Just Got Dispatched On My 1st HazMat Load

You will take the i84 west, there are 2 truck stops in troutdale exit 17 loves is tight, ta has more room but fills up fast. Saturday afternoon morning or afternoon I have always found the best time to park there. Sunday I would reserve a spot if getting in on Sunday. There is jubiz truck stop right on the wa or border I have always found that place to be pretty full. If I rember correctly you drive for Swift? If that's the case there is a terminal there in troutdale, the singig is not very good. Things todo I would take a cab down to Saturday marked it's a weekend street fair buy your self an elephant ear its a pasty I always get one when I do down there. Lots of vendors selling al sorts of stuff. There is also an old sub down at the water front don't know if it's open on Sunday thought. The Columbia River is not to far away to go fishing on. Find some black Berrys and eat tham thay grow wild out there. Enjoy the drive onse you get down into the Columbia River gorge is quite pritty.

Also remember your weight station bypass dose not work in Idaho, Orangen, or Washington so if the scale is open you need to pull in.

It will still be backed to a dock for you to inspect, then secure, before sealing.

It will still be backed to a dock for you to inspect, then secure, before sealing.

Thx Trucktographer ! Yes, I got the TAPE them down part, Daniel can get a bit edgy. I will get some clear packing tape tonite. I am at Loves. Im sure they have some overpriced tape in stock. lol.

MP, thanks for the Truck Stop, Weigh Station, and Touristy info. Appreciate it!

If you do stop at the TA in Troutdale, go to the diner next door. Great pies. I highly recommend the coconut cream.

Nothing edgy guys, I read "take". A simple proof read before posting could have fixed it but it seems like thats too much to ask for. And I didn't exactly copy/paste your response Grapher, I did add things to it.

Nothing edgy guys, I read "take". A simple proof read before posting could have fixed it but it seems like thats too much to ask for. And I didn't exactly copy/paste your response Grapher, I did add things to it.

I was being kind Daniel. I can be a bit "edgy" myself. And thanks for the additional advice! I got lots of answers that would have taken me hours to find on my own. TT is full of great resources and People. Thanks to each and every one of you. P.S. Daniel, please teach Errol how to proof read his posts. Sometimes its like trying to crack some sort of Military Code to read his posts!

I'm in Troutdale right now but will be heading down to California around midnight. If you do stop at the TA/Loves here, there is a fantastic Italian restaurant behind the outlet mall next door just up the hill. We walk there every time we stop here.

A couple of bars and art studios next door as well, it's a pretty cool spot.

I would just go to the Troutdale terminal. It's nicer than most of the others. No fuel dock or inspection hassles, better showers.

One more thing I thought of, check to see if you have an Idaho hazmat permit. Prime doesn't purchase them I presume because it is so rare to run hazmat through Idaho, but you just stop at the scale on i84 and purchase it for $10. And that scale is always open. Swift might just purchase them though.

I pull hazmat at least a few times a week, sometimes can be every day. I've pulled pretty much everything (including bulk hazmat) except for class 7. Make sure you understand what to look for on your shipping papers - e.g. shippers signature / certification, emergency contact # (like CHEMTREC), proper identification of hazmat material etc... I've caught errors before from different shippers where the hazmat load didn't need placarded, or did need placarded, or was placarded wrong, or said it was bulk packaging when it wasn't - it happens.

A copy of the Hazardous Materials Compliance Pocketbook by J.J. Keller is a must. You can reference materials with the Hazmat Table in the book. Even if you don't pull hazmat often, it's good to at least memorize the 8 main classes of hazardous materials, what is on Table 1 and Table 2 (which helps determine placarding), what constitutes bulk packaging, and certain exceptions (like Limited Quantities) that are common and might change whether or not you need to even bother with placarding.

Like I mentioned, there are exceptions, but generally speaking Table 1 always needs placarding, no matter the quantity, and Table 2 usually needs placarding after the gross weight (meaning the weight of the hazardous material and the container or packaging) is at least 1001 lbs. That's just some basic stuff. It doesn't take much to read a few chapters in the beginning of the Compliance Pocketbook, and eventually it will become second nature to you. Most of the book is to be used as a reference anyhow. You don't have to be an 'expert' per-se, but there are some basic things all drivers should definitely know if they're pulling hazmat.

One other trick that I recently posted in another thread about securing placards, is to use wire coat hangers. Keep some with you. Simply bend a coat hanger in the shape of a diamond, and after you've already slid your placard into the holder on the trailer, slide the hanger over top the placard in the placard holder. If you do it right, it should pretty much align with the placard holder itself, and it'll keep the placard sticker nice in snug in the holder. It can be used in a way that doesn't obstruct the placard from view. I've never had one fly away after using a wire coat hanger.