HAZMAT / DANGEROUS GOODS - Bison Transport

Memo Number: 2010 - 62
A record of all memos issued is available through the Bison Intranet.
Driver Reference Guide Tab # 11 (Update # 1)
To: All Company Drivers, Owner Operators and Lease Operators Action Required: Yes Information Only: No
From: Leroy Plett, Manager Safety Date: December 1, 2010
Driver Reference Guide Update: This information represents a change to policy and/or procedure. Please place this
information in your Driver Reference Guide under Tab #11 (Dangerous Goods)
Content Summary: .1. Drivers must recognize when hazmat is being loaded and communicate complete details using Satellite
Macros. 2. Hazmat Commodity Codes 3. Satellite Macros 4. Packaging 5. Paperwork 6. Load Securement 7. Placards
8. Emergency Response Guides/Hazard Guides 9. Accidents/Leaks/Spills 10. Breakdown 11. Driver Checklist
12. Questions and Answers.
HAZMAT / DANGEROUS GOODS
This information is to be used in conjunction with the Transporting Dangerous Goods by Truck handbook. The Transporting of Dangerous
Goods by Truck handbook must be with the driver in the cab of the truck at all times and it must be referenced when picking up a
dangerous goods load to ensure compliance with regulations and to understand the emergency response requirements.
Note: The information contained in this memo also applies to City Drivers. When City Drivers are not equipped to send information via satellite, the
City Driver must contact Dispatch and confirm hazmat/dangerous goods details, prior to leaving the shipper.
This type of business commands attention to detail. There is substantial risk associated to carrying hazmat including the potential for large costs to
our business, financial and otherwise (i.e. environmental clean up costs, fines, CSA 2010 violation points, loss of permits, etc.). With regards to
permits, Bison Transport is one of the few carriers who qualify for the U.S. Hazardous Materials Safety Permit and this permit and others are put in
jeopardy with each and every hazmat infraction.
It is important that drivers READ THE BILLS OF LADING, RECOGNIZE WHEN HAZMAT IS BEING LOADED and COMMUNICATE COMPLETE
DETAILS USING THE SATELLITE MACROS so we can ensure our records ACCURATELY reflect complete hazmat detail. If there is an accident
we need to know the full hazmat description and emergency response numbers so Bison, authorities and emergency response personnel can put in
place the proper emergency response plan without endangering people or the environment. In cases of breakdown, there must be proper
precautions taken to protect the personnel involved in rescuing the load or making repairs so they are not put in danger.
Drivers are NOT to accept the following for transport unless there has been authorization from the fleet. You should find your
authorization in the load assignment. If there is no authorization you must contact your fleet prior to moving the load.
-Packing Group 1 (under any Class)
-Dangerous Waste or Hazardous Waste
-Class 1 Explosives. The exception is 1.4S (ammunition) for which there must be a valid Carrier Firearms Licence in the Licencing
Manual.
-Class 6.2 Infectious Substances
-Class 7 Radioactive Material
-ERAP/ERP As identified in Column 7 of Schedule 1 in the Transporting Dangerous Goods by Truck handbook. Should also be
identified as ERAP/ERP in the shipping document.
TRAINING
Regulations require that everyone who handles, offers for transport or transports hazmat are trained in the proper handling. Drivers will have
received training and their Bison Certificate of Dangerous Goods Training card through the driver development department along with the
‘Transporting of Dangerous Goods by Truck’ handbook. The Certificate of Dangerous Goods Training Card is valid for a 3 year period and then requalification
is required. Should you feel that you require further training, or you have misplaced your handbook, please speak with driver
development department, a safety counsellor or the manager of safety.

Transporting Dangerous Goods is an online course available through Bison’s intranet. Should you wish to
review the course material:
-Login to the Bison intranet using your driver code and password.
-Under Personal Tools: Click on the ‘training’ icon and choose ‘Transporting Dangerous Goods’.
ARE YOU QUALIFIED TO TRANSPORT DANGEROUS GOODS?
