For any business that deals in materials with any kind of potential for volatility, hazmat trucking is a mainstay of the process for getting products out to their destinations. Managers and business leaders with links to the hazmat trucking community may want to keep informed about the details of this sometimes dangerous job.

Online sites can give you a window into how hazmat trucking companies operate: for key terms and concepts related to hazardous materials trucking, just take a look at comprehensive sites covering aspects of big rig trucking and transporting chemicals, flammables and more for everyday safety on American roads. Readers might look for:

1. Information on CDLs and regulations for hazmat trucking jobs.

2. General resources on trucking and how its operators work day to day.

3. Hazmat trucking classifications and more about how hazardous materials are handled.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find out about CDL requirements for hazardous material trucking

You may know that the CDL or Commercial Driver's License is what certified the truck drivers on American roads, but beyond that, you may not know about specific characteristics of this class of license and what vehicle types it validates for. Find out more about commercial CDLs and their use with hazmat trucking at easy online resources.

I recommend: Learn all of the rules and requirements for a CDL at DMV.org, a vehicle driver's comprehensive resource online. Find a CDL FAQ and more at iDriveTrucks.com.

Learn about rules of the road for hazmat trips

Truckers can find helpful guidelines, tips and rules of the road online from various resources to make sure they are following industry standards in transporting special cargo.

I recommend: Get DOT hazmat compliance guides from J.J. Keller & Associates online. You can find more tips for hazardous materials trucking at AllBusiness.

Figure out trucking hazmat classifications online

So what about all of the stuff that classifies as hazmat (hazardous materials) that gets trucked around every day by hazmat transportation companies? Learn about the various types of hazmat trucking items from flammables to corrosives and explosives for understanding the dangers and the regulatory responsibilities for trucking hazardous materials over the road.

I recommend: Find hazmat classifications online at Oklahoma State University's handy online hazmat page. Get more on hazmat classifications and compliance at Advantage Business Media.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When looking into different kinds of hazmat trucking, like hazardous waste trucking or shipping flammables, find out what what the specific needs of your business mean to these independent operators who will transport your materials. Looking at hazmat trucking as a variable enterprise makes sense; in today's specialized systems, one kind of hazmat trucking may be much different in practice than another.

Whether you have a short or long distance to transport your hazardous chemicals and materials, you need the experienced and licensed help of a hazardous material trucking company that knows how to keep your business on the move. You will need someone experienced to properly fill out your paperwork, load and unload the product, and who can react safely in case of an unexpected spill or leak.

Hazmat trucking companies are your resource to meet all of the Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations for the safe transport of your domestic and international materials. Are you transporting explosives, gases, flammable liquids or solids, poisonous and infections substances, radioactive, corrosive materials or other miscellaneous dangerous goods? If, so hazmat trucking will be required to safely transport your product.

To safely transport your material:

1. Work with or consult with an experienced company to help you label and pack your materials prior to passing it off to your haz mat trucking company.

2. Safely load your material in a registered hazmat trucking vehicle.

3. Make sure that you are following all federal, state, and local regulations in transit in regards to your hazmat trucking jobs or hazardous waste trucking.

Action Steps
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Be knowledgeable about the government agencies overseeing hazmat transport

The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) is the place to start looking at compliance and requirements for trucking hazmat. The U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is another regulation agency that can help you support the safe transport of your hazardous materials.

I recommend: OSHA is the government agency that establishes and enforces the protective standards that Hazmat shipping companies have to follow. They cover emergency response personnel who handle and spills that may occur at your hazmat trucking jobs. Make sure that the Hazmat trucking companies that you are working with are compliant with OSHA standards and that they have had training like that offered by Lion Technology Inc. PHSMA offers you information on the range of functions that their agency provides as well as where you can find the names of companies and types of businesses that have had hazmat infractions or had accidents/incidents fatalities or fines.

Promote safety and security when completing hazardous materials trucking runs

You have inherent risks when hazardous materials trucking as well as security concerns.

I recommend: Check out the government's information on hazmat shipping regulations, permits and approvals, security and initiatives. You can even get email updates when this information is changed.

Work with an experienced hazardous material trucking packing provider

Work with a company experienced in packaging your hazmat materials.

I recommend: Check out companies like HAZPlus, Inmark, Inc., and LPS Industries. All three offer a large variety of packing materials dedicated to hazmat needs.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Be aware that there is a maximum $50,000 civil penalty for violations that can be laid down on you by one of PHMSA's 35 investigators. They work in conjunction with Federal, state, and local agencies to investigate your packaging manufacturers, requalifiers, certifiers, shippers, consolidators, and freight forwarders.
• •  Your shipment will be one of close to one million daily shipments of hazardous materials, so pack it safely and avoid leakage or spillage.

