This company knows the meaning of Customer Service!! Can’t say enough about the excellent service I receive from J. J. Keller. Every time I call I get the best service and a pleasant voice.
TONNIE | FLEET OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT
Since 1953, transportation companies of all sizes have turned to J. J. Keller for innovative compliance products and services they can rely on to protect their drivers and the loads they haul. As the undisputed transportation industry leader, we’re committed to uncompromising quality and superior service — and this shows through our unmatched selection of placards and accessories, all carefully designed to meet the latest hazmat regulatory requirements.
Compliance ExperienceWe’ve Got
The
Experts
Together, our subject-matter experts have over 260 combined years of compliance experience in the transportation/hazmat industry. They closely monitor regulations, industry trends, and best practices to ensure each and every product, including our unmatched selection of placards, is compliant and relevant. They also take complex regulatory information and break it down into useful, easy-to-digest content that will help you successfully manage your company’s compliance programs.
With our regulatory experts, J. J. Keller solutions are simply built to be better.
TESTIMONIAL
J. J. Keller is always on top of keeping the driver and the public up speed with the laws and regulations, and willing to answer any questions we might have or don’t understand, not to mention the documents when you need them.
LABRI | OWNER-OPERATOR | CARDVILE, ME
Customer Service
When safety, compliance and risk are on the line, there’s no substitute for customer service that truly serves.
Our team of customer service reps will answer your questions, address any concerns, and collaborate on the best ways to fulfill your company’s specific needs. They’ll also process your order quickly to ensure sameday shipping of all in-stock placards.
Michael Atkinson Editor - Hazardous Materials Transportation
Josh Lovan Industry Business Advisor
Corrina Peterson Editor - Transportation
Tom Bray Sr. Industry Business Advisor
Kathy Close EditorTransportation Safety
Daren Hansen Sr. EditorTransportation Safety
Mark Samber Industry Business Advisor - Canada
Mark Schedler Sr. EditorTransportation Management
Rick Malchow Industry Business Advisor
Jill Schultz Sr. EditorTransportation Safety
J. J. Keller offers a biggest and best selection of placards than any other supplier, with thousands of durable, high-quality products to choose from.
Our selection includes:
PLACARDS see pages 8-9
FLIP-FILE PLACARDS see pages 10-11
HOLDERS AND ACCESSORIES see pages 14-15
TESTIMONIAL
“Takes
Placards
Whether you need placards for one-time use or long-term applications, J. J. Keller offers a quick, economical way to add placards to a vehicle. Simply attach them directly to the tanker/trailer or utilize a placard holder. Either way, placards provide a versatile way to satisfy placarding requirements.
Choose from a variety of materials to cover any type of placard you need:
• Pre-printed 4-digit or blank 4-digit
• Worded
• Canadian and international placards
• Single-sided or double-sided
• Custom imprint any 4-digit ID number onto any blank 4-digit placards
• Available in 9 stock materials, from tagboard to polycarbonate see next page
How do I choose the correct type of placard for my load?
Need Help Finding the Right Placard?
Use Our Placard Finder!
Our Placard Finder makes it easy to narrow your search in order to get the right placards for the hazmat loads you’re hauling. We’ll help narrow down your search based on your answers to a few simple questions about the type of placard you need (worded, numbered, etc.), hazard class, and legends. Visit JJKeller.com/placards
Not all placards are created equal. Choosing the wrong type of placard can have unfortunate consequences, such as delayed shipments and fines or penalties. When choosing the correct placard, one of the most important considerations is how long you need the placard to last:
Some placard materials have added durability features you may want to consider, such as:
and protection from:
See next page for a description of placard materials to help you choose the best option for your application.