For loads in Canada, Drivers must have in their possession a valid Certificate of Dangerous Goods Training card issued by Bison Transport. If travel
is in the U.S., then both the valid Certificate of Dangerous Good Training card and valid FAST card are required (whether using the FAST lane or
not). Having an unqualified driver hauling hazmat must never happen.
Passengers are required to have a valid Passenger Waiver (issued by Bison Transport’s driver services department) and a valid FAST Card or
Nexus Card (if travel in US).
LOAD ASSIGNMENT
We attempt to obtain confirmation from customer/shipper if the load contains hazmat prior to dispatch and include notification in the load assignment
but in many instances the details are not known until the driver arrives for pick up. In some cases we are not told there will be hazmat or the
information we are given is not accurate. A driver’s due diligence includes checking the shipping documents against the load assignment. Any
discrepancies need to be communicated and cleared by your fleet team.
Remember, not all hazmat is approved for transport by Bison. If you arrive at the shipper and there is hazmat and it wasn’t in the load assignment or
the hazmat details are different than those in your load assignment, communicate with your fleet. Your fleet will check if the hazmat can be
transported before you leave the shipper.
HOW TO RECOGNIZE HAZMAT IN THE LOAD ASSIGNMENT – HAZMAT COMMODITY CODES
The load assignment will indicate in the commodity field one of the following ‘commodity codes’ to indicate hazmat:
• HAZ**
-The letters HAZ (for hazmat) will be followed by the
class. For example if your load assignment shows a
commodity of HAZ4.2 that code would represent Hazmat
Class 4.2 – Spontaneously Combustible.
• HAZPEND**
-If we have been advised that there is probability there
will be hazmat but the details will not be known until
loading, the load assignment will indicate in the
commodity field the letters HAZ (for hazmat) followed by
the letters PEND which indicates hazmat is pending on
pick up but details are unknown. The driver will need to
communicate the hazmat details to the fleet and ensure
the hazmat is approved for transport.
• HAZMULTI**
-If we have been advised that the load will contain 2 or
more classes of hazmat, the load assignment will
indicate in the commodity field the letters HAZ (for
hazmat) followed by the letters MULTI which indicates
multiple classes of hazmat are pending on pick up. The
driver will need to communicate the hazmat details to the
fleet and ensure the hazmat is approved for transport.
Sample – Load Assignment
Note: Macros are subject to change.
• HAZCONSQ**
-If the hazmat falls under one of the following exemption: Limited Quantities Exemption’ (sometimes referred to as ‘Consumer Commodity
Exemption’) or ‘500KG Exemption’. The shipping document must indicate the exemption (i.e. limited quantity).
**Note when heat is required, the commodity code will be followed by the letter HT or HEAT. When a reefer is required, the commodity code will be
followed by the letters RF or REEF.
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ACCEPTING THE LOAD ASSIGNMENT – MACRO 1 (LOAD CONFIRMATION)
When it is known on dispatch that there is hazmat, this macro requires the driver to
confirm they are qualified and prepared to take the load by completing the
questions under the ‘For Hazmat Loads’ section. If the driver can not answer ‘yes’
to all the questions, then the driver is not qualified to take hazmat.
KNOW YOUR LOAD
Drivers are responsible to perform the due diligence required to ensure that the
hazmat is approved for transport by Bison before leaving the shipper and that they
have the proper documentation, including required placards.
Some hazmat can not be transported by Bison as there may be permit
requirements or other considerations. It becomes extremely important for drivers
to know what the hazmat is that is going on the load, confirm that it is a commodity
that Bison can transport, and to provide satellite macro confirmation of the
presence of hazmat and its details (Macro 3 – Loaded at Shipper and Macro 30 –
hazmat freight):
MACRO 3 LOADED AT SHIPPER / START TRIP
This macro confirms to operations whether there is or isn’t hazmat. If your load
assignment did not indicate there would be hazmat, Macro 3 will identify to
operations that there is hazmat on the load. It remains the driver’s responsibility to
confirm with their fleet that they can take the hazmat load that wasn’t in the load
assignment originally.
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Sample – Macro 1
Note: Macros are subject to change.
