Hazmat Endorsements

The Montana Standard – Butte, Montana USA

HELENA — A federal anti-terrorism requirement for greater scrutiny of truck drivers could affect Montana’s effort to train felons for work behind the wheel.

The requirement under the Patriot Act also has state officials trying to determine how Montana will proceed with mandatory fingerprinting of all drivers seeking permission to haul hazardous goods.

In this state, that’s mostly fertilizer and fuel, the Montana Motor Carriers Association says, but the list includes some 60,000 different materials.

Under the Patriot Act, passed after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, commercial drivers with certain felony convictions are prohibited from transportinghazardous materials on the nation’s highways. Dean Roberts, head of the Montana Motor Vehicle Division, said up to one-fourth of truck drivers may have prison records.

Another source for drivers dried up. What are we going to do if trucking can’t train and hire ex-cons to drive?
I have nothing against ex-cons driving. Trucking has always looked for cheap labor pools. Everyone from welfare moms to convicts have been encouraged to drive by getting their training paid for by the state because the industry is in such dire straits with this so-called driver shortage.

Crimes that disqualify a driver include murder, kidnapping, rape, robbery, firearms and drug offenses, extortion, fraud, explosives crimes and arson.

That curbs the employment outlook for some of the 25 to 30 inmates a year who complete the Montana State Prison’s truck-driver training, a two-month program in the prison compound at Deer Lodge.

Felons still would be able to obtain commercial licenses, but without a hazardous materials endorsement they will have fewer employment options in the trucking business. Even a company such as Diversified Transfer & Storage in Billings, which transports hazardous material infrequently, likes its drivers to have the endorsement as a matter of readiness, spokesman Jay Foley said.

Those companies that do Hazmat once in a while are going to have to either pay to get their drivers checked out or stop hauling Hazmat.

Truck driving is popular among former inmates partly because it requires minimal social skills and the pay is attractive.

Are they saying we have no social skills? Where did they get that idea? The pay is attractive too. If you’re not trying to support a family, keep a place to live, have a car, or eat. It’s real attractive.

Stang said the federal requirements may further tighten an already short supply of truck drivers, and not just because felons will be disqualified. If the drivers themselves must cover the cost of screening, some may opt out, he said.

Having a Hazmat endorsement is going to make drivers much more valuable. They should be getting more pay for the crap they put up with. Everything from the extra rules and regs, to going near those chemicals. I’ve done a few hazmat loads and it’s disheartening to see everyone at the plant walking around with protective gear on and you’re not.

Originally posted 2008-11-19 03:22:00.

(0) Comments Read More