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ABF | Haz mat problems

BradBear

BradBear

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so I go in today to take a load from 051 to 042. Dispatcher says we didn't know placards on this haz mat trlr but we do now. He tells me what they are writes on paperwork. I look and this load was a set from 055. So basically the driver brought this set up 170 miles without the corrosive placards on the trlr. When he picked up load he should have called someone to find out what placards he needed. Not sure if this is abf not hiring quality drivers, or some driver in too big of a hurry to do it right
 
For some reason I always thought that the responsibility for changing of the placards laid on those who load/unload the hazardous freight and that it is the driver's job to confirm that they are correct based on the paperwork that they are given.
 
I agree. I did not flip the placards. I had a sit and told him to let me know when the placards were on there. I am saying that it's happened to all of us. You go to a dark terminal and it says hazmat. You look at paperwork and it says could not determine placards on tp2. I always either call safety or dispatcher and tell them and they will say what placards should be applied.
 
Abfrocks said:
I agree. I did not flip the placards. I had a sit and told him to let me know when the placards were on there. I am saying that it's happened to all of us. You go to a dark terminal and it says hazmat. You look at paperwork and it says could not determine placards on tp2. I always either call safety or dispatcher and tell them and they will say what placards should be applied.
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You gotta CYA. When in doubt I always ask the sup, let the onus fall on them. It is not possible for me to remember all of the regulations. My memory will not comply so when in doubt I always ask.
 
Abfrocks said:
so I go in today to take a load from 051 to 042. Dispatcher says we didn't know placards on this haz mat trlr but we do now. He tells me what they are writes on paperwork. I look and this load was a set from 055. So basically the driver brought this set up 170 miles without the corrosive placards on the trlr. When he picked up load he should have called someone to find out what placards he needed. Not sure if this is abf not hiring quality drivers, or some driver in too big of a hurry to do it right
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And they wonder why abf`s permit to haul hazardous was in jeopardy last year....
 
ABFer said:
For some reason I always thought that the responsibility for changing of the placards laid on those who load/unload the hazardous freight and that it is the driver's job to confirm that they are correct based on the paperwork that they are given.
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They are going to start using red hazardous tabs on the bills this should cut down on mistakes, if they remember to put them on the bills....
 
GO40 said:
They are going to start using red hazardous tabs on the bills this should cut down on mistakes, if they remember to put them on the bills....
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We used to use them back when bills went with the loads. Those tabs are hard to miss.
 
It is a terrible problem in atlanta. No placards, wrong placards, not enough placards. Pro not billed I'd a big problem. Loads that are pass through loads or picked up in the atlanta metro area by the city drivers . Judy won the battle but lost the war. NO ONE SEEMS TO CARE ABOUT WORKING HERE ANYMORE. Think to yourself how many times have you heard "not my job". Happens quite a bit @086. . Yard men bring loads to the outbound ready line with flats or airrleaks. Etccc
 
I once was handed a HAZ-MAT load with no placards and when I asked about it I was told, "It hasn't been billed yet", and that is why it wasn't placarded. That excuse might work for them but it's a no go for me as the one who has to pull it down the road.
 
Abfrocks said:
so I go in today to take a load from 051 to 042. Dispatcher says we didn't know placards on this haz mat trlr but we do now. He tells me what they are writes on paperwork. I look and this load was a set from 055. So basically the driver brought this set up 170 miles without the corrosive placards on the trlr. When he picked up load he should have called someone to find out what placards he needed. Not sure if this is abf not hiring quality drivers, or some driver in too big of a hurry to do it right
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Just remember that once you leave the company property, that vehicle and cargo became your responsibility. Proper placards is part of a pretrip. If you go out the gate with the wrong plax , without making sure they are correct,best hope you do not get stopped for a roadside. It is still your license, and will now also be your ticket.
 
One other thing to keep in mind...if the placards were not removed the fine is the same as if they weren't on there when they should have been. I saw a guy pull out with poison placard showing on the tail end, the mud flap placard, the one that you can't get while the trailer is up against the dock. You don't want to get caught in that one either.
 
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It's not that hard when the shipment is picked up at the shipper it is on them to know what placards are needed and to supply them. If the class is in the placard holder you won't need them, just flip the placard out. At the terminal we have all types of cardboard placards almost every class.
 
ABFer said:
One other thing to keep in mind...if the placards were not removed the fine is the same as if they weren't on there when they should have been. I saw a guy pull out with poison placard showing on the tail end, the mud flap placard, the one that you can't get while the trailer is up against the dock. You don't want to get caught in that one either.
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I've tried to tell Con-way and OD that, and nobody seems to listen.
 
ABFer said:
For some reason I always thought that the responsibility for changing of the placards laid on those who load/unload the hazardous freight and that it is the driver's job to confirm that they are correct based on the paperwork that they are given.
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DOT says the minute the trailer reaches the amount of weight needed to generate placards they must be applied. So when the trailer weight reaches the threshold the PDA tells the dock man he should apply them. We all know that doesn't happen. @ 050 I used to work the outbound shift & we applied the placards as they were pulled to the yard. Close enough to probably not get a fine from an inspector. But if they wanted to press the issue they can. 2 trailers sitting @ the dock & one of them catches fire. The one next to the fire has 15 55gal barrels full of lacquer thinner & the flames are reaching the outside of this trailer as you roll up to the fire as a first responder. Do you want to know about the flammable material in that trailer as you grab a hose & approach? We all know this answer. Call the yard man, pull out door 54 so he can apply the rear placard on the swing door. We all know applying placards to a trailer @ the dock when it reaches the required weight threshold will never happen.
 
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