CPWM Waste Collection and Transportation Practices 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which federal agency primarily regulates the transportation of hazardous waste on US roadways?
- EPA
- FMCSA
- DOT/PHMSA (Correct answer)
- OSHA
Correct answer: DOT/PHMSA
The Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) regulates hazardous materials transportation under 49 CFR.
Question 2: A rear-loading collection vehicle experiences a hydraulic failure mid-route. What is the immediate priority?
- Continue collecting until the truck is full
- Park safely, secure the load, and contact dispatch for maintenance (Correct answer)
- Transfer waste to another vehicle on-site immediately
- Return to the facility at maximum speed to offload
Correct answer: Park safely, secure the load, and contact dispatch for maintenance
A hydraulic failure creates a load-securing hazard; the crew must park safely and notify dispatch before any further action.
Question 3: What does the term 'payload efficiency' refer to in waste collection?
- The ratio of collection stops per hour
- The percentage of vehicle capacity utilized per trip (Correct answer)
- The fuel consumption rate per ton collected
- The number of routes completed per driver shift
Correct answer: The percentage of vehicle capacity utilized per trip
Payload efficiency measures how fully a collection vehicle's weight or volume capacity is used on each trip to minimize unnecessary runs.
Question 4: Under RCRA Subtitle C, a hazardous waste transporter must obtain an EPA ID number and comply with manifest requirements. Who issues the EPA ID number?
- The receiving facility
- The waste generator
- The authorized state agency or EPA directly (Correct answer)
- The DOT regional office
Correct answer: The authorized state agency or EPA directly
EPA ID numbers for hazardous waste transporters are issued by the authorized state environmental agency or directly by EPA in unauthorized states.
Question 5: Which routing strategy is most effective at minimizing vehicle travel distance in a residential collection operation?
- Random daily routing based on driver preference
- Serpentine or boustrophedon routing (Correct answer)
- Hub-and-spoke routing from a central depot
- Fixed clockwise loop routing
Correct answer: Serpentine or boustrophedon routing
Serpentine (boustrophedon) routing minimizes left turns and deadhead miles by collecting both sides of a street in sequence.
Question 6: What is the primary reason automated side-loading (ASL) collection vehicles reduce workers' compensation claims?
- They operate at faster speeds reducing shift duration
- They eliminate manual lifting by using a mechanical arm to empty carts (Correct answer)
- They require fewer total vehicle trips per route
- They use GPS to avoid high-traffic areas
Correct answer: They eliminate manual lifting by using a mechanical arm to empty carts
ASL vehicles use a robotic arm to lift and empty carts, eliminating manual handling that causes musculoskeletal injuries.
Question 7: When planning collection routes in a municipality with steep grades, which vehicle specification is most critical to evaluate?
- Body color and reflectivity standards
- Engine torque and braking system capacity (Correct answer)
- Cab interior ergonomics
- Hopper volume relative to route density
Correct answer: Engine torque and braking system capacity
Steep grades demand high engine torque for climbing and robust braking systems for safe descent with a heavy load.
CPWM Waste Collection and Transportation Practices 2
Which federal agency primarily regulates the transportation of hazardous waste on US roadways?