Jun 16, 2017 • Carriers

HAZMAT Transportation

HAZMAT Transportation

Understand the requirements of HAZMAT transportation and how truck drivers can avoid violations.

HAZMAT Transportation

HAZMAT transportation can be lucrative for carriers but it requires understanding common Department of Transportation violations and how to avoid them in regards to hazardous materials.

HAZMAT transportation can be extremely dangerous for truck drivers which is why it typically pays at a higher rate. To enforce regulations and promote the safety of HAZMAT transportation, the FMCSA conducts over 154,000 annual roadside inspections, with an estimated 35,000 DOT HAZMAT violations reported. That’s nearly 23 percent of inspections resulting in a violation!

Most Common Violations of HAZMAT Regulations

No Copy of USDOT hazardous materials registration number (8.1 %)
Package not secure in vehicle (7.6 %)
Placard damaged, deteriorated or obscured (6.9 %)
Vehicle not placarded as required (5.9 %)
No Shipping papers (5.1 %)
Shipping paper accessibility (4.7 %)
Emergency response information missing (4.5 %)
Failure to provide carrier required placards (4.4 %)
Offering a hazardous material without preparing a shipping paper (3.0 %)
No placards or marking when required (2.9 %)

Want to obtain a HAZMAT endorsement on your CDL and potentially earn more with HAZMAT transportation?

GHS Transport Pictograms Cheat Sheet for hazardous materials from Global Chemical Resources.

TagsOwner Operator

Trucker Spotlight - Cindy Moore <em>The Trucker Spotlight series explores the lives of truckers and their journey to make a difference in their industry. We interview different truck drivers to understand some life lessons that make them who they are today. We also learn more about their motivations, and the problems that they encounter on the job. We also tackle how Trucker Path's solutions helped them with what they do. The information that they provide helps inform other people who are looking to delve into the trucking world.</em> <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/08/cm6.jpeg" alt=""] <h2></h2> Today we are putting the spotlight on <strong>Cindy</strong>, who's been driving for around 12 years. She's also called The Flatbed Chick on Youtube where she shares her trucking adventures. Let's get to know more about Cindy and how it's like being on the road. <h2></h2> <h3></h3> <h3><strong>What made you decide to be a trucker?</strong></h3> I became a truck driver out of necessity. I was going through a divorce and needed a steady stream of income and a job that paid enough to support myself without any help and I kept reading about how there was no gender gap in trucking they said a woman could make just as much money as a man. I decided to try it for a couple of years until I could find something better at home and as you can see I never found anything, I’ve been here for almost 12 years. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What were some challenges that you faced when you started out trucking? </strong></h3> The hardest part for me was getting used to public showers. I know it sounds crazy but it was almost traumatizing to think that every time I needed a shower I would have to use a public space. The other big thing was getting used to backing that 53’ foot trailer, it was very intimidating. <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/08/cm5.jpeg" alt=""] <h2></h2> <h3><strong>In the years that you've been driving, what are the significant changes that you've noticed in the trucking industry?</strong></h3> The biggest thing I’ve noticed is a lot more traffic on the road and it seems like instead of creating more parking for trucks they are closing rest areas and making it harder to find parking. Don’t even get me started on hours of service, they don’t want to ever leave that alone and I’m sure they will continue to change in the future searching for perfection, but we as drivers are a very diverse group and we will never have the same needs. They will never come up with rules that will fit everybody, you may need five hours of sleep and I may need 10. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>Any times when you get lonely while driving? How do you deal with it?</strong></h3> Being on the road for weeks at a time by yourself does get very lonely at times but I have friends to talk to and a few years ago I got a dog to ride with me. She's great companion and brought a lot of joy to my life. <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/08/cm2.jpeg" alt=""] <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What made you start a Youtube Channel?</strong></h3> I started my channel because I absolutely fell in love with this beautiful country we live in and none of my family or friends seem to be as interested in it as I was, so I thought there has to be people out there like me who would love to see the country. Before I became a truck driver I had only seen about three other surrounding states and I had no idea how much I had missed all those years. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What keeps you busy nowadays? How did the current Covid-19 situation affect your trucking life?</strong></h3> I’m currently pulling a dry van and trying to stay busy. I still love the flatbed and plan on going back in the future but I’m gonna be trying some other things for now. Covid-19 made it difficult to find a job after the contract ended early in Alaska. A lot of the places I called were either not hiring because of Covid-19 or trying to figure out how to do orientation and putting it off for a few weeks. <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/08/cm3.jpeg" alt=""] <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What are your trucking pet peeves?</strong></h3> My biggest pet peeve is rude and aggressive drivers who seem to not value the lives of other people. For example, cars that pass me on the right after I’ve gotten into the left lane because there’s a tow truck on the right shoulder. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What are your future career plans? Would you continue to be a trucker? Any plans on being an instructor?</strong></h3> My dream for the past several years has been to get an RV and become a travel blogger or full-time RVer, LOL! I still love seeing the country that is the best part of my job and when I retire from trucking I can’t imagine sitting still. I would still want to travel so I think that would be the perfect place for me. I’ve had people suggest that I become a trainer or an instructor at a CDL school but I’m really not sure I would enjoy that because that means I wouldn’t be able to travel anymore. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What is your favorite feature of the Trucker Path app?</strong></h3> My favorite feature on <a href="http://www.truckerpath.com">Trucker Path</a> is truck-stop reporting I really love knowing what the truck-stop is gonna look like when I get there and if it’s usually full at a certain time then I know that I need a back up plan. <h2></h2> <h3><strong> Favorite Truck-stop? Truck-stop Food?</strong></h3> My favorite truck-stops are the ones that are usually off the beaten path and I love discovering new places to park and new places to eat. <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/08/cm4.jpeg" alt=""] <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What are your must haves or the things that you bring with you when on the road</strong></h3> I guess a very popular favorite among truck drivers is also one of my favorites which is baby wipes. I also make sure I have bottled water, soap, and towels just in case. I wouldn’t ever want to be in the truck without my truckers Atlas and a CB either. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What's your favorite scenic route?</strong></h3> I’m not sure if I really have a favorite scenic route but Highway 20 through Oregon is at the top of my list. I also love Highway 89 and 191 going down through Utah south into Colorado and there are so many beautiful places out there I can’t even think of all of them off the top of my head. Maybe I should start making a list. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What are some tips that you would like to share for aspiring women truckers?</strong></h3> I guess the biggest advice I would have for women that are thinking about getting into this industry is don’t be intimidated by it, if it’s what you truly want to do then follow your heart. <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/08/cm7.jpeg" alt=""] <h2></h2> <h3><strong>Where can people watch your videos on Youtube?</strong></h3> They can view my videos on my <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGcsdVwlU5mfMXRl7bQXaeQ">Youtube Channel,The Flatbed Chick.</a> <h2></h2> <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/i752gJOJAN8" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe> <h2></h2> <em>Got a cool story to share? Send us message at community@truckerpath.com to be featured!</em> <h2></h2> <h2></h2> <h4>By Aldous Aldwin</h4> <h3></h3> <h3></h3>

