Most truckers are used to moving “normal” cargo as part of their hauls. However, there may come a time where you need to move some hazardous cargo. While this can be a little nerve-wracking and dangerous, there’s a few things to keep in mind that’ll help keep you safe…

Hazardous Cargo: Move It Safely

Get the proper paperwork

Before moving any hazardous cargo, you’ll want to make sure you have all the right paperwork together. You’ll have a bit more paperwork for these hauls compared to standard ones. Therefore, it’s important you have it ready to go if you want to make sure you stay on schedule and don’t run into potential issues.

Usually, you should have any needed paperwork provided to you. Still, it’s helpful to know what exactly you’ll need just in case something is missing. By taking the time to fill it all out before leaving, you’ll be able to get through stops and inspections without any hassle.

Check the packaging

Another important part of moving hazardous cargo is proper packaging. Both the materials and the packaging should have the correct markings. Not only is this part of required regulations, but it also lets others know what exactly is inside so they can be safe.

Of course, you should also make sure to store and secure your cargo in a safe manner. This ensures it’ll stay in place while you drive and will be safe to unload. Particularly sensitive cargo will need to be stored in a way so changes in things like temperature or humidity don’t cause it to react in a potentially dangerous way.

Keep focused

Now, it’s important to stay focused on the road whenever you’re on a haul. But for hazardous cargo especially, you always want to keep your eyes on the road. Getting into an accident when moving this kind of cargo can not only be more dangerous, but also be much more costlier as well.

Be sure that you don’t psyche yourself out either. It’s easy to feel like there’s a lot more pressure on you than usual when transporting dangerous cargo. Instead, keep your cool and remember your training, and you’ll be able to handle the delivery with no problem.