2,714 violations discovered during surprise five day hazmat/dangerous goods inspection blitz

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) released the results from an unannounced inspection effort targeting trucks hauling hazmat or dangerous materials.

The surprise Hazardous Materials/Dangerous Goods (HM/DG) Road Blitz took place June 21 β€” 25, 2021, throughout the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.

During the five day effort, 10,905 commercial motor vehicles and 8,363 HM/DG packages were inspected.

Inspectors identified 2,714 violations, including:

  • 496 shipping papers violations
  • 628 non-bulk/small means of containment packaging violations
  • 390 bulk packaging/large means of containment placarding violations
  • 277 non-bulk/small means of containment labeling violations
  • 307 bulk/large means of containment placarding violations
  • 167 other safety marks violations
  • 288 loading and securement violations
  • 50 HM/DG package integrity (leaking) violations
  • 63 Transportation of Dangerous Goods Training Certificate violations (Canada only)

The table below breaks down the class types of HM/DG goods inspected during the blitz.

Class DescriptionCanadaMexicoU.S.Total
Class 1Explosives, such as ammunition, fireworks, flares, etc.11590317522
Class 2Flammable, non-flammable/non-poisonous and poisonous.2863671,5642,217
Class 3Flammable liquids, such as acetone, adhesives, paints, gasoline, ethanol, methanol, some pesticides, etc.4841, 5263,1405,150
Class 4Flammable solids, substances liable to spontaneously combust and substances that, on contact with water, emit flammable gases, such as white phosphorus and sodium.10217133252
Class 5Oxidizing agents and organic peroxides, such as hydrogen peroxide, potassium permanganate, sodium nitrite, ammonium nitrate fertilizers and oxygen generators.11026203339
Class 6Toxic and infectious substances; any material, other than a gas, that is so toxic to humans that it presents a health hazard during transportation, such as cyanide, biological samples, clinical wastes and some pesticides.11339120272
Class 7Radioactive materials, such as cobalt and cesium.96240138
Class 8Liquid or solid corrosive substances, such as sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide, that cause full thickness destruction of human skin at the site of contact within a specified time.1921601,1491,501
Class 9Miscellaneous HM/DG, such as acetaldehyde ammonia, asbestos, elevated temperature materials and benzaldehyde.114146430690

β€œThe HM/DG Road Blitz helps increase awareness of the HM/DG rules and regulations in place to keep the driver, the public and the environment safe. It also highlights the hard-working, specially trained commercial motor vehicle law enforcement individuals who inspect vehicles transporting HM/DG,” the CVSA said in a news release.

The CVSA conducted a similar blitz targeting hazmat haulers from August 12 β€” 16, 2019. During that effort, officers throughout the U.S., Canada, and Mexico conducted 9,259 inspections on commercial vehicles and discovered 683 out of service HM/DG conditions during the blitz.

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