Aug 27, 2020 • Carriers

Top 10 Counties For Cargo Theft [p]Cargo theft is a growing concern for the trucking industry with driver safety at the forefront. Here's a closer look at the worst areas.[/p] [h2]Top 10 Counties for Cargo Theft in America[/h2] [p]Being a truck driver is the most dangerous job in America and the threat of cargo theft from potentially armed thieves looking to steal truck cargo escalates the risks for truck drivers.[/p] [p]According to CargoNet, there were 836 occurrences of cargo theft resulting in an estimated $172.9 million in losses during 2016. [a href="https://app.appsflyer.com/com.sixdays.truckerpath?pid=Social Facebook"]Los Angeles County had 329 thefts reported from July 2013 – July 2016, the most of any other county in America.[/a] The worst state for cargo thefts was California, with 228 thefts, an increase of 36 percent from 2015. The most common day of the week for cargo thefts was Friday with 164 incidents. There was a 5.1 percent decrease in total cargo thefts in 2016 compared to 2015.[/p] [ol-2] [li]Los Angeles County, CA[/li] [li]Dallas County, TX[/li] [li]San Bernardino County, CA[/li] [li]Chicago Cook County, IL[/li] [li]Miami-Dade County, FL[/li] [li]Houston Harris County, TX[/li] [li]Tarrant County, TX[/li] [li]Edison Middlesex County, IL[/li] [li]Bolingbrook Will County, IL[/li] [li]Riverside County, CA[/li] [/ol-2] [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2017/02/cargoNet.jpg" alt=""] [h2]Most Common Cargo Theft Locations[/h2] [ol] [li]Warehouse/Distribution Center – 329[/li] [li]Other – 295[/li] [li]Parking Lot – 170[/li] [li]Secured Yard – 166[/li] [li]Unsecured Yard – 120[/li] [/ol] [h2] Avoid Cargo Theft - Find Truck Parking with Trucker Path [/h2] [p] With over 8,000 locations to find parking in our app, you can find safe truck parking at the truck stop, rest area even Wal-mart of your choice. We even have a list of the <a href="https://truckerpath.com/blog/best-truck-stops/">best truck stops in America!</a> [p]Best of all you can see how many truck parking spots a truck stop has and see if there are any available in real-time. Download our free app today in order to save yourself time and provide you with the peace of mind you deserve.[/p] [button-green href="https://truckerpath.com/trucker-path-app/?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=cargotheft2015"]Learn More About Trucker Path![/button-green] [video id="NSSOwFRJaQw"] [quote]“Cargo theft continues to be a pervasive issue,” said Anthony Canale, general manager of CargoNet. “Our 2015 year-end report indicated 881 incidents of cargo theft took place across North America. That increased from 844 cargo thefts reported in 2014 and accounted for more than $175 million in goods. While thieves continue to get more tech-savvy with their approaches, there are measures that can be put in place to stop them, ranging from proactive deterrence tactics to extensive recovery assistance.”[/quote] [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2017/02/CARGO-THEFT-FB.jpg" alt=""]

Feb 03, 2017 • Carriers

Nebraska Troopers Ride With Truckers to Spot Unsafe Drivers

Mar 01, 2017 • Community