If you have any questions regarding the hauling of hazardous materials (which placards to use, how your vehicle should be marked, what route to take, where you may park, what items can be loaded into the same vehicle, etc.) don't guess. Even an educated guess is not good enough. Find out what the DOT regulations have to say in answer to your question. Check either with your supervisor, directly with the DOT, or in the appropriate DOT publication. If you read something in a DOT publication and you don't understand exactly what it means, contact the DOT directly and get clarification. Your life and the lives of those around you may depend upon it.

DO: Eight situations are listed below. Read each one and decide what is wrong with it. There is something wrong with each situation. There may be more than one thing wrong with some. In a few words, write what is wrong with each situation in the space below it.

1. A rig placarded "Explosive B" is parked in a large 76 Union Truck Stop truck parking lot. The driver is in the coffee shop having breakfast.
   
   
2. A rig labeled with orange "Explosive A" and green "Non-flammable Gas" placards pulls off a major highway to a rural route to avoid Kansas City.
   
   
3. A rig labeled "Irritant (Red)" stops at an inspection point as it enters Utah. The inspection agent asks to see the shipping papers. The driver gets out, gets the papers out of the trailer, and hands them to the agent.
   
   
4. A rig labeled with a blue "Oxidizer" placard pulls into a truck stop for fuel. The driver puts out her cigarette and gets out to get a cup of coffee to go while the rig is being fueled up.
   
   
5. A tanker truck marked "Corrosive", pulls into the consignee's dock. He's been on duty for 15 hours straight (10 of them driving) so he has to get off duty. He climbs into the sleeper compartment for a snooze while the dock workers unload the tank.
   
   
6. An unplacarded rig pulls into an inspection station carrying 1500 lbs. of oxygen.
   
   
7. A rig pulls into a large commercial farm in Wisconsin to deliver a mixed load. It is marked with a black and white "Poison" placard because it carries 1100 lbs. of packages labeled "Poison" as well as 2200 lbs. of animal feed.
   
   
8. A truck placarded with a yellow "Explosive B" label is parked 10 feet off the highway on a pull-out along old Route 66 in Northern Arizona.