How Many Hazardous Loads Have You Hauled?

Those of you that have an HAZMAT endorsement, how often do you haul a hazardous load? This hazardous stuff scares the daylights out of me. I worked for the Chemical Manufacturers Association when they started Responsible Care in the 90's, some of this stuff ain't no play dough.

I haul hazmat everyday, but its mostly diesel fuel, grease, oils and such. I tend to drive 5mph under the posted limit at all times, and I try and be very smooth and safe at all times. So this is probably the safest of the hazardous materials you could haul but I treat it with great respect. Not only can you cause a major disaster to other people but also the environment. No road rage or stupidity allowed. I always leave a lot of space in front of me and try and anticipate traffic and stoplights. For example I always just plan on stopping at a light, plan on missing the green arrow etc. Simply put I drive as safely as I can.

Phil

Since getting my Hazmat last week and returning to work last Wednesday we have done 8 loads of hazmat for ABF. Don't let hazmat scare you. Rarely will you ever haul the really nasty bad hazmat.

Those 8 loads have all been non placard loads. One load was 100 pounds of the Flammable Liquids class and it was nothing more than the sticky stuff that gets put on the back of stickers to make them sticky.

Hauling paint can be hazmat. Pretty harmless. And bleach is also hazmat yet your use it to wash your clothes. Ammonia is hazmat but you use it to clean with. Pretty normal stuff huh? Just don't mix bleach and ammonia together. That's a super nasty mix if done right will collapse a person's lungs and turns the inside to liquid just by the fumes. Don't ask how I know just trust me and don't do it.

Did you know concentrate orange juice is hazmat? Must be the acid content in the concentration of orange juice. But there you go. Normal stuff we use everyday are considered hazmat do to the bulk shipping practices.

While it's still possible to haul what I call high end hazmat in smaller quantities in a dry van most of that stuff is shipped in bulk in raw form in tankers.

When I was in college I worked as a janitor and mix ammonia with bleach, sent me to the emergency room and an overnight stay in the hospital.

I have hauled one. The only problem I had was one of my placards decided to jump ship. It was no biggie because I had a fellow trucker grab my ear and let me know so I could pull over and put one of my extras in it`s place. No harm no foul.

I have had mine about a month or so and even though they made a big deal of it I have yet to get one.

Pretty much every few days I haul hazmat. Sometimes a couple loads in a row. Not really a big deal. Guy said it well enough. I'm a new driver too - so don't let it scare you.

We've hauled about 5 hazmat loads.