Transporting hazardous waste has the potential to be life-threatening to anyone involved. During the shipment, hazardous waste spills or collisions could affect individuals in the area; this is why it is essential that all parties involved adhere to compliance and are properly trained on The Department of Transportation’s (DOT) hazardous waste shipments. DOT regulations help to ensure the safety of everyone when shipments are made, requiring hazardous waste to be monitored from the point of pickup to disposal.
Requirements for Transporters of Hazardous Waste
Although moving hazardous waste along public roads is necessary, there are potential risk factors. DOT hazardous waste regulations are in place to mitigate those risks; ensuring the safety of all individuals during the transportation process. Transporters of hazardous waste are required to have an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Identification number. The EPA ID number allows for hazardous waste drivers to be tracked from the time of pickup at the manufacturing facility to when the shipment reaches the disposal facility.
Manifest Requirements
| HIGHWAY & AIR SHIPMENTS | WATER & RAIL SHIPMENTS |
| ● At pickup, transporters are required to check the shipment against the properly prepared manifest any discrepancies and the shipment can be denied, once it is approved the transporter must sign and date the manifest.
● Manifest is required to be with shipments at all times. ● Upon delivery shipments and manifest must be accounted for, signed, and dated by the recipient. ● Transporters are required to keep a copy of the manifest for three years. |
● Manifest is not required at all times, other shipping documents may be used if the same information is provided.
● Manifest must be signed and dated by the initial transporter and the transporter is responsible for ensuring the manifest or shipping documents reach the designated facility and that the owner or operator of the designated facility signs and dates the manifest or shipping documents. |
DOT Transportation Hazardous Waste Training
Hazardous waste transporters will need to be trained in hazardous materials regulations (HMR) before transporting any hazardous materials. Employees who transport hazardous materials will need to take a DOT-approved HMR course; individuals can find training through several companies including OSHA. Once an employee completes the training required within their first 90 days of work, the employee will receive a certification to document the HMR course completion; this certification is valid for three years. Through hazardous materials regulation training, individuals gain knowledge of the proper procedures when transporting regulated medical waste or infectious substances.
Solutions
Keeping track of hazardous waste manifest for three years sounds like a mess of paperwork piling up on someone’s desk, before being misplaced. Whip Around’s fleet maintenance software can help to ensure records are kept easily accessible and up to date. By using Whip Around’s fleet maintenance software, hazardous waste transporters have the opportunity to limit their headaches by having manifest and shipping documents available in Whip Around’s premium app. Whip Around guarantees managers and drivers are ready for any shipment and possible accidents at a moment’s notice.
The Department of Transportation has many guidelines and regulations when it comes to transporting hazardous material; by requiring employees to train on HMR, the DOT aims to provide safety through knowledge. In the unfortunate case that damages or spills occur while transporting hazardous materials, employees can rely on their training to quickly contact the proper authorities, while helping to assure the general public the situation is being addressed as quickly as possible.
