Hazmat Registration Ends June 30, Fees May Increase

US DOT PHMSA may soon increase the Registration fee amounts paid by shippers and carriers of certain types and quantities of hazardous materials, in order to fund hazmat emergency preparedness and training grants at the levels authorized by Congress. 

If hazmat registration fees don’t increase, PHMSA may raise additional revenue by widening the scope of the program, requiring more persons to register. A virtual meeting will be held on June 28 from 1 to 4 PM ET to discuss potential adjustments to the program.

The current Registration period for shippers and carriers ends on June 30

Who is required to register to ship or transport hazardous materials?

Possible Changes for Hazmat Registration Program

The Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (HMTA), directs DOT to issue grants to communities and emergency response organizations to improve hazmat training programs and strengthen public readiness for an emergency involving hazardous materials. 

The law also requires DOT to administer and oversee a registration program for shippers and carriers of certain high-consequence hazmat shipments, and allows DOT to assess a fee for registration. 

By law, that fee is limited to a maximum of $3,000.

Except for non-profits and small businesses, who pay $250 per year, the current annual registration fee for covered shippers and carriers is $2,575. That means that unless Congress passes a law to amend the HMTA and increase the maximum fee, PHMSA’s flexibility is limited.

In announcing the upcoming public meeting, PHMSA lays out five options for increasing revenue to cover its grant responsibilities that the agency can accomplish without an act of Congress.

1. Keep the existing registration requirements in 49 CFR 107.601 and raise the registration fee for large businesses from $2,575 to the current maximum of $3,000.  

2. Keep the existing registration requirements and add a nominal, per-location fee for each facility or site from which the registered person ships or transports hazmat.

3. Modify the registration fee criteria and/or amounts based on the level of hazard or risk profile of the registrants’ activities (e.g., shipping PG I vs. PG III materials, shipping rarely vs. frequently). 

4. Expand the registration requirements to cover more shippers and carriers of hazardous materials. 

5. Expand the registration fee requirements to include certain persons who require approvals or special permits from PHMSA and who are not currently required to register. 

The announcement also includes nine other potential options DOT may pursue should Congress actually amend the HMTA to increase the $3,000 maximum fee. See them all in the May 26 Federal Register. 

Who Registers to Ship or Transport Hazmat?

A shipper or carrier must register with DOT if they offer/transport any load that requires a placard. For shippers, this means that if an empty truck or rail car is loaded at your property and now requires a placard, then you must be registered with DOT.

Per 49 CFR 107.601, registration with US DOT is required to offer or transport:

• A highway route-controlled quantity of radioactive material (Class 7);
• More than 55 pounds (25 kg) of a Division 1.1, 1.2, or 1.3 explosive;
• More than 1 L per package of extremely toxic by inhalation materials (Hazard Zone A);
• Any shipment of hazardous materials in bulk packagings with a capacity equal to or greater than 3,500 gallons for liquids or 468 cubic feet for solids;
• Any shipment in non-bulk packagings with a total gross weight of 5,000 lbs. or more of a class of hazardous materials for which placarding is required; or
• Any other shipment that requires hazmat placards.

The registration (DOT Form 5800.2) provides information about the type of shipments you will offer or transport during the year. 

The annual registration period for hazmat shippers and carriers generally runs from July 1 to June 1 of the following year. 

Upcoming In Person DOT Hazmat Training 

Join Lion for engaging, lively in-person training and develop the expertise you need to classify and name hazardous materials, package hazmat, mark and label packages, fill out shipping papers, and comply with DOT security plan and security training requirements for hazmat employees.  

Hazmat Ground Shipper Certