‘Cutting corners is not an option for dangerous goods’

In the transporting of
dangerous goods, cutting
corners is not an option,
according to Hazel Briggs,
managing director of HB
Services, a Johannesburgbased
local and crossborder
freight consolidator
that specialises in the
transportation of hazardous
chemicals.
Most transporters felt the
effects of the downturn in
the economy during 2009,
she told FTW – with the
result that everyone has
become increasingly aware
of costs.
“Some industries may
be able to cut corners,”
she added, “but not the
transportation of chemicals
– be they hazardous or
otherwise.
“There are so many
checks and balances to
consider when transporting
chemicals, that even a small
deviation could be a recipe
for disaster.”
Briggs also suggested that
the temptation maybe to try
“a cheaper haulier”.
But, she questioned,
“does this person’s vehicles
comply with the rigorous
checks that they will
experience at HB Services’
warehouse when loading?”
The company monitors
all vehicles arriving to
deliver and collect cargo
from the warehouse and
has a detailed check-list
with which all trucks must
comply.
“Suppliers delivering to
our premises are turned
away if the necessary Trem
cards and safety data sheets
are not available,” Briggs
added.
HB Services also has
a further monitoring
procedure in place when
it is consolidating a
load. This, Briggs told
FTW, to ensure product
compatibility.
An uninformed
transporter may fail to
check. And certain products
may be loaded on the same
truck – that should be a
metre apart from other
chemicals belonging to a
different category.
Briggs also stressed that
transportation cross-border
on less-than-perfect roads
was very challenging –
and she felt that suppliers
needed to be assured that
their load would arrive at
destination on-time and in
perfect condition.
“Permits are required to
carry chemicals in other
countries,” she said, and
arriving at a border without
these in place can cause
costly delays – and even
expose the cargo to other
hazards, such as pilfering.
“I would strongly
recommend that suppliers
always consider what could
go wrong and then ensure
that they are making use of
professionals who will try
their utmost to ensure that
it doesn’t.”