BASICs: Improving Hazardous Materials Compliance 11
Registration with USDOT
A motor carrier must be registered with the USDOT to transport hazardous materials. That registration process can be found at
https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/registration/registration-overview. Management should document completion of this registration and place copy of the carrier’s USDOT hazmat registration number in every truck used for hazardous materials transportation.
CDL hazmat endorsement
Only drivers with a hazardous materials endorsement should be allowed to operate trucks hauling hazardous materials. Information on obtaining a Hazmat Endorsement can be found at
https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registration/commercial-drivers-license/drivers. Management should document adherence to this requirement by placing a copy of the CDL endorsement in each driver’s qualification file.
Hazardous materials training
Hazardous materials training for each employee function is a federal requirement, as more fully discussed below. Management should document the completion of training in each employee’s personnel file.
Five Communications Links From management on down the line, information and instructions on handling, storing and
transporting hazardous materials flow through these communication links:
All Employees
Company Drivers
Law Enforcement
First Responders
Receiver/Customer
Communication link #1: to all employees on how to handle, store and load hazardous materials.
Hazardous materials communication generally consists of shipping papers, marking and labeling of packages and placarding of transportation vehicles. These means of communication utilize symbols found in the “Table of Hazardous Materials and Special Provisions” (49 CFR 172.101) that determine applicability, proper shipping name and shipping description, hazard class or division, identification number, packing group, label(s) required, special provisions, packaging authorizations, as well as quantity limitations aboard aircraft, and vessel stowage requirements for those transportation modes. In other words, these symbols are shorthand for what the hazmat commodity is and how it should be handled.
According to FMCSA, many of the hazmat violations uncovered during inspections can be attributed to the motor carrier’s failure to read, understand and follow the symbols found in the Table of Hazardous Materials and Special Provisions.
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