Steel Coil Certification Program

March 2009, Alabama Governor Bob Riley signs into legislation one of the first Metal Coil Certification Programs for Truck Drivers in America. This was brought about by nearly 30 Metal Coils that have gone off the decks of Flatbed and Step-Deck Trailers near the Interstate 65 and Interstate 59/Interstate 20 interchange in Birmingham since about 1987. The estimated damage to Alabama roadways by the Alabama Department of Transportation is a staggering $7.5 million dollars. The law, formally known as Code of Alabama 1975, Section 32-9A-s(a)4a, was signed at one of the largest steel plants in Alabama, U.S. Steel located in Birmingham.

The law does not change or add anything to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration laws, it does however require that all Metal Coils that originate out of Alabama or that are inbound to Alabama, have a certified driver transporting the metal coils. Failure to have proper certification on hand can lead to fines not only for the trucking company but the driver as well. If a driver is without the proper certification and were to be hauling a metal coil, the fine would be a minimum of $250 up to $1,000 as well as a possible jail sentence of 1 year. Companies could face fines up to $10,000 for hiring uncertified drivers to haul metal coils through Alabama. The penalty gets even worse for the driver if a metal coil falls from their trailer, the fine jumps to $5,000 to $10,000.

The Alabama Department of Public Safety in partnership with the Alabama Trucking Association offer a Web-based training and certification through the AdvanceOnline Training System. The required training is available at the following link: www.metalcoiltraining.com . Through this website, large carriers as well as one truck fleets will have easy and affordable training to haul metal coils. If a carrier is a member of the Alabama Trucking Association they would receive $5 additional off the cost of the already very reasonable $15.

While there is no formal government website tracking carrier certifications, any shipper looking to ship Metal Coils that will cross into Alabama will no doubt want to ensure the carriers they work with are in compliance with the Alabama Metal Coil Law. The only way at present is to ask for a copy of the drivers certificate or request that when the driver arrives to pick up the Metal Coil, they present it to a yard foreman. The Metal Coil Law in Alabama will surely be one to set the precedent for states looking to ensure the safety of their motorist and roadways.

by: Carlton Huffman, General Manager of Integrated Transport, LLC