Midway USA and Hazmat Drivers??

Status
Not open for further replies.
EricBu said:
Not just Midway. The hazmat requirements are kind of stupid. The seller has to have a hazmat certified packager (who packages it the exact same way the package every other thing they sell, except for the special label). Then it has to be picked up by a hazmat certified driver from the shipping company....and every single friggin' transfer has to be to a hazmat certfified driver. Everywhere up and down the chain......there are labor shortages, and every where along the path a hazmat package may sit because of a lack of hazmat certified personnel. It'll get there eventually. Just a couple of weeks ago, I had a case of primers sit at the local UPS for a week, because the regular, hazmat certified, local driver was on vacation, and his temp replacement wasn't hazmat certified. Just another sign of the sh!tshow times we live in. Everybody knows the entire hazmat program is a method of income generation by the government, and more defacto regulation to control the flow of free trade.
Click to expand...

Now retired after 33 years at UPS, hauled many couponed HazMat packages during that time in both package car and dbl trailers without any official gov'mt issued HazMat endorsement. Axed a still employed friend last month if anything has changed in that regard, it hasn't here. Maybe along the eastern corridor or somewhere else the rules are different due to tunnels, bridges, who knows......I'm just saying in the midwest, there is no special endorsement required for a UPS driver to be able to deliver couponed HazMat parcels.
 
IMAhobbyist said:
Now retired after 33 years at UPS, hauled many couponed HazMat packages during that time in both package car and dbl trailers without any official gov'mt issued HazMat endorsement. Axed a still employed friend last month if anything has changed in that regard, it hasn't here. Maybe along the eastern corridor or somewhere else the rules are different due to tunnels, bridges, who knows......I'm just saying in the midwest, there is no special endorsement required for a UPS driver to be able to deliver couponed HazMat parcels.
Click to expand...
Interesting, I'll call them out on that if it happens again. It had an exception at the local UPS, the 2nd day it showed up as not going out for shipment, I called and they told me it was because they had no hazmat drivers for my route. As a point of interest, during this time period, they were using Ryder rental trucks to deliver, and none of the drivers were in UPS uniforms, which in and of itself is not unusual, it happens during any high volume period. My route also includes about 40 miles of dirt roads, including non county maintained roads.
 
I would add the "lockdowns" have created huge online buying surge. You can get your items in a few days rather than having to go to a store and maskup, and "debug" everything you touch. etc., etc.. Plus many stores are having supply problems too, so I just sit in front of my computer and shop (I refuse to pay haz-mat as I believe it's a huge rip off. I have received items that are more dangerous than smokeless powder, with no fee. But I haven't had to buy any powder or primers in a couple years.)...
 
Last edited:
EricBu said:
Not just Midway. The hazmat requirements are kind of stupid. The seller has to have a hazmat certified packager (who packages it the exact same way the package every other thing they sell, except for the special label). Then it has to be picked up by a hazmat certified driver from the shipping company....and every single friggin' transfer has to be to a hazmat certfified driver. Everywhere up and down the chain......there are labor shortages, and every where along the path a hazmat package may sit because of a lack of hazmat certified personnel. It'll get there eventually. Just a couple of weeks ago, I had a case of primers sit at the local UPS for a week, because the regular, hazmat certified, local driver was on vacation, and his temp replacement wasn't hazmat certified. Just another sign of the sh!tshow times we live in. Everybody knows the entire hazmat program is a method of income generation by the government, and more defacto regulation to control the flow of free trade.
Click to expand...

Good point(s). I had the same UPS driver drop off 5k CCI 450 SRMP's yesterday. I thought to myself "it's always the same guy that delivers my primers and powder."
Now I know why. Thanks for the explanation.
 
My last order had issues, but I think I know why. The online retailers are getting bigger shipments and they're getting them more often. You can put only so much hazmat on a truck at a time. When it's full they wait for the next one.

This won't be an issue for too long hopefully as things are slowly getting back to normal, at least as far as supply is concerned.
 
My workaround has been to not order from anyone but Midway, and if they have it, hold for customer pickup. One of the kids brings it out and places it on the front passenger seat. As long as I leave without saying much, kids are happy........but that is the way it is with kids these days.

BTW, don't know which warehouse they store it in, but powder boxed for shipping comes out of the same door as everything else I've ordered.
 
