MODULE 3

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MODULE 3

• Vehicle Inspections, Identification, and
  Documentation

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Introduction

• Regular vehicle inspections and proper
  maintenance are critical to operating propane
  vehicles safely and efficiently. U.S. DOT
  requires propane delivery drivers to inspect
  their vehicles and document all maintenance
  before driving on public roadways. Drivers must
  also be able to verify proper vehicle
  identification information, such as placards,
  shipping labels and data plates, and required
  vehicle documentation.
• After completing this module, you will be able
  to
• Identify pre-trip and post-trip inspection
  requirements for CMVs
• Know annual inspection and maintenance
  requirements for CMVs
• Verify proper identification information for
  bobtails and cylinder delivery vehicles
• Confirm that vehicles are carrying required DOT
  documentation

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LESSON 1

• Vehicle Inspections and Maintenance

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Why Are Inspections Important?

• Regular vehicle inspections and maintenance are
  not only a DOT requirement they also help ensure
  the safety of both the driver and public.
  Inspections dont take much time and offer many
  benefits. Inspections
• Reduce the chance of an accident, breakdown, or
  injury.
• Help you become a safer worker while maintaining
  efficiency during your daily operations.
• Make your job easier, because as you check your
  vehicle more often, the better your inspections
  become.
• Can save you and your company money.
• This lesson presents the different types of
  vehicle inspections, with detailed content on
  those common to all CMVs pre-trip, post-trip,
  and annual inspections.

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Preparing for Inspections

• Before performing any vehicle inspection, be sure
  to
• Find an appropriate location to park the vehicle,
  preferably away from people, other vehicles, low
  hanging wires or tree limbs, other potential
  hazards, or anything else that may become a
  hazard as you pull away.
• Remove the keys from the ignition so no one can
  move the vehicle during the inspection.
• Set the parking brake.
• Chock the wheels.
• Select the appropriate personal protective
  equipment.
• Have a clean cloth handy to wipe the lights and
  reflectors
• Have the tire pressure gauge available.

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Types of Inspections

• The different types of vehicle inspections
  include
• Daily Inspections May include pre- and
  post-trip, walk-around, on-the-road, and
  pre-transfer inspections.
• Monthly Inspections Required for the cargo tank
  liquid transfer system, emergency shutdown device
  and controls, delivery hose assembly, and
  internal self-closing stop valve.
• Annual/Periodic Inspections DOT requires a
  qualified inspector inspect all CMVs annually, in
  addition to the periodic or scheduled inspections
  also performed by a qualified inspector. An
  external visual inspection and leakage test is
  also required annually for bobtails (commonly
  referred to as VK).

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Types of Inspections cont.

• Five-Year Tank Inspections DOT requires the
  internal inspection of cargo tanks with a manway
  and all cargo tanks must be hydrostatically
  pressure-tested every five years.
• Note Monthly inspections, annual external visual
  inspections and leak tests, and five-year tank
  inspections are only required for bobtails.

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Types of Daily Inspections

• Perform the following vehicle inspections on a
  daily basis
• Complete a pre-trip inspection at the beginning
  of your work day and a post-trip inspection at
  the end.
• Perform a walk-around inspection after loading
  your bobtail or cylinder delivery vehicle to
  determine that it is working properly and
  efficiently.
• Inspect your load when you make stops on the
  road. While on the road, the best drivers go a
  step beyond by keeping their eye on all gauges
  for signs of trouble, and using their senses to
  alert them to changes in their vehicles
  performance.
• Inspect your cargo tank discharge system and
  emergency discharge controls before transferring
  propane. Make the pre-transfer inspection part of
  your routine pre-trip inspection to save time and
  unnecessary trips if the system has a problem or
  malfunction.

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Pre- and Post-Trip Inspections

• As a CMV driver, DOT requires you to perform pre-
  and post-trip inspections to determine that your
  vehicle is in safe operating condition before
  driving it on public roadways.
• Pre- and post-trip inspections are required for
  any placarded vehicle, including
• Bobtails
• Cylinder delivery vehicles
• Towed tank-setting trailers
• Straight trucks and tractor-trailer flat-bed
  combinations transporting ASME stationary tanks,
  or DOT portable or intermodal tanks
• These inspections are critical for discovering
  damaged or missing parts, and other problems that
  could cause an accident, breakdown, or delay of
  your trip.

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Post-Trip Inspection Requirements

• Even though pre-trip inspections happen earlier
  in your workday, we are going to present
  post-trip inspections first because they are more
  comprehensive and have reporting requirements
  that affect the pre-trip inspection.
• Post-trip inspections are key to the inspection
  and maintenance process. After driving your
  vehicle all day, you may become aware of problems
  that have developed throughout the day.
• DOT requires that you prepare a written Driver
  Vehicle Inspection Report (DVIR) for each vehicle
  you have operated at the end of the workday. Try
  to do the post-trip inspection the same way every
  time. This will help you remember what things to
  look for and make it less likely to overlook
  something.

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Post-Trip Inspection Requirements cont.

