Hazmat endorsement? Yes or no?

[One]

Try to stay away from Hazmat unless you are planning on going to LTL

1. If you pickup HM, you will be exposed to HM
2. extra DOT regs and scrutiny HIGH FINES!!!!!!!!!!!
3. All 10 fingerprints in FBI database
4. Little reward for pulling HM loads v non HM
5. High cost of background check and no transferability to another state if you move
6. If anything goes wrong you are the one that gets crucified
7. extra hassle en route e.g: Cant let the truck out of sight.

Did I say YOU GET CRUCIFIED if anything goes wrong?

[Blacksheep]

Try to stay away from Hazmat unless you are planning on going to LTL

1. If you pickup HM, you will be exposed to HM
2. extra DOT regs and scrutiny HIGH FINES!!!!!!!!!!!
3. All 10 fingerprints in FBI database
4. Little reward for pulling HM loads v non HM
5. High cost of background check and no transferability to another state if you move
6. If anything goes wrong you are the one that gets crucified
7. extra hassle en route e.g: Cant let the truck out of sight.

Did I say YOU GET CRUCIFIED if anything goes wrong?

Geez dude, don't let your unfounded fears scare this guy away from getting an endorsement.
I've been pulling Hazardous loads for 27 years, and the boogie man hasn't got me yet.

[tdriver1959]

Pulling Haz mat is not bad. Just watch the regs Our company made it mandatory that we have it so they pay for the back ground check. All of last year I only pulled maybe 10 haz mat loads all year. We are a small company so it adds up when you figure the cost. I never have had a any trouble out of the scales pulling haz loads every once in a while they want to see the paper work but that is it

[PhuzzyGnu]

Try to stay away from Hazmat unless you are planning on going to LTL

1. If you pickup HM, you will be exposed to HM
2. extra DOT regs and scrutiny HIGH FINES!!!!!!!!!!!
3. All 10 fingerprints in FBI database
4. Little reward for pulling HM loads v non HM
5. High cost of background check and no transferability to another state if you move
6. If anything goes wrong you are the one that gets crucified
7. extra hassle en route e.g: Cant let the truck out of sight.

Did I say YOU GET CRUCIFIED if anything goes wrong?

1. Not if you do your job right. Handling is not the same as exposure.

2. Half my job is hauling my own paperwork. DOT officers respect professionalism - HM or no HM. Fines are high everywhere in this industry. Do your job and don't get fined.

3. So? I'm not a criminal. Besides, my Texas CHL gave them my fingerprints. As did my pre-employment background check. Who cares?

4. All I haul is Hazardous Waste. $70,000 last year. Company driver. First year. 2007 truck. Full benefits. Home most every night. Need I go on?

5. $93? About the cheapest expense in this industry. Besides, the company will pay for my renewal (I already had it when I hired on). Moving? Not an issue for me. YMMV.

6. The company pays for the cleanup if there's an accident. Besides, how often does the driver not get crucified in this industry when he screws up?

7. Not true. I can stay in a hotel, go into a truckstop, whatever. I leave the manifest on the driver's seat as required. The attendance regulations apply to 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3 hazard classes.


Why are you so paranoid?

-p.

[madbunny]

Have one not renewing.....not paying the government $100 so they can find me.....

Got plenty of loads without having to deal with hazmat too.

[BUCKEYE_TAI]

Yeah, go ahead and get that endorsement... I got all of mines on the first round, now I am offered everyload you can imagine and I'm a flatbed drivin, dry van haulin, tanker shufflin , double - triple runnin fool... I don't have a down time unless I want it...With all of the endorsements you are never out of a job...

[Jackrabbit379]

It's good to have them, yes, but you want to make sure that you are putting them to use.

[Skywalker]

Try to stay away from Hazmat unless you are planning on going to LTL

1. If you pickup HM, you will be exposed to HM

Not necessarily. When I pulled boxes I never got near the freight. It was shipper load, receiver unload. No touch. Even with the tanker I pull now, there are so many safeguards in place that exposure is virtually non-existent.

2. extra DOT regs and scrutiny HIGH FINES!!!!!!!!!!!

Granted, the fines for screwups is higher, and yes there are extra regulations since they are necessary due to the nature of the freight, but as to more scrutiny... not necessarily. I have moved many hazmat loads, to include pulling one all the way across the PA Turnpike through the tunnels....and never even got asked about it. Had they stopped me and asked why I was there.... I would have given them the name of the officer and badge number who cleared my load to go legally. I saw several PA State Troopers who looked at me going by...but not a peep. Never had a problem in a scale either. SO to me its a non-issue. The only times I have been DOT'd was when I was carrying non-hazardous freight.

3. All 10 fingerprints in FBI database

Lets see... They got my footprints when I was born, the Army fingerprinted me, the FBI fingerprinted me in 1974 when they did my TS Nuclear Clearance, and they built a dossier on me, and the DMV has my address, and the IRS knows where I am. SO, the hazmat background check is miniscule in comparison. A non-issue.

4. Little reward for pulling HM loads v non HM

Currently many companies are increasing pay for hazmat loads. CFI added 3 cpm for placarded loads, other companies such as mine re-imburses for the background check costs. I get 40cpm practical miles for all my loads.... so its worth it, not to mention my other perks.

5. High cost of background check and no transferability to another state if you move

As the other poster said...its an investment in your career, and frankly I spend more than the $94 for the background check every time I take my wife out for a decent meal.

6. If anything goes wrong you are the one that gets crucified

Maybe, maybe not. Whether or not you have problems is dependent on your conduct and abilities... And I see the likelihood as being really no greater than pulling non-hazardous freight.

7. extra hassle en route e.g: Cant let the truck out of sight.

Not necessarily. It is all dependent on the nature of the freight. Besides, I rarely am away from my truck when I'm on the road, and normally only leave it when I am in a terminal. But I have never had a problem regarding taking showers, etc when I need to. I just comply with the rules as to where to leave the papers and such, and advise those needed as necessary.

Did I say YOU GET CRUCIFIED if anything goes wrong?

Yes you did, but keep in mind that the statement is not necessarily true, unless you are the guilty party.

Whether or not a person wants to pull hazmat is a personal decision. Many drivers won't pull a tanker for various reasons....and I understand that. But in my career, the endorsement has benefited me financially, so I continue to do it.