ATA, The American Trucking Association, and the entire trucking industry, is assessing the impact of the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina on Gulf Coast states. Today, our concerns are what we can do to help save lives; ensure adequate food, water and medical supplies reach hurricane victims; and accelerate recovery effort in parts of Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and South Florida. ATA developed a Web page to help motor carriers participate effectively in the national response and assist truckers traveling in the affected areas in the conduct of their day-to-day business. Through a comprehensive set of verified links, visitors can access the latest information on road closures, fuel waivers, relief from hours of service, and other critical developments. New information will be posted as soon as it arrives, so please bookmark this page and check back often. (http://www.truckline.com/katrina).
Drum It Up
STEEL DRUM INDUSTRY NEWS, TRENDS AND ISSUES
Archive for September, 2005
DOT Enforcement Actions Grow Under PHMSA
Companies continue to be fined by PHMSA for failing to train their hazardous materials employees. In August 2005, fines to 26 companies totaled $146,761.00, many of which were for non-compliant to CFR 172.704, the HazMat training requirements. All employees who have any responsibility involving dangerous goods or hazardous materials must be trained. Employees are required to receive initial training within 90 days of initial employment and then every 3 years thereafter or sooner if major rule changes affect your company. If you are unsure about your training compliance, contact www.r-a-specialists.com or www.dgac.org for a list of training class options and locations.
Skolnik‘s Response To Katrina
Two weeks ago, I was planning to attend a conference on dangerous goods in New Orleans. Today, New Orleans, itself, suffers from dangerous goods contamination. We have all learned so much these past weeks about emergency preparedness, empathy,compassion and generosity. Our daily conversations include updates on what is needed and what is being done to help with this incredible tragedy. At Skolnik, we are responding in several ways. First, we have made financial contributions to a large charity that is actively involved in the rescue and rebuilding mission. Within a day of the hurricane, we received calls from distributors and end users warning us that dangerous goods containers would be needed for the clean-ups. To this, we pledged to give these requests preferential status and prepared our scheduling and production. Drums that are headed to the Gulf coast to capture stray containers of potentially dangerous goods, are now shipping out everyday. We know that we are at the beginning of a long recovery process that is going to take years. We plan to keep helping as needed to improve the lives of our family, friends and fellow Americans in the Gulf Coast.