Sample – Macro 3 Loaded At Shipper
Note: Macros are subject to change.

MACRO 30 HAZMAT FREIGHT
This macro confirms to operations the details of the hazmat load the driver will be hauling. It is extremely important that the details in this macro are
completed correctly so that if an emergency situation occurs, Bison (and authorities) can respond to the emergency situation without endangering
people or property. In the case of a breakdown, precautions need to be taken to ensure that the hazmat and the people involved in the recovery
and/or repairs are protected.
If more than one hazmat commodity on the load the driver is required to complete and send in an individual macro for each of the hazmat
commodities. There are instances where there are numerous hazmat commodities on the load making sending in one Macro 30 for each commodity
is not practical. In these circumstances, drivers can contact their fleet to make arrangements to fax in the BOL.
The driver is required to complete all fields and complete them accurately. All the information required in the macro is found in the BOL/shipping
document. If they aren’t, then you aren’t receiving the proper documentation from the shipper. You must complete all fields in the macro:
• ERAP/ERP? (Y/N):
-Requires a “Y” (yes) or “N” (no) answer.
-ERAP/ERP are used interchangeably. ERAP stands for
Emergency Response Assistance Plan/ERP stands for
Emergency Response Plan.
-ERAP/ERP does not apply to all dangerous goods. It is
required only for the hazmat listed in Column 7 of Schedule 1
found in your Transporting Dangerous Goods by Truck
handbook.
• If ERAP/ERP, PKG Grp1 or Class 1, 6.2 or 7, call Dispatch
immediately
-These can not be transported without prior approval. If no
approval in the load assignment, then the driver must contact
their dispatch for approval prior to leaving the shipper.
• Consumer Commodity or Ltd Qty (Y/N)
If Y, enter NA in req’d fields below.
-If the BOL/Shipping document indicates a Limited Quantity
Exemption (also referred to as a Consumer Commodity
Exception and 500KG Exemption) the driver will answer Y and
then can enter NA in the remainder of the fields.
• 24hr Emergency Phone #
-Requires you enter the 24 hour emergency phone number
(including area code) printed on the Bill of Lading. It is the
telephone number at which the consignor can be reached
immediately to provide technical information about the product.
This is not the same as ERAP.
• Product Name
-Listed on the Bill of Lading as the “shipping name”. The
shipping name of the product comes from Schedule 1 found in
your Transporting Dangerous Goods by Truck handbook.
• Class
Include sub-class if available (eg 2.1):
Sample – Macro 30 Hazmat Freight
Note: Macros are subject to change.
-The Primary Class and Subsidiary Class(es) are listed on the Bill of Lading. Some products do not have a subsidiary class. If both the Primary
Class and Subsidiary Class(es) are on the Bill of Lading, enter both numbers separated by a period.
• UN#
-Listed on the Bill of Lading and the number is prefixed by the letters UN and then followed by the number.
• Pkg Group
The packing group is listed on the Bill of Lading and the number is prefixed by the letters PG and then followed by the number. Not all hazmat
has a packing group so there are times the driver will not be able to enter the packing group information into the packing group field - the driver
to answer NA or none.
• Pieces
Requires the number of pieces of the hazmat being described in the macro.
• Hazmat Wgt (lbs)
-Requires the weight of the hazmat being described in the macro.
• Placards? (Y/N)
Answer “Y” (yes) or “N” (no) dependent if placarding is required. Placarding requirements are contained in the Transporting Dangerous Goods
by Truck handbook. The shipper supplies the placards and we recommend you obtain an extra placard from the shipper so that you can
replace a placard that becomes damaged or missing during transport.
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PACKAGING
Dangerous Goods must be packed in packages that are specifically designed to hold the goods securely without leaking and meet regulation
standards. Each package must have a label, shipping and UN number.
Bison Drivers must not accept packages if they are leaking, dented, rusted, punctured, crushed or show wet marks.
