This Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been established to provide Procedures and Guidelines for the transporting of biosolids by Ag Tech drivers.
Prior to departure from the Ag Tech staging yard, drivers inspect each truck and trailer completing a Pre-inspection Checksheet. Inspections include; tire condition, tarp condition, trailer integrity, fluid levels etc. Once the pre-inspection checksheet is complete the driver proceeds to a certified scale to obtain a tare weight. The driver fuels up at an approved fueling station. The driver then proceeds to the biosolids generation site following a pre-determined route. Each driver is required to check-in at the generator’s designated facility. At check-in, the generator’s personnel will advise the driver as to which trailer needs to be hauled and if an empty needs to be put into one of the loading bays. Drivers will then fill out the appropriate manifest and log their time. The driver parks the empty trailer in the appropriate staging area and hooks up to the designated full trailer. All trailers are to be shuttled via designated routes. After following the pre-determined route back to Yuma the driver once again stops at the certified scales and receives a loaded weight ticket. The biosolids are then hauled to the predetermined land application site were the trailer is emptied and washed out. The driver then returns the tractor and trailer to the Ag Tech staging yard and submits the following paperwork to the Ag Tech office:
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Trailer manifest
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Log sheet
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Weight ticket
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Pre-Inspection Check sheet
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Repair Order if any
Should shuttling services be required, generator’s personnel shall indicate exactly which trailer needs to be shuttled. The shuttling of trailers by Ag Tech drivers must be limited to pulling one full load from the bay and loading one empty into the bay. If additional trailer shuttling is required, a plant supervisor must approve it. Ag Tech drivers are only required to shuttle Ag Tech trailers. Under normal conditions, generator’s personnel will shuttle trailers from the staging area to the loading bays and vice versa.
Ag Tech drivers must un-tarp all empty trailers after arriving at the generator’s facility. If it is raining the driver may elect to leave the trailer tarped after notifying the operations supervisor. Under these circumstances, generator’s personnel will un-tarp the trailers when they are shuttled to the loading bays. It is ultimately the responsibility of the generator’s personnel to verify that trailers are un-tarped before loading. Prior to shuttling full trailers from the loading bay, generator’s personnel may tarp the trailers before they are staged. However, the driver is ultimately responsible for tarping and securing the trailer for transport.
Trailer pick-up times shall accommodate the generating facility’s operational needs. Prior arrangements must be made to ensure prompt access to the generating facility with consideration given to operating hours and security concerns. Daily hauling schedule changes are communicated between the designated generator’s personnel and the Ag Tech Truck Fleet Foreman.
Ag Tech provides the biosolids generator with the maximum gross trailer weights in writing. Generator’s personnel will be responsible for filling trailers to the proper load weight and completing a manifest recording the tare, gross and net trailer weights. Ag Tech provides the generators with certified weights for invoicing purposes.
The completed hauling manifest will be delivered to the designated area for Ag Tech driver pickup. The Ag Tech driver signs, dates and completes the appropriate sections of the manifests and retains a copy. Both Ag Tech and the generator maintain copies of the manifests for invoicing purposes.
