ChemTel offers an automated driver call-in program specifically designed by ChemTel for the explosives industry for compliance with US DOT Communications Plan Requirements found in 49 CFR Part 385.415C(1) regarding Hazardous Materials Safety Permits:

(c)(1) The operator of a motor vehicle used to transport a hazardous material listed in §385.403 must follow the communications plan required in §385.407(b)(2) to make contact with the carrier at the beginning and end of each duty tour, and at the pickup and delivery of each permitted load. Contact may be by telephone, radio or via an electronic tracking or monitoring system. The motor carrier or driver must maintain a record of communications for 6 months after the initial acceptance of a shipment of hazardous material for which a safety permit is required. The record of communications must contain the name of the driver, identification of the vehicle, permitted material(s) being transported, and the date, location, and time of each contact required under this section.

(c)(2) The motor carrier should contact the Transportation Security Administration’s Transportation Security Coordination Center (703–563–3236 or 703–563–3237) at any time the motor carrier suspects its shipment of a hazardous material listed in §385.403 is lost, stolen or otherwise unaccounted for.

This regulation requires all shippers of DOT threshold quantities of 1.1 and/or 1.5 Explosives to implement a driver tracking and log program in which the drivers report and log stops, tandem driver change over, departure and arrival to sites and return to home base. ChemTel’s Driver Log Program allows drivers to call into ChemTel’s automated call system to log their daily route as it is being executed. Essential to the requirements of this regulation are:

• Accurate written or electronic log or record of communication that is to be submitted to the TSA on demand.
• Mandatory Six (6) months of logs are to be archived and made available.
• The record of communication must contain the name of the driver, identification of the vehicle, permitted material(s) being transported, and the date, location, and time of each contact required.
• Carrier must contact the TSA if at any time they are unable to locate their shipment or if it is otherwise unaccounted for.
  
  

The ChemTel solution was specifically created to meet every requirement set forth in the regulation. Shippers who utilize the ChemTel Driver Tracking Program do not have to rely on driver hand written reports and have the piece mind that the ChemTel 24 hour Emergency Response Center is able to assist their driver at any time as well as be alerted if a driver should miss reporting a stop on his route. ChemTel provides computerized log reports to shippers by driver and by vehicle number and also handles notification to the TSA if necessary. 

Typical Automated Call Handling Process:

• Driver calls the ChemTel toll-free phone number provided upon entry to yard at beginning of shift and follows the automated prompts requiring company ID code supplied by ChemTel, driver number, vehicle number. This first call represents the start of the daily log for this driver.
• ChemTel system automatically time/date stamps each contact call
• Driver again calls ChemTel toll-free number upon departure from the yard. Driver follows automated prompts and supplies required information.
• Prompts include information on contents of truck, i.e. 1.1, 1.5, 1.6, or other.
• Driver continues to call into system upon arrival and departure from all stops on their route schedule.
• Should a driver experience a problem at any time, he may follow the automated prompt to obtain the assistance of a live ChemTel responder, 24/7. All calls that require the assistance of a live responder are recorded.
• Should suspicious activity be indicated or suspected, the ChemTel responder will follow the specified protocol for handling of incidents, formulated by your company and ChemTel.
• Authorities will be immediately contacted if deemed necessary.
  
  

Completed driver logs will be made available through internet access on a ChemTel website or can be faxed or emailed.