VINYL TAGBOARD
Adhesive Vinyl
• Designed for long-term applications
• High-tack permanent acrylic, pressuresensitive adhesive, and 90# peel-off liner
• Surface printed with UV inks and ”antigraffiti“ UV top coating
• Rounded corners
Removable Adhesive Vinyl
• Designed for temporary applications
• Removable acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive and 90# peel-off liner
• Up to 6 months clean removability
• Surface printed with UV inks and “antigraffiti” UV top coating
• Rounded corners
Economy Removable Adhesive Vinyl
• Designed for short-term applications
• Removable acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive and 50# peel-off liner
• Up to 6 months clean removability
• Surface printed with UV inks and ”antigraffiti“ UV top coating
• Rounded corners
Removable Adhesive Tagboard
• Designed for temporary, single-trip applications
• Removable acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive backing and 40# peel-off liner
• Meets/exceeds minimum requirements for tagboard placards as defined in 49 CFR Part 172.519
NON-ADHESIVE
POLYSTYRENE ALUMINUM
Laminated Polystyrene
• Designed for temporary applications
• Rigid white high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) is impact resistant and able to withstand harsh environments
• Offers protection from UV fading, washing, chemical splash, and abrasion
Unlaminated Polystyrene
• Designed for temporary applications
• Rigid white high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) is impact resistant
Aluminum
• Designed for permanent applications
• Impact resistant and withstands harsh environments
• Includes six .24" (6.0mm) predrilled mount holes
• Rounded corners
TAGBOARD
Non-Adhesive Tagboard
• Designed for temporary, single-trip applications
• Meets/exceeds minimum requirements for tagboard placards as defined in 49 CFR Part 172.519
POLYCARBONATE
Polycarbonate
• Designed for long-term applications
• UV coated clear polycarbonate (PC) features high-impact resistance
• Sub-surface printed for maximum print protection from abrasion, UV fading, washing, and harsh environmental conditions
WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals, including BPA, which is known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.p65warnings.ca.gov
Flip-File Placards
If you haul a variety of hazmat and want to avoid the hassle of having numerous placards readily available, Flip-File Placards offer the convenience, flexibility and time savings you’re looking for. Simply install the base, then flip to any legend you need. It’s that simple!
Always Have the Right Placard for the Load on Hand
J. J. Keller offers an unmatched selection of Flip-File Placard sets, ranging from a single legend up to 18 legends, in 3 styles:
BASIC - Available in the most popular legend combinations and built with only the features you need and lower-cost materials.
STANDARD - Made of .032” high-quality aluminum base that resists warping and bending for solid durability and longevity. Choose from triangle Flip-File or rectangle Flip-Book format.
SUPER - Made with a .040” heavy-duty base that resists warping and bending for improved long-term performance, in a rectangle Flip-Book format.
TESTIMONIAL
“Exactly what was required, no nonsense purchase”
Heavy Duty Placard Frame, replaced old style cheaper made units, huge difference in quality.
BILL C. | FLEET OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT | HARTFORD, CT
Super Flip Placard - 15 Legend, Worded, 16"x15.5", White Back Plate
Each Flip-File Placard Set Features:
All-in-one design ensures you always have the right placard on hand for your load.
Unpainted or white painted aluminum options to match your trailer/tanker; contains 75% recycled content.
Patented Dura-Clip® base design prevents clip arm from being dislodged and keeps your legends in place.
Over 70 configurations available, so you can choose the set that best matches your load schedule.
Rounded corners for safe, easy handling.
Drill holes make install easy. Drain corners help prevent ice buildup and channel away road salt and grime.
Vibrant UV ink and corrosion-resistant panels, to help your placards stay compliant.
Clipped corner and split panel options for an easy fit on roll-top door panels.
Numer-All™ Placards
Numer-All™ option allows you to easily change both DOT placard legends and UN numbers.
Answers to Common Hazmat Questions
Rules regarding placard use are complex. You might be wondering … is one placard enough? … do placards need to be a certain color? … which placard am I required to use? We’ve included some of most common questions we receive, below:
Q WHEN SHOULD I REPLACE PLACARDS?
A Placards need to be replaced if they are missing, damaged, deteriorated, obscured with debris, or no longer meet the placard specification requirements of the Hazardous Materials Regulations.
Q DOES A HAZARDOUS MATERIAL NEED MORE THAN ONE PLACARD?
A Some hazardous materials have more than one hazard risk, so you have the primary hazard and the subsidiary (secondary) hazard. In most cases, only the primary hazard is required to be placarded. However, Section 172.505 of the regulations requires certain subsidiary placards to be displayed alongside the primary placard.
Q CAN I USE FADED PLACARDS? HOW DO I KNOW WHEN THEY SHOULD BE REPLACED?
A No, faded placards cannot be used. The Hazardous Materials Regulations require placards to remain within specific color tolerances. Any placard that does not meet the color tolerances of the Hazardous Materials Label and Placard Color Tolerance Chart must be replaced.
Q CAN I SIMPLY SLAP A TAGBOARD PLACARD ON MY TRAILER WITH DUCT TAPE?
A Surprisingly, you can use duct tape to secure a placard to a vehicle. While the Hazardous Materials Regulations do not specifically state duct tape can be used, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) through a letter of interpretation, 15-0224, does allow duct tape to be used to affix the placard.