Just an update to this issue, after checking the tracking number a few times today it finally has now been updated and states it's on the way. Supposed to be here tomorrow by 7:00PM so we will see. One thing I am going to try and do is ask the driver if I can catch him if he is hazmat certified, didn't realize this at all.
 
I am sure Midway and all the rest are doing the best they can, I also see our anxiety about getting it NOW.
Due to the hopes of so many to catch up on supplies they can't even afford, but are making financial sacrifices
just in hopes that all will be better soon but if not they want to be able to continue their way of life in the without
fear of ammo running out.
Several items showing up locally plus on line that was hard to find 6 months ago, not in abundance but a little
light ahead.
Patience, crap, I want my powder!!!
 
Everyone Slow your roll and go fishing, in a few month, everything will be c by ack in the shelfs

btw: steel line weights have been non existent for months. been making my own
 
IMAhobbyist said:
How is he able to reset his hours to comply with DOT regulations without any days off?

On another note: Yes the small parcel companies are currently slammed with business; bear in mind, MidwayUSA generates tracking numbers long before a parcel is presented for departure. It is interesting to me the bulk of delay blame here is placed on the shipping company as I suspect MidwayUSA order processing is just as overwhelmed.
Click to expand...

I have no idea. If it makes any difference, he's a local driver.
 
FYI........I have probably placed 10 orders from Midway with instructions to hold for customer pickup. Within minutes of placing the order, I get an email notification they are processing my order. 2nd notification order is ready for pickup usually arrives within an hour of the first. I can literally order something by 10 AM and have it in my hand by noon the same day.

In two different instances, I ordered a couple pounds of powder from others. One Powder Valley, the other MidSouth. What I quickly found out was that with haz mat and regular shipping, could have had a 3rd pound of powder for free. Impatience cost me.

And knowing that if one supplier gets it, they all tend to get it.........I have made the call to buy stuff requiring haz mat shipping local. Lucky I'm now stocked enough to last for a few years if need be. Also lucky to have access to Graf's and Full Circle Reloading in St. Charles. Three local sources where you can walk in, plunk down cash, and walk out happy.
 
BTW, nothing wrong with PV or Mid South. Both had good prices and shipped promptly. But both had to tack on the haz mat. Would rather spend that money on real products I can hold in my hand.
 
The problem is industry wide finding qualified drivers. Hazmat endorsed drivers are even more scarce than CDL-A and B drivers. The arcane system of endorsement, which places a box truck driver that may transport 3rd party Hazmat such as primers, drain cleaner, Raid, etc in the same group as a Class A heavy haul oversize trucking nuclear waste inter-state. The process to obtain and keep a Class A license has also become extremely arduous in the last 6 or so years, combined with pay scales not commensurate, resulting in a shortage of qualified drivers industry-wide.

It's my understanding that UPS and FEDEX are rotating their Hazmat endorsed-B drivers (the brown vans) through routes on a revolving basis to cover Hazmat deliveries. There are also issues with their interstate Hub to Hub class A fleet, but it is less severe as a larger percentage of these drivers are A-HZM certified. They've both been actively recruiting CDL drivers in my area, but their pay is a joke compared to many in the industry. I can make more money short hauling dirt in a tandem axle with better union benefits and pay than driving OTR for FedEx and UPS.
 
Random 8 said:
The problem is industry wide finding qualified drivers. Hazmat endorsed drivers are even more scarce than CDL-A and B drivers. The arcane system of endorsement, which places a box truck driver that may transport 3rd party Hazmat such as primers, drain cleaner, Raid, etc in the same group as a Class A heavy haul oversize trucking nuclear waste inter-state. The process to obtain and keep a Class A license has also become extremely arduous in the last 6 or so years, combined with pay scales not commensurate, resulting in a shortage of qualified drivers industry-wide.

It's my understanding that UPS and FEDEX are rotating their Hazmat endorsed-B drivers (the brown vans) through routes on a revolving basis to cover Hazmat deliveries. There are also issues with their interstate Hub to Hub class A fleet, but it is less severe as a larger percentage of these drivers are A-HZM certified. They've both been actively recruiting CDL drivers in my area, but their pay is a joke compared to many in the industry. I can make more money short hauling dirt in a tandem axle with better union benefits and pay than driving OTR for FedEx and UPS.
Click to expand...
with machine learning auto trucks, these issues will solve themselves.
 
not a problem with hazmat/primers from Midway about 3 weeks ago but I'm close enough to thier location that I can select the cheap UPS ground and get next day delivery.
 
