Hazardous Materials Placard Conflict at a Tunnel Checkpoint
You are hauling a load of UN 1203, gasoline, in a cargo tank. Your shipping papers show 4,000 lb of gasoline and a small package of UN 1263, paint, at 50 lb. The route ahead has a tunnel with a placard restriction, and the tunnel authority requires hazardous materials carriers to stop at a checkpoint. Your placards show FLAMMABLE on all four sides for the gasoline. The paint package is in the cab's cargo box with no placard. You also have 300 lb of UN 3480, lithium ion batteries, in a separate box in the trailer. The checkpoint officer asks for your shipping papers and placards.
1. Which materials require placards, and what should the shipping papers show?
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Gasoline in a cargo tank is a hazardous material that requires placarding when the quantity reaches the placarding threshold; 4,000 lb of gasoline in a cargo tank clearly requires FLAMMABLE placards, which you already have. The 50 lb of paint may fall under the small quantity exception and may not require a placard, but it must still be described on the shipping papers with the proper shipping name, UN number, hazard class, and quantity. The 300 lb of lithium ion batteries must also be described on the shipping papers. Lithium batteries are regulated and may require a Class 9 label or placard depending on quantity and packaging; check the applicable entry and your carrier's rules. The shipping papers must be within reach, legible, and match the placards on the vehicle.
2. What should you do about the tunnel restriction and the placard mismatch?
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Do not enter the tunnel until the placarding and paperwork are correct and the route is approved. If the tunnel restricts flammable liquids or hazardous materials generally, you need an approved alternate route. Tell the checkpoint officer exactly what you are carrying, including the lithium batteries and the paint, and show the shipping papers. If the batteries require a placard that is missing, do not proceed until the load is properly placarded or the material is removed. Never remove or cover a required placard to get through a restriction. If you are unsure whether a material requires a placard, treat it as requiring one and resolve the question before moving.