A question from someone within the trucking industry on April 27, 2017:
Before a driver with a CLP (commercial learners permit) can drive an empty tanker (with a previous hazmat load) does the tank have to be “certified” as “cleaned” or safe before the driver can use it for training and/or testing?
My answer that same day:
I am not aware of anything in the USDOT regulations pertaining to empty packaging at 49 CFR 173.29 – Empty packagings or those for Cargo Tanks at 49 CFR 173.33 – Hazardous materials in cargo tank motor vehicles that require a cargo tank (aka: “tanker”) to be certified as clean.
If a cargo tank does has not been “sufficiently cleaned of residue and purged of vapors to remove any potential hazard” then it is subject to full regulation as a hazardous material.
The certification from a cleaner of a cargo tank will not be sufficient if the above criteria is not met.
If a cargo tank contains any residue of a hazardous material at all it must be transported in commerce as a fully regulated hazmat which means the display of placards and the driver maintaining the HazMat endorsement on his/her CDL. The Commercial Learner’s Permit does not allow for the transport of a packaging (e.g. cargo tank) that must display placards.
In sum: A driver with a CLP may not operate a cargo tank containing any residue of a hazardous material.
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For more information, read:
- What is a Commercial Learner’s Permit?
- What information must be on the Commercial Driver’s License?
- USDOT Requirements for the Transport of “Empty” HazMat Packagings
- What’s in/on Those Trucks?
I hope this helps. Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any other questions.