• During the post-trip inspection, you must examine
  and document on the DVIR the condition of the
  following vehicle parts and accessories.
• Service brakes, including trailer brake
  connections
• Steering mechanism
• Windshield wiper(s)
• Horn
• Coupling devices
• Parking (hand) brake
• Lighting devices and reflectors
• Tires, wheels, and rims
• Rear-vision mirror(s)
• Emergency equipment, including fire extinguisher,
  reflective triangles, and spare electrical fuses
  
• On the DVIR, you are required to list any defects
  that would affect the safe operation of your
  vehicle or result in a breakdown.

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Pre-Trip Inspection Requirements

• The pre-trip inspection happens at the beginning
  of each work day and does not require a written
  DVIR. It only requires a
• Review of the last posted DVIR During the
  pre-trip inspection, you must review the last
  posted DVIR and sign the report only if problems
  were noted. By signing the report, you
  acknowledge that youve read the report and all
  necessary repairs have been made.
• A walk-around of the vehicle to determine that it
  is in safe operating condition During the
  pre-trip inspection, you should check the oil
  level, belts and hoses with the engine running,
  tires, lights, and gauges to make sure no changes
  have occurred since the last post-trip
  inspection.

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Annual/Periodic Inspections and Maintenance

• DOT requires that a qualified inspector perform
  an annual inspection on all CMVs and an external
  visual inspection and leakage test on bobtails.
  These inspections may be performed by separate
  firms and completed on different forms. It is
  illegal to drive a CMV without a current annual
  inspection, and both the employer and the driver
  are responsible if the inspection is not current.
  You must carry proof of the inspection, which may
  be in the form of a decal, on the vehicle.
• DOT also requires periodic or scheduled
  maintenance on your vehicle, which is typically
  performed by a qualified individual or contracted
  garage. This maintenance must be documented. Some
  states require periodic inspections that are more
  frequent than annual inspections. See your
  specific company policy to determine how often
  this maintenance needs to be performed on your
  vehicle.

Note DOT requires that air brake inspectors have
special qualifications.
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LESSON 2

• Vehicle Identification Requirements

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Verifying Proper Vehicle Identification

• In addition to inspecting your vehicles parts
  and systems, it is important to always check your
  vehicle for proper identification before leaving
  the bulk plant each day.
• DOT regulations require specific markings and
  labels for bobtails and cylinder delivery
  vehicles that identify the hazardous materials
  being carried on the vehicle.
• This lesson reviews identification requirements
  for
• Bobtails
• Cylinder Delivery Vehicles

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Bobtail Identification Requirements

• DOT requires specific identification information
  for bobtails, including
• Placards
• Product shipping name
• Cargo tank inspection and test markings
• Quench tempered or non-quench tempered markings
• Data plate(s)

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Bobtail Placards

• According to 49 CFR, any vehicle that transports
  1,001 lb or more aggregate gross weight of
  hazardous materials must be placarded on the
  front, rear, and each side.
• Placards indicate the hazard class name and
  number. The red color and flame symbol indicate
  that flammable gas is being transported. The
  number 1075 is the UN identification number or
  shipping number, and indicates that LP-gas is
  being transported. The number 2 identifies the
  hazard class or division.
• The placard must be no closer than 3? to any
  other marking or labeling. Any faded, missing, or
  illegible placards must be replaced before the
  cargo tank is filled.

Some states require that you place a decal on the
rear of the vehicle that reads, WE STOP AT
RAILROAD CROSSINGS. Note Propane used as motor
fuel for the vehicle is not classified as
hazardous material transported in commerce and is
not to be placarded.
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Placarding Methods

• There are two methods for placarding a vehicle.
• The first method uses a single, combined DOT/UN
  placard. This placard is a red diamond shaped
  sign with an edge minimum of 10.8?. It contains
  the universal flammable icon, the UN
  identification number/proper shipping number
  (1075), and the materials hazard class (2). This
  is referred to as diamond on point.

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Placarding Methods cont.

• The second method uses two separate DOT and UN
  placards. The DOT placard is a red diamond shaped
  sign with an edge minimum of 3.9?. It contains
  the DOT hazard class name for LP-gas (FLAMMABLE
  GAS) and the hazard class number (2). The UN
  placard is a rectangular orange sign which
  contains the hazardous materials UN
  identification number/proper shipping number
  (1075).

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Bobtail Product Shipping Name

• Like placards, a product shipping name is also
  required on the front, back, and both sides of
  the bobtail. Typically, the shipping name is
  located on the upper part of each head and both
  sides of the cargo tank.
• The shipping name must be legible. It is usually
  written in all capital letters to more easily
  comply with the minimum letter height requirement
  of 2 inches and for ease of reading from a
  distance. Proper DOT shipping names are
• PROPANE
• BUTANE
• LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS
• Bobtails marked with the specific name of the
  LP-gas, such as PROPANE or BUTANE, can only carry
  that specific gas. Bobtails marked LIQUEFIED
  PETROLEUM GAS can carry either propane or butane.
  

