As the Fourth of July approaches, over 250 million pounds of pyrotechnics will be transported and distributed across the United States. Trucks carrying these items must follow strict regulations to ensure safety when transporting explosive products.
High Demand
Fireworks are the most common tradition in the United States for the Fourth of July. With over 16,000 professional fireworks shows happening in one night, the shipment of these explosives must be done extremely carefully. According to the American Pyrotechnics Association (APA), more than 250 million pounds of fireworks will be transported for this year’s festivities.
Training
The preparation for the transportation of pyrotechnics is often a rigorous process. Every year, the APA holds a conference that studies the guidelines set by the Department of Transportation. These rules can vary from state to state or even among different counties, according to Transport Topics. Often these regulations can conflict with the guidelines set on the federal level, which means drivers must be well-informed on the policies in their area.
Regulations
Drivers must understand the expectations set forth. For instance, in some states, trucks carrying pyrotechnics are not allowed to travel through tunnels or under bridges. It is also common for states to forbid these trucks from stopping or resting overnight. Many trucks are also held to strict regulations regarding electronic logging devices (ELDs). Pyrotechnics drivers are held to a high standard when logging their route information into the system.
To learn more about the services available through SmartWay Transportation, visit our website.