Why You Should Pay Attention to Diamond-Shaped Signs on Trucks
Why Do Some Trucks Have Empty Diamond-Shaped Hazmat Placard Holders?
An empty holder may mean the truck doesn’t need to display a warning for its current shipment. Trucking companies leave the frames attached because their vehicles might carry different types of cargo from one trip to the next. An empty holder doesn’t necessarily mean the truck isn’t carrying hazardous materials, though. Federal regulations don’t require placards for every hazardous material or quantity.
When trucks do need placards, PHMSA requires them on both sides and both ends of the vehicle. Carriers must also keep the signs secure, readable, and visible. Federal regulations also prohibit misleading signs that resemble official hazmat placards. The rules specifically mention “Any sign, advertisement, slogan (such as ‘Drive Safely’), or device” that could be confused with an official warning placard.
A bare metal diamond, however, isn’t a hazard warning by itself. It’s simply a holder for the appropriate sign when the truck needs one.
Sources
U.S. Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, “
PHMSA, “