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Bobtail Data Plates

• Cargo tanks used to transport and transfer
  propane must have data plates attached to the
  tank on either the driver or passenger side of
  the vehicle. Although there is much more
  information included on a data plate, some of the
  most critical information for a driver to be able
  to identify is presented.
• Tank manufacturers name
• Serial number
• DOT specification number (cargo tanks are built
  according to DOT design codes MC330 or MC331, as
  well as ASME specifications)
• Vessel material specification number
• Water capacity in pounds and gallons

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Bobtail Data Plates cont.

• Water capacity in pounds and gallons
• Original test date
• Design working pressure of the tank
• The cargo tanks inspection code, retest dates,
  and QT or NQT markings are displayed near the
  data plate.

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Discovery Bobtails
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Cylinder Delivery Vehicle Identification
Requirements

• Like bobtails, cylinder delivery vehicles also
  have specific DOT placarding requirements.
  Placard holders should be located on the front,
  back, and both sides of the cylinder delivery
  vehicle.
• The placard must meet the following requirements,
  based on the amount of propane being shipped
• When transporting cylinders with a gross weight
  of 1,001 lbs or more, you must display a placard
  in each holder.
• The placard must display 1075.
• In addition to placarding requirements, each
  cylinder must be marked with the proper shipping
  name (propane, butane, or liquefied petroleum
  gas) and the UN identification number/proper
  shipping number (UN 1075).

Note If you haul multiple products, see your
company policy.
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LESSON 3

• Vehicle Documentation Requirements

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Shipping Papers

• In addition to proper markings and labels, you
  must carry required documents including shipping
  papers, emergency response information, and a
  hazmat certificate of registration in your
  propane transport vehicle.
• DOT requires that shipping papers accompany each
  shipment of propane transported in commerce. They
  should be available for authorities in the event
  of an accident or an inspection. When driving,
  the shipping papers must be within immediate
  reach when a lap safety belt is in place, or in a
  holder mounted on the inside of your door. If you
  leave the vehicle, place these documents in the
  door holder or where they can be seen on the
  drivers seat.

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Shipping Papers cont.

• Shipping papers must contain the hazard
  identification information as it applies to
  bobtails and cylinder delivery vehicles
  including
• Proper shipping name
• UN identification number/proper shipping number
• Hazard class division
• NONCORROSIVE
• Maximum quantity of LP-gas
• If permanent shipping papers are used, the date
  and number of cylinders loaded at the beginning
  of the delivery route must be recorded (typically
  with a wax pencil marker). If single-trip
  shipping papers are used, they should be
  completed according to company procedures.
• NOTE The required sequence of information
  provided on shipping papers has been changed by
  the DOT. The industry will have until January 1,
  2013 to comply with the new format.

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Emergency Response Information

• You must carry emergency response information
  along with the hazmat shipping papers in your
  CMV. You must keep this information readily
  available for emergency responders, enforcement
  authorities, and company personnel, in the event
  of an incident.
• The emergency response information must also be
  available at LP-gas transfer and storage
  facilities in case of emergency.
• Each state may have different requirements. Be
  sure to follow your companys policy and state
  requirements, as well as DOT regulations.

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Contents of Emergency Response Information

• At a minimum, the emergency response information
  must include the following
• Description of the hazardous material
• Immediate precautions to take in the event of an
  incident
• Risks of fire or explosion and immediate methods
  for handling small and large fires
• Initial methods for handling spills or leaks in
  the absence of fire
• Immediate hazards to health and preliminary first
  aid measures
• Emergency response telephone numbers
• This information must be either on the shipping
  papers or kept with the shipping papers.

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Complying With Emergency Response Information
Requirements

• Propane companies and their drivers must comply
  with emergency response information requirements.
  Often, companies will develop and provide their
  own emergency response information sheet to their
  drivers which would be part of the shipping
  papers.
• If an emergency response information sheet is not
  available, you can comply with these requirements
  by carrying a copy of the shipping papers with
  one of the following
• A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)
• The North American Emergency Response Guidebook
• Guide 115 of the North American Emergency
  Response Guidebook , which covers flammable
  compressed gases

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Hazmat Certificate of Registration

• All drivers or companies transporting hazardous
  materials are required to register with the DOT,
  and must carry either
• A current copy of the Hazmat Certificate of
  Registration, or
• Another document bearing the US DOT Hazmat
  Registration Number. For example, sometimes this
  information is included on the permanent shipping
  papers.

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Summary

• Some important points to remember from this
  module are
• Pre-trip inspections, post-trip inspections, and
  annual inspections are required for any type of
  vehicle transporting propane. Bobtails also have
  monthly, annual external visual and leakage
  tests, and five-year tank inspection
  requirements.
• The DVIR helps drivers conduct pre-trip and
  post-trip inspections by listing all of the
  common parts and systems that must be examined.
  The DVIR must be completed during the post-trip
  inspection and reviewed during the pre-trip
  inspection to ensure any noted defects have been
  repaired.
• Any cylinder delivery vehicle or container with
  1,001 lb or more aggregate gross weight of
  hazardous materials must be placarded on each
  side.
• DOT requires all vehicles transporting hazardous
  materials to carry shipping papers, written
  emergency response guidelines, and a hazmat
  certificate of registration. The driver is
  responsible for ensuring the vehicle is in
  compliance before beginning a trip.