MDI Transportation Guidelines - Polyurethanes - American ...

MDI transportation
g u i d e l i n e s
Chapter 3: Safety Auditing of Tank Truck Carriers and Bulk Tank Operators
3.1 Carrier’s Capability: Assessment and Control
All MDI manufacturers should use the services of knowledgeable tank truck carriers for distributing their
products. Manufacturers should be sure that the carriers employed are competent and operate to appropriate
safety standards. Manufacturers should be aware that carriers sometimes will subcontract with another carrier.
To ensure that a shipper is aware of any such arrangements, a shipper may include a provision in its motor
carrier contract requiring the shipper’s consent to any subcontract, and establishing appropriate safety criteria.
3.2 Carrier Safety Audits
All shippers involved in transporting MDI should undertake safety audits of their tank truck carriers and bulk
tank operations periodically. This will enable each shipper to verify that the motor carriers employed comply
with applicable environmental and safety regulations and adhere to general industry safety standards. To
protect against liability in the event of an accident, shippers should consider seeking an indemnity provision
in the contract. This would indicate that they are to be indemnified by the carrier in the event the shipper is
sued because of the carrier’s failure to comply with applicable regulations or general industry safety
standards or guidelines.
3.3 Carrier Safety Audit Procedure
A carrier safety audit protocol and procedure has been produced by the American Chemistry Council to
be utilized as a guideline in conducting safety evaluations of the carrier. The American Chemistry Council
guideline may provide useful information that may be the basis of a carrier audit for those engaged in the
transport of MDI.
3.4 Meeting Safety and Regulatory Standards
Auditing does not replace or diminish the basic responsibility of the carrier to ensure that his distribution
practices meet the appropriate safety, health, and other regulatory standards and potentially hazardous
substances are properly maintained as required by the various federal, state, and local regulatory statutes
and regulations.
3.5 Scope
While this section deals with bulk transportation, similar care is required in selecting competent carriers
to transport intermediate bulk and non-bulk packaging. MDI suppliers may wish to consult the American
Chemistry Council Carrier Safety Assessment and Audit Protocol procedures for this purpose.
Copyright 2001, American Plastics Council
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