PAPERWORK
The BOL/shipping document must contain the following
information:
-the name and address of the consignor
-the date the shipping document was prepared or given to the
carrier
-description of each hazmat commodity and it must be in the
following order: shipping name, primary class, subsidiary
class(es) if applicable, UN number, and the packing group if one
has been assigned to the class.
-quantity and weight
-24 hour emergency phone number at which the consignor can be
reached immediately to provide technical information about the
product.
-When ERAP/ERP, the Emergency Response Assistance Plan
number, and a telephone number to activate the ERAP
When a shipment contains both hazmat and non-hazmat commodities, the hazmat must be highlighted on the BOL/shipping document by:
-listing hazmat commodities first
-highlighting them in color which contrast with the colour of the information relating to the non-hazmat commodities
-entering an ‘X’ in front of the hazmat in a column headed as hazmat.
The driver must keep the BOL/shipping document within reach when in the cab when hooked to the trailer. Although only a U.S. requirement, we
recommend that the same practice be followed in Canada whereby the documents must be placed into Schedule 4 of the Transporting Dangerous
Goods By Truck handbook, next to the Emergency Response Guides.
When not driving but still hooked to the trailer, the paperwork must be either on the driver’s seat or in a location that is clearly visible to anyone
entering the vehicle through the driver’s door.
When unhooked the BOL/Shipping document must accompany the load:
-when the trailer is being left in a secure and supervised area, the BOL/shipping document must be left with the person in charge of the area or the
designated person.
-when there is no one available to take possession of the hazmat, the BOL/shipping document must be placed in the trailer’s document holder.
LOAD SECUREMENT
Failing to secure a load not only creates an unsafe situation, it will result in an ‘insecure load’ violation as well as being placed out of service.
-hazmat loads always require a load bar at the back of the load.
-padlock and seal the trailer
-follow any other securement requirement as instructed by the fleet or as required by the Transporting Dangerous Goods by Truck handbook.
PLACARDS
-The shipper must provide the placards for the load but the driver must ensure that the placards they are supplied are correct. Refer to your
Transporting Dangerous Goods handbook to confirm.
-The placards must be affixed before loading.
-Obtain from the shipper 1 or 2 extra placards in case a placard needs to be replaced as it has become lost or damaged during transport. Lost or
damaged placards must be replaced immediately.
-Once the load has delivered and the trailer is empty, the placards must be removed.
-Placards must be attached securely to all 4 sides of the trailer as shown in the diagram below. Placards must be in the correct upright position.
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Correct
Wrong

EMERGENCY RESPONSE GUIDES (ERG)/HAZARD GUIDES (HG)
Schedule 4 of the Transporting Dangerous Goods by Truck handbook includes emergency response guides (ERG) for all hazmat. Some shippers
may also provide a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). Drivers must have access to either the ERG or the MSDS in order to have information at
hand should an accident or leakage occur. It's a good idea to find the Emergency Response Guide for the product you will be carrying and to keep it
handy with your shipping documents throughout your trip.
ACCIDENTS/LEAKS/SPILLS
1. Call Safety Immediately – phone 1 800 801 8898, option 2. When making the call to the safety department they will require complete
hazmat details as described in the BOL/shipping documents.
-If unable to phone, use satellite message number 50 (Accident) and then call Safety as soon as able to make contact by phone.
2. Do not handle the hazmat. Safety must take precedence at all times. For small spills or leaks, plug the hole or build a dam to contain the
spill (only if it is safe to do so).
3. Keep people away.
BREAKDOWN
When a breakdown of the tractor and/or trailer occurs, the driver will contact the fleet and maintenance department. The driver must inform the
maintenance coordinator when hazmat is involved in the load so that recovery options take the hazmat into consideration. If the trailer needs to be
uncoupled from the tractor, the security of the trailer and its contents as well as the recovery option must be confirmed before leaving the scene.
Refer the Driver Reference Guide – Tab 4 – Memo 2008-44, issued June 9, 2008.
DRIVER CHECKLIST FOR HAZMAT LOADS:
Receive load assignment.
-Check if the commodity indicates hazmat (i.e. HAZ 4.3, HAZPEND, HAZMULTI, HAZCONSQ) and if there are any instructions regarding the
hazmat.