QWHAT HAPPENS IF MY PLACARD FALLS OFF DURING TRANSIT? IS IT REALLY NECESSARY TO REPLACE IT?
QI’VE HEARD THAT CLASS 9 PLACARDS AREN’T REQUIRED TO BE DISPLAYED, IS THAT CORRECT?
A
If a placard falls off during transportation, it must be replaced. The Hazardous Materials Regulations require placards on all four sides of a vehicle. Also, the regulations state that carriers cannot transport hazardous materials unless the required placards are securely in place. Two or more placards missing from a vehicle can lead to an out-of-service violation.
Q WHY ARE THERE SO MANY COLORS, SYMBOLS, AND NUMBERS TO CHOOSE FROM?
A Placards are color and symbol coded to provide easy and immediate warning of hazardous materials inside the package or vehicle. Each color or color combination gives you insight as to the type of hazard, for example: red signifies a flammable material while orange signifies an explosive material. Symbols also gives you insight into the type of hazard, for example: the flame represents a flammable material while the exploding symbol represents an explosive material. The numbers on the bottom of the placard represent the specific hazard class or division of the material being transported.
Q
A
BESIDES BEING REQUIRED, WHY ARE PLACARDS IMPORTANT?
Placards are important because they alert people to potential dangers associated with certain hazardous materials contained in motor vehicles, rail cars, freight containers, cargo tanks, and portable tanks. Placards also provide first responders with critical safety information on how to respond should an incident or accident occur.
Q HOW MANY PLACARDS ARE REQUIRED TO BE DISPLAYED?
A In most cases, each bulk packaging, freight container, unit load device, transport vehicle, or rail car must be placarded on each side and each end. The HMR does allow some instances where placards are required only on two opposing sides.
A Yes. There is an exception in 49 CFR 173.504(f)(9) that says Class 9 placards are not required to be displayed when transported domestically. However, bulk packages must still display the ID number even when the placard is not displayed.
In 2022, there were
170,967
with a 4.5% Out Of Service Rate*
*Data Source: FMCSA, Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS), data snapshot as of January 27, 2023.
Q DOES THE PLACARD MATERIAL MATTER?
A Placards can be made of any plastic, metal, or other material provided it can withstand, without deterioration or a substantial reduction in effectiveness, a 30-day exposure to open weather conditions. The Hazardous Materials Regulations also require tagboard placards to be at least equal to that designated commercially as white tagboard. Tagboard must have a weight of at least 80 kg (176 pounds) per ream of 610 by 910 mm (24 by 36-inch) sheets, waterproofing materials included. In addition, each placard made of tagboard must be able to pass a 414 kPa (60 psi.) Mullen test.
Q CAN WE DISPLAY A SLOGAN OR IMAGE ON THE BLANK PORTION OF OUR FLIP PLACARDS?
A No. Any sign, advertisement, slogan (such as “Drive Safely”), or device that, by its color, design, shape, or content, could be confused with any placard is strictly prohibited by the HMR.
Placard Shield
This impact-resistant, UVresistant, clear polycarbonate shield fits into placard holders to help protect DOT placards from fading, scuffing and blow out.
The most common type of placard failure is called a “blowout.” A placard blowout normally occurs when tagboard placards are used. As the placarded vehicle is driving down the road and passes another vehicle, wind turbulence is created, which can cause the placard to be blown out of the placard holder.
TESTIMONIAL
“Oilfield hazmat transporter”
The placard shields were exactly what I needed to keep the placards from getting wet in the rain. Or torn by the wind. So the product does what you advertise it will. But what shocked me and my wife, was how fast we received our order. Thanks for helping us to stay compliant. And I’ve already told everyone that works at my company about y’all, thanks again.
LES | OWNER/EXECUTIVE | CHICAGO, IL
Placard Shield
Placard Holders and Accessories
In addition to providing an unmatched selection of placards, J. J. Keller is committed to offering a wide selection of placard holders and accessories — everything you need to maintain safe, compliant operations.
Placard Holders
We offer a huge selection of placard holders that stand up to rough treatment and harsh elements. Available in a variety of options:
• With or without back plate, rounded corners
• Split back plate or clipped corner options for roll-top doors
• White or aluminum.
PRO TIP
The Hazardous Materials Regulations require placards to be securely attached or affixed to the package, vehicle, container, or rail car. Placard holders not only meet the securement requirements of the regulations, they also allow for easy insertion and removal of placards when they are no longer required or they need to be swapped out.
