A great article by J.J. Keller summarizing data provided by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
TOP 25 DRIVER, VEHICLE, AND HAZMAT VIOLATIONS OF 2017
By: Daren Hansen
Publication: J. J. Keller’s Motor Carrier Safety Report
Date Posted: 02/21/2018
|
Contact me with any questions you may have about the transportation of hazardous materials by air, highway, vessel, or rail International and Domestic Daniels Training Services, Inc. 815.821.1550 |
Below are my thoughts on some of the top 25 hazardous materials violations:
- Rank 1 (4,241 violations): Package not secure in vehicle. This regulation is located in Part 177 and usually assumed to be the responsibility solely of the driver. However, 49 CFR 173.30 and this letter of interpretation (05-0267) make it clear that the shipper or offeror of a hazardous materials shipment will be held responsible for the HazMat’s securement in the vehicle if it is the shipper / offeror that loads the HazMat in the vehicle.
- Rank 2 (1,739 violations): Failing to provide carrier required placards. Often overlooked by shippers is their responsibility to offer the proper placards to the driver of the vehicle.
- Rank 8 (1,383 violations): Maintenance / accessibility of emergency response information. While it is the responsibility of the shipper to provide the emergency response information (see Rank 10, below) it is the responsibility of the driver to maintain access to the emergency response information during transportation.
- Rank 10 (1,129 violations): Emergency response information not available. The shipper must provide emergency response information to the driver.
- Rank 12 (921 violations): Failing to enter basic description of hazardous material in proper sequence. Really?!? This regulation has been in effect since January 1, 2013; over five years! How could anyone not know the sequence to the basic description?
- Rank 13 (773 violations): Offering hazardous materials without preparing a shipping paper. OK, that’s even worse!
- Rank 16 (686 violations): Accepting / transporting hazardous materials not prepared properly. It is the responsibility of the driver to reject a shipment that is not in compliance with the regulations.
- Rank 22 (425 violations): Failing to register with PHMSA prior to transporting hazardous materials.
It is important for both shippers and carriers of HazMat to realize that these violations – and the fines that accompany them – while they may have been made during the pre-transportation and vehicle loading phases were discovered during the HazMat’s transportation. This means that while your facility may not be inspected by USDOT the vehicle transporting your HazMat may be stopped by enforcement authorities where violations of the Hazardous Materials Regulations will lead them back to your door.
|
If you like this article, please share it using any of the social media platforms identified at the bottom of this article. You’ll look real smart recommending my articles! |
The HazMat Employee training I offer is inexpensive and easy compared to the potential violations and fines you face for non-compliance.