Complete Macro 1 (Load Confirmation)
-To ensure drivers are qualified, you are required to confirm: 1. You have a dangerous good card. 2. If you will be in the U.S., that you have a
FAST card. 3. If you have a passenger with you while you are in the U.S. that your passenger has a FAST card. 4. You have your Transporting
Dangerous Goods by Truck handbook 5. You have load bars.
-If you answer ‘no’ to any of the questions, you are not qualified to take hazmat. Contact your fleet.
Complete Macro 2 (Driver arrives at Shipper)
-This is a standard macro that is completed for every load. There is no hazmat information to complete in this macro.
Check your load
-Does the hazmat match your load assignment? If not, call your fleet.
-Do you have the proper paperwork from the shipper? If not, get it.
-Do you have the correct placards and are they on the trailer? Don’t forget to get an extra 1 or 2 in case one gets lost or damaged enroute.
-Have you checked for damage, leaks, etc. You can not take anything that is damaged or leaking. It doesn’t matter if you note it on the BOL,
don’t take it.
-Is the load secure and load bars used to secure the back of the load?
Complete Macro 3 (Loaded at Shipper)
-When you have a hazmat load, complete the macro by answering ‘y’ (yes) to the question: Hazmat (y/n).
Complete Macro 30 (Hazmat Freight)
-Complete all the details in the macro. All the details will be on the BOL/shipping document. If they aren’t, then you don’t have the proper
paperwork from the shipper.
-Should you have multiple hazmat commodities (HAZMULTI), a new Macro 30 must be completed for each commodity. If you have more than 5
commodities you can contact your fleet and make arrangements to fax in the paperwork before you leave the shipper. Don’t fax in the
paperwork without advising your fleet first.
-Should you have limited quantity/consumer commodities (HAZCONSQ), then you will complete Macro 30 and for the macro fields that you do
not have information for, insert ‘N/A’ (non applicable).
Leave the shipper and continue the ‘Circle of Service’ to final delivery.
Drive safe and perform thorough inspections.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q. How do I know if the hazmat requires an ERAP/ERP (Emergency Response Assistance Plan/Emergency Response Plan)?
A. Some hazmat in certain quantities are considered more dangerous than others and need to have a suitable response to emergency
situations immediately available. There must always be a 24 hour emergency phone number at which the consignor can be reached
immediately to provide technical information about the product – this phone number is not the same as an emergency response plan. In
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addition the Emergency Response Assistance Plan number and a telephone number to activate the ERAP must also be listed on the
shipping document.
Drivers must use the Transporting Dangerous Goods by Truck handbook to verity if the hazmat requires an ERAP/ERP by checking the
ERAP index (column 7) of Schedule 1 in the Transporting Dangerous Goods by Truck handbook. If the quantity of a product in litres or
kilograms is greater than the amount shown in the ERAP index, then the shipment requires an ERAP.
ERAPs must not be transported without authorization from your fleet. This authorization should be in your load assignment. If it isn’t
contact your Fleet immediately.
Q. My load assignment tells me that I am going to pick up a load with multiple hazmat products on the load (HASMULTI). There are
10 different products. Do I have to send in a separate Macro 30 Hazmat Freight for all 10 products?
A. Yes, Macro 30 can only hold information for one product so an individual macro is required for each product on your load. However, when
there are over 5 different hazmat products on the load, it may be possible for you to fax to your fleet the BOL/shipping document instead of
completing individual macros. You must communicate with your fleet that you are needing to fax to them the BOL/shipping document.
Your fleet must be able to confirm receipt of the paperwork before you leave the shipper.
Q. -I am a city driver and don’t have satellite messages. How do I get the hazmat detail to operations?
A -You will call dispatch and provide the hazmat detail.
Q. -The shipper is loading hazmat and it isn’t in my load assignment. What do I do?
A -Complete Macro 3, Loaded at Shipper. The macro contains a field to indicate hazmat.
-After completing Macro 3, complete Macro 30 Hazmat Freight. This macro contains the description fields.
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