Roadside English: Cargo and bill of lading questions officers ask truck drivers
The officer asks what you are hauling, how heavy it is, and for the bill of lading. Name the cargo, give the weight and say if it is sealed or hazmat.
Practice this out loudWhat are you hauling?
Your answer should include: Name the cargo
Good sample answers:
- I am hauling frozen chicken.
- Paper towels and boxes for a store.
What's your load today?
Your answer should include: Name the cargo
Good sample answers:
- My load is lumber, about 44,000 pounds.
- I have a load of fresh vegetables.
Can I see your bill of lading?
Your answer should include: Say you are giving it
Good sample answers:
- Yes, here is the bill of lading.
- Sure. The BOL is on the clipboard.
How much does your load weigh?
Your answer should include: Weight in pounds
Good sample answers:
- The load is about 40,000 pounds.
- It weighs 38,500 pounds. It is on the bill of lading.
Are you hauling any hazardous materials?
Your answer should include: Yes or no
Good sample answers:
- No, there is no hazmat in this load.
- Yes, I have hazmat. The shipping papers are here and the placards are on.
Is the trailer sealed?
Your answer should include: Yes or no
Good sample answers:
- Yes, it is sealed. The seal number is on the bill of lading.
- No, it is not sealed. It is an empty trailer.
What is the seal number?
Your answer should include: The number
Good sample answers:
- The seal number is 4 4 7 1 9 2.
- It is on the bill of lading. The number is 558230.
Did you see the load when it was loaded?
Your answer should include: Yes or no
Good sample answers:
- No, the shipper loaded it and sealed it.
- Yes, I watched them load the pallets.
How is the load secured?
Your answer should include: Straps, chains, load bars or similar
Good sample answers:
- It is on pallets with two load bars.
- I have six straps and chains on the coils.
How many pallets are on the trailer?
Your answer should include: Number of pallets
Good sample answers:
- There are 26 pallets.
- I have 22 pallets of water.
What temperature is the reefer set to?
Your answer should include: Temperature
Good sample answers:
- It is set to 34 degrees.
- Zero degrees. The load is frozen.
Did you scale the load?
Your answer should include: Yes or no
Good sample answers:
- Yes, I scaled it at the CAT scale. I have the ticket.
- No, the shipper gave me the weight.
Are you empty or loaded?
Your answer should include: Empty or loaded
Good sample answers:
- I am loaded.
- I am empty. I am going to pick up.
Please open the trailer doors so I can see the cargo.
Your answer should include: Say you will do it
Good sample answers:
- Okay, I will open the doors now. The seal will be broken, can you write that down?
- Yes, officer. One moment, I am getting out.
Is anything on this load oversize or overweight?
Your answer should include: Yes or no
Good sample answers:
- No, it is a normal legal load.
- Yes, it is oversize. Here is my permit.
Who loaded the trailer?
Your answer should include: Who
Good sample answers:
- The shipper loaded it.
- I loaded it myself with a forklift driver.