It's a Team's Life

Do You Know?

Do You Know?

Recently, Dave and I picked up a hazardous materials (hazmat) load that included several different products. We thought we were fully prepared because we had received a copy of the Bill of Lading (BOL) before arriving at the shipper's location. However, once we arrived, we discovered that we had only received one of the two pages that made up the complete BOL. The page we received listed some of the products we expected to haul, but the missing page contained additional items that were also being loaded onto our truck. As the customer began loading, we quickly realized that not everything going in was listed on the paperwork we had been given.

What would you do in this situation? Would you question the customer about the products being loaded? Would you simply allow the loading process to continue without hesitation? Would you accept the paperwork as proof of what was in your truck? More importantly, do you know what you should do?

I requested that the customer update the BOL so it accurately reflected the products being loaded onto our truck. This process required additional personnel to come to the loading site and several phone calls to our corporate headquarters to ensure everything was handled in accordance with DOT and FMCSA regulations.

In the end, it took nearly seven hours to complete the loading process and verify that everything was compliant before we could leave. Some drivers reading this may think that seven hours is far too long to spend loading a truck. I disagree. No matter how long it takes, I will always take the time necessary to ensure that everything is accurate, compliant, and legal. At the end of the day, we drove away confident that our paperwork accurately reflected what we were carrying.

Now, let me ask you a few questions:

     1.  Do you know which hazardous materials can legally be loaded together in the same trailer?

     2.  Do you have the resources available to make those decisions?

     3.  Do you know how hazardous materials must be labeled and documented?

     4.  Are you comfortable helping shipping personnel understand when products are improperly labeled or incorrectly recorded on the BOL?

These conversations can sometimes be uncomfortable because no one likes being told they've made a mistake. Fortunately, in our case, the shipper was very understanding and did everything necessary to correct the issues.

As professional drivers, we are ultimately responsible for the cargo we transport. Never assume that the paperwork is correct simply because it came from the shipper. Take the time to verify what is being loaded, ask questions when something doesn't seem right, and ensure your documentation matches your cargo. A few extra hours at the dock is a small price to pay compared to the consequences of hauling hazardous materials incorrectly.

Here’s to millions of safe, profitable and IN THE KNOW miles.

Kelly Plumb