[ RadSafe ] Truck Driver Charged With Lying AboutRadioactive Cargo

[Steven Dapra]

Aug. 31

         In a message dated Aug. 30, Clayton Bradt wrote, "There were 
numerous DOT violations and there still are unanswered questions about what 
actually happened to the package, and they can't get a straight answer from 
the driver."

         In reply to this, I wrote, "With respect to the DOT violations, 
where does the driver's employer fit into all of this?  Some of those 
violations may be the employer's fault, such as (only guessing now) 
placarding violations.  Did anyone inspect the truck before it departed the 
loading dock?  Had the driver gone through all the training required by DOT?"

         I was talking about DOT regulations that have been put down in 
writing in a book of regulations --- regs such as placarding, drug tests, 
log books, and physicals.  In light of that, and in light of my 
hypothetical suggestion about placarding violations, the suggestion below 
about being trained not to lie is notably dumb suggestion.  In fact, since 
Bryan Kirk introduced the role of the broker/transporter, where was the 
broker/transporter in this tragicomedy?  Was one required on this 
shipment?  If so, why didn't he check the load to see that it was properly 
secured?  Has the FBI grilled him?  Perhaps some hot dog US attorney should 
be snarling at him about ten years in jail for not seeing that the load was 
properly secured.

Steven Dapra


At 08:39 AM 8/31/07 -0400, Bryan Kirk wrote:

>I don't know the details of the case, other than what I've seen here.
>Assuming they are reported correctly, the driver should pay a stiff
>price for lying, we are not talking about a box of lost candy. I don't
>think 10 years is appropriate nor do I think he will get that sentence.
>It's better to give proper notification and begin a real search and
>maybe even lose your job rather than someone finding the item and
>getting hurt, and you spending time in jail.
>
>As far as the companies responsibility to properly train, I didn't know
>you were supposed to be trained not to lie.
>
>As a broker / transporter of radioactive materials and I am ultimately
>responsible for making sure my load is properly secured.
>
>Bryan Kirk
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl [mailto:radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl] On
>Behalf Of Steven Dapra
>Sent: Thursday, August 30, 2007 7:50 PM
>To: radsafe at radlab.nl
>Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] Truck Driver Charged With Lying
>AboutRadioactive Cargo
>
>
>Aug. 30
>
>          Yes, 10 years is definitely insane.
>
>Steven Dapra
>
>
>At 12:00 AM 8/30/07 -0400, BLHamrick at aol.com wrote:
> >It was a Molybdenum-Technetium generator (the event report is at the
> >NRC site).  It should have been secured against movement during normal
> >transport.  Frankly, I'm not terribly surprised that the driver said it
> >was stolen, rather than it fell off the truck.  I imagine he was scared
> >about losing his job.  I'm not saying he wasn't dumb, not saying he wasn't
> >dishonest, just that I'm not surprised by it.
> >
> >Actually, I think that's what's insane is that this guy could get 10
> >year for that.
> >
> >Barbara L. Hamrick