Hazardous materials trucking is an occupation that requires ongoing education on regulations pertaining to the transportation of such materials. In addition to maintaining a Commercial Drivers License (CDL), drivers employed by hazmat transportation companies are also required to be educated on 49 CFR, the materials they transport, proper handling procedures of materials, use of placards identifying the material being transported and emergency response procedures should a hazmat incident occur.

Individuals can achieve a career in hazmat trucking by:

1. Meeting hazmat trucking requirements

2. Completing hazardous materials (Haz Mat) trucking education and training

3. Keeping abreast of regulatory changes in the transportation of hazardous materials

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Meet hazardous material trucking requirements

In order to qualify for a job in the hazardous materials trucking field, one must possess a Commercial Driver's License (CDL). In addition, one must receive endorsement from the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) Hazardous Materials Endorsement Threat Assessment Program as required by the USA Patriot Act.

I recommend: Refer to the Top Trucking Schools website to locate a trucking school in your area so you can obtain your CDL. When contacting a trucking school, ask if a loan program is in place to help finance tuition. Apply to the TSA Hazardous Materials Endorsement Threat Assessment Program as required by the USA Patriot Program. The purpose of this program is to ensure that individuals transporting hazardous materials do not pose a risk to security and involves checks on an individual’s criminal history, legal status and international databases, if applicable.

Complete hazardous materials (Haz Mat) trucking education and training online

Online training programs enable hazmat trucking companies to not only schedule employee training to fit their schedules, but also allows drivers to work through the course material at their own pace.

I recommend: Online Hazmat School and idrivetrucks.com offer hazmat transportation companies online training programs designed to educate drivers on 49 CFR and the Department of Transportation requirements.

Complete hazardous materials (Haz Mat) trucking education and training in a classroom environment.

Hazardous materials transportation companies can provide training to their employees in a classroom environment to not only ensure drivers complete the hazardous materials program, but also accommodate individuals who are not familiar or comfortable with computers.

I recommend: Hazardous Materials Regulations Training and Lion Technology provide onsite training related to trucking hazardous materials, ensuring that drivers are educated on the regulatory requirements of transporting hazardous materials.

Join a trade association to keep abreast of regulatory changes in hazardous material trucking

Drivers must complete hazardous materials training courses regularly. Over time, changes in regulations pertaining to trucking and hazardous materials occur. Trade associations are an effective way for hazmat transportation companies and drivers to remain current on regulations affecting hazmat trucking and hazmat trucking jobs.

I recommend: The Council of Safe Transportation of Hazardous Articles (COSTHA) and the Alliance of Hazardous Materials Professionals are organizations devoted to keeping members up to date not only on regulatory changes and on issues facing the hazardous waste industry, but also provides educational and training opportunities to its members.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Contact your local emergency operations center and volunteer your hazardous materials trucking company to participate in hazmat drills. Participation in a mock disaster event provides participants further hands-on training regarding hazmat response procedures that will prove invaluable should an actual incident occur.

When transporting hazardous materials, it's important to understand the rules in order to ensure the safety of everyone. New truck drivers may need to learn several key terms before they are qualified to transport hazardous materials. They'll need to go through the HAZMAT Endorsement Threat Assessment Program and understand the Department of Transportation's regulations. They'll also need to learn about hazardous materials classification, so that they can put the proper placard on their truck. Start by learning the following terms.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Department of Transportation

The U.S. Department of Transportation, or DOT, is the government body that regulates the shipment of hazardous materials. This organization sets the rules that truck drivers must follow.

I recommend: Learn more about the Department of Transportation from their website.

HAZMAT Endorsement Threat Assessment Program

As part of the USA Patriot Act, truck drivers must go through a formal assessment before they are issued a commercial driver's license. This is to ensure that they do not pose a threat to national security.

I recommend: The Transportation Security Administration discusses the HAZMAT Endorsement Threat Assessment Program and how to apply for clearance.

Canada/U.S. reciprocal recognition of containers

In the past, certain Canadian trucks were only allowed to cross the border and unload their goods. They could not fill up with a new load. Recent agreements, however, allow for Canada/U.S. reciprocal recognition of containers, which means that they do not differentiate between a Canadian-build and an American-built shipping container.

I recommend: Learn more about this from AllBusiness.

Dangerous goods classification

The DOT has several classifications for dangerous substances, including flammables, radioactives, explosives, and toxic substances. It's important to know a material's classification because you have to mark it on your truck.

I recommend: Oklahoma State University discusses the dangerous goods classification system.

Hazardous materials transportation placards

The Department of Transportation requires all trucks carrying hazardous materials to display a placard that specifies what it is carrying. There are placards that contain numbers and visual placards with a drawing of the danger, such as a fire for flammable objects and the skull and crossbones for poisonous items.

I recommend: Visit EnvironmentalChemistry.com to learn more about the hazardous materials transportation placards and to see examples.

Hazardous materials table

The hazardous materials table was created by the Department of Transportation. It provides information about all of the hazardous substances, such as their classification and quantity limits.

I recommend: See a copy of the hazardous materials table at MyRegs.com.