Being a bulk liquid fertilizer transporter means lots of training, paperwork, tracking, and meeting requirements. It’s not an easy job, but offering this service to farmers allows them to spend less for more value and quantity. Some of the fertilizers that we carry contain hazardous materials, so it’s extremely important for our drivers to follow regulations and practice safety when hauling these types of loads. Here’s a little bit about being a bulk liquid fertilizer transporter…
What is the purpose of liquid fertilizer?
All plants require certain nutrients to be able to grow big and strong. Nutrients like potassium, nitrogen, and phosphate are all important nutrients that help plants grow. Some of the nutrients can be produced from the soil; whereas, others are applied through fertilizers. Fertilizers give the soil a boost in the nutrients that it’s deficient in. Farmers need many of these nutrients in large quantities to be able to sufficiently nourish their crops, so that’s where we, Liquid Trucking, come in.
Advantages of bulk liquid fertilizers
Farmers have options when it comes to choosing a fertilizer — liquid, powder, or granular. Here are the advantages of using a liquid fertilizer:
- Easy and uniform to apply
- Absorbed faster than granular fertilizers
- More effective for starter and in-season applications
- Blendable with other crop protection products
- Grows healthier and stronger plants
What makes transporting bulk liquid fertilizer difficult?
One of the major challenges of transporting bulk liquid fertilizer is the hazardous materials in many fertilizers. When fertilizers are not transported or handled properly they can be a major safety concern. For instance, not only is ammonium nitrate a necessary component in fertilizers but it’s also used in explosives.
When carriers aren’t careful about how they’re handling fertilizers, they’re putting themselves and others at risk. Lack of attention can cause contaminating bodies of water, injuring people, and destructing property. With the severity of risk, there are many requirements and training programs for hauling hazardous materials like fertilizers.
Hazardous Materials Shipper Responsibilities
Whenever transporting hazardous materials, the shipper has many responsibilities to meet before hitting the road. Here is a list from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration:
- Determine whether the material meets the definition of a “hazardous material”
- Proper shipper name
- Class/division
- Identification number
- Hazard Warning Label
- Packaging
- Marking
- Employee Training
- Shipping Papers
- Emergency Response Information
- Emergency Response Phone Number
- Certification
- Compatibility
- Blocking and Bracing
- Placarding
- Security Plan
- Incident Reporting
HAZMAT Certified
Any employee that is involved in the process of transporting hazardous materials must complete a compliance course through a third-party agency that meets the requirements set by the Department of Transportation. Whether it’s packaging, preparations, shipping, receiving, or transporting, you will need to be certified. This certification will have to be repeated every three years or when there are changes in the law that will impact your work.
Becoming Your Bulk Liquid Fertilizer Transporter
As you can tell, hauling fertilizer can be a dangerous and complicated process. Luckily, you don’t have to do it yourself. Let Liquid Trucking take the load off of your shoulders by calling us at 844-GO-TANKS! We’ve been hauling fertilizers to our midwest neighbors since 1989.