Seems like all modes of shipping are having issues these days, UPS, Fedex and of course USPS.

A friend of mine works for UPS and their new hires training changed. Previosly new hires worked under the supervison of an experienced worker, for a few days, Now they put new hires through a training class and then they start on the sorting or loading line, without any supervision. He tells me they either tackle the job and make it or they are let go. It is far easier fot most to sit at home and collect government money, rather than take pride in a job well done..
 
Random 8 said:
The problem is industry wide finding qualified drivers. Hazmat endorsed drivers are even more scarce than CDL-A and B drivers. The arcane system of endorsement, which places a box truck driver that may transport 3rd party Hazmat such as primers, drain cleaner, Raid, etc in the same group as a Class A heavy haul oversize trucking nuclear waste inter-state. The process to obtain and keep a Class A license has also become extremely arduous in the last 6 or so years, combined with pay scales not commensurate, resulting in a shortage of qualified drivers industry-wide.

It's my understanding that UPS and FEDEX are rotating their Hazmat endorsed-B drivers (the brown vans) through routes on a revolving basis to cover Hazmat deliveries. There are also issues with their interstate Hub to Hub class A fleet, but it is less severe as a larger percentage of these drivers are A-HZM certified. They've both been actively recruiting CDL drivers in my area, but their pay is a joke compared to many in the industry. I can make more money short hauling dirt in a tandem axle with better union benefits and pay than driving OTR for FedEx and UPS.
Click to expand...
Until 5 years ago I had a CDL class B with Haz Mat endorsement to transport dynamite, blasting caps and ammonium nitrate. It's not that big of a deal to get the endorsement. Take home and read a small booklet with everything you need to know in it, enough to ace the test. Background checks, physical and fingerprinting since the BATFE is involved now make it a bit of a PIA but really not that difficult. I don't understand why they don't just get more of their drivers the endorsement.
 
stonebuster said:
Until 5 years ago I had a CDL class B with Haz Mat endorsement to transport dynamite, blasting caps and ammonium nitrate. It's not that big of a deal to get the endorsement. Take home and read a small booklet with everything you need to know in it, enough to ace the test. Background checks, physical and fingerprinting since the BATFE is involved now make it a bit of a PIA but really not that difficult. I don't understand why they don't just get more of their drivers the endorsement.
Click to expand...

We've had some personnel that had to do written tests, renewals, endorsements, etc in the last year. COVID has changed the world in terms of doing anything to your license that must be done in person! Any and all changes requiring in-person action, including simple written test tanker endorsement, have taken upwards of 4 months to set an appointment and complete action in some localities. We've paid employees 8 hours travel and a hotel to take tests in an "easy" county that ignored state mandates. Some jurisdictions nationwide are worse, ranging from pain in the backside to impossible.
 
Just an update, the primers were delivered today around 3:30PM, so all is good. From the time they scanned it at UPS only a day and a half to my front door.
 
Random 8 said:
We've had some personnel that had to do written tests, renewals, endorsements, etc in the last year. COVID has changed the world in terms of doing anything to your license that must be done in person! Any and all changes requiring in-person action, including simple written test tanker endorsement, have taken upwards of 4 months to set an appointment and complete action in some localities. We've paid employees 8 hours travel and a hotel to take tests in an "easy" county that ignored state mandates. Some jurisdictions nationwide are worse, ranging from pain in the backside to impossible.
Click to expand...
Covid has changed our world. I hope we've learned something about the devastating effects of locking the country down so we don't go down that road again.
 
I think Midway is jerking all of our chains. I order from PV and Brownells(primers) days after my Midway order for primers and both are gonna be here 8/10. Yet Midway UPS hasn't even accepted the package, all it says is label created.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

J
  • Locked
Hazmat Drivers
2
Replies
31
Views
1K
Hartkopf
Hartkopf
B
  • Locked
I think the retailers are catching up with demand....
Replies
2
Views
341
TonyAngel
T
Hartkopf
  • Locked
Hazmat Shipping Problem
Replies
19
Views
821
whughett
whughett
Landric
  • Locked
Sometimes I hate FedEx
Replies
9
Views
880
realbuffdriver
R
B
  • Locked
CED Great Customer Service!!
Replies
0
Views
223
bigger hammer
B
Back
Top