DuraClip® Fasteners
DuraClip® fasteners stop clip arms from being dislodged, and used in conjunction with placard holders, ultimately hold the placard in place. Can be used as a replacement clip for placard holders with back plates and can be added to placard holders without back plates.
PRO TIP
with back plate
without back plate
clipped corner
split back plate
Numbering Kit
Use these numbers to add any proper 4-digit UN/NA identification numbers on tagboard placards or ID panels to satisfy DOT hazmat ID number marking requirements.
Hazmat Placard
Door Pouch
Helps keep hazmat placards within easy reach for drivers. Includes four screw snaps for dashboard or door mounting, holds up to 50 placards.
Placard Kit
Nylon Pouch
Durable, portable, and convenient storage device for up to 80 DOT placards.
Wire Placard Display Rack
Organize and store your DOT placards for quick and easy access. Can be displayed as a free-standing device, hung on a peg board, or wall mounted (hardware not included). Can hold up to 12 different placards (each compartment is designed to hold approximately 25 tagboard placards).
ID Number Panel Holder
Sturdy holder makes it quick and easy to insert and remove ID Number Panels. Can be attached to portable tanks, cargo tanks, and tank cars.
Build a Fulfillment Program TO FIT YOUR COMPANY
Product shortages, order backlogs, shipping/delivery delays, and price insecurity can put a strain on businesses and lead to a disruption of normal business operations. Don’t let supply chain instability affect your company!
Turn to J. J. Keller Fulfillment Services to ensure you have the placards and other supplies you need when you need them. Every day, we help hazmat companies like yours mitigate risk, reduce downtime, and maintain compliance by managing regular delivery of the supplies they need.
Avoid product shortages and price increases
by creating a purchase agreement for the supplies your business relies on.
PERSONAL ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT
A dedicated Account Representative pays close attention to your inventory levels, location needs, and on-time delivery.
IN-HOUSE PRODUCTION
We produce many essential safety solutions in house. Our production process is fast and accurate, so we’ll have your inventory of key compliance materials on hand and inventoried quickly.
INVENTORY MANAGEMENT
We hold and manage your placards and other inventory and schedule regular shipments so you don’t need to remember to place your order each time. We proactively monitor product use to ensure an out-ofstock situation doesn’t happen!
VOLUME-BASED PRICING
Because you can order large quantities of placards and other supplies without having to manage them, you can save money with volume-based pricing.
MULTIPLE SHIP-TO LOCATIONS
We can handle the delivery of placards and supplies based on the requirements of each location. Multiple shipping requests are never a problem!
TESTIMONIAL
With our J. J. Keller security seals purchase agreement, we get a better price by ordering enough seals to cover the entire year. They contact me with inventory levels and to see if I need more shipped, based on our typical usage. It’s just easier all the way around, for our accounting department and for me. We plan to stick with this program because I have peace of mind knowing the price is already locked in. Plus, because J. J. Keller warehouses our seals until we need them, we know they won’t run out.
BARB KIRKPATRICK | REVENUE SPECIALIST ONE EARTH ENERGY, LLC | GIBSON CITY, IL
Reach
Get The Placards You Need, When You Need Them with our
A procurement solution is a seamless electronic connection between your company and J. J. Keller. Our flexible solutions help you easily find the hazmat and related solutions you need, efficiently place orders, and control spend.
Whether you utilize a procurement solution — such as Ariba, Coupa, Workday, or another system — or not, J. J. Keller Procurement Solutions integrate seamlessly to help you ensure only approved items are purchased, contracted prices are accurate, and visibility into spend is consistent.
ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT
J. J. Keller Procurement Services offer an easy way to order hazmat compliance products and manage spend. A dedicated team of J. J. Keller experts is available to answer your questions and address any concerns.
AUTOMATION
We offer a full suite of procurement system integrations, including EDI, cXML, and punchout, allowing you to save time and money by automating all steps of procure-to-pay.
INVENTORY MANAGEMENT
Set up an automatic replenish threshold or receive notifications and shipments at set intervals. We’ll make sure all locations of your company have the supplies they need when they need them!
PERSONALIZED ONLINE ORDERING
Simplify the buying process for your hazmat operations with a customized online ordering experience. Ensure your company is purchasing the right placards and other products at the right price with our personalized website.
TESTIMONIAL
Could not ask for better customer service!!! They answer all our questions and are up to date with all the new regulations which keeps me up to date.
