Hazardous Cargo Certification Training - What is the cost of NOT having the knowledge to handle these cargos?

Many of our clients and those who we work with in the industry often comment that they feel training does not have a return on investment.  That with the Internet, the resources available to assist and the outsourcing of functions, why should I pay to have someone in my office go get trained on how to properly handle hazardous cargo....just from the perspective of ensuring the proper information is reported to the carriers responsible to carry the cargo?  Heck, the carriers themselves should know what to do, right? 

Well, yes, they should but what can a cargo carrier do if they don't know, what they don't know?  What does a transport company do if they don't know what they are carrying?  What does a packing and/or consolidation facility know how to mark shipments if they are not properly reported?  Finally, how do you, as a shipper, forwarder, broker or the like, know how to properly classify cargo, especially if you don't even know a commodity is hazardous?  How do you know?  TRAINING!!!!

Here are some examples of Hazardous cargo not reported properly, or not classified properly, not marked properly or not even having the proper paperwork......

• Value Jet 1996 - Undeclared Dangerous Goods.  No one knew it was hazardous...
• Shipper improperly offered a class 6.1 Haz Material without proper paperwork, marking, labeling of packages and therefore it was undeclared...no one was trained in the company to handle this.  DOT Penalty paid - $11,500
• Shipper improperly offered hypochlorite solution.  Did not register with PHMSA, no paper mentioned the emergency response numbers.  DOT Penalty paid $3044
• Shipper improperly shipped acetone, not marked, not labeled, no certification, no UN class, no training of staff...DOT Penalty paid - $12,000.

For someone to take two 8 hour days to learn how to properly identify, document, mark, report, placard, classify etc, hazardous cargo and pay a few hundred dollars every three years to ensure that no cargo is shipped without properly classifying and document paperwork could save a company tens of thousands of dollars and in some cases, save lives. 

So, think about this...does your company have someone who is knowledgeable in hazardous cargo identification, classification etc?  If not, suggest getting certified in Hazardous Cargo Handling procedures and classification.  It takes no more than two days every three years to save thousands of dollars and many, many lives. 

Until next month, ARTEMUS OUT!

ARTEMUS Transportation Solutions provides Trade Compliance Web Based Software for Importer Security Filings (ISF, ISF 10+2) and Automated Manifest Filing  (AMS, AMS 24 hour Rule), fully compliant to the new ACE Standard (Automated Commercial Environment for US Customs ) Canadian Customs Automated Commercial Interface (ACI Canadian 24 Hour Rule) and Panama Customs Reporting.  These online products are accessible to all devices and media with Internet Access.  In addition, ATS provides online training and support materials all supporting those who work within international transportation and trade. Check out www.artemus.us for more information.