In the case of a roadside inspection, enforcement officials may check for driver qualifications, proper shipment documentation, the mechanical condition of the vehicle, and the security of the load. If any of these requirements are not met, the driver, motor vehicle, or shipment can be declared “out-of-service.”
An out-of-service condition exists if you have the following violations:
• Inaccurate shipping papers.
• Incorrect placarding for your vehicle or load.
• Failure to display the appropriate markings on your transport vehicle.
• Leaking hazardous materials.
• Missing or inoperable internal valves.
• Unsecured manway covers, discharge valves, or venting devices, such as a pressure-relief valve.
• Unsecured loads.
• Vehicle in poor mechanical condition.
• Inoperable emergency equipment, including emergency shutdowns.
Complying with out-of-service orders
If your vehicle or shipment is declared “out-of-service,” you will be issued an “out-of-service” sticker which you must then place on your vehicle. You may not remove the sticker until proper repairs or corrections are made to the vehicle.
If violations other than out-of-service conditions are detected that do not affect public safety, you may be allowed to complete the current trip. However, those violations must still be corrected before you drive the vehicle again.
If the inspector decides it is safer to relocate the vehicle, it must be towed, transported, or escorted to a safe location at the direction of an official authority. It is critical that your drivers completely understand the out-of- service violation and any restrictions or special instructions provided by the enforcement official. Violating an out-of-service order could negatively affect your driver’s driving privileges.
Excerpt: PERC OSHA/Hazmat Training Book (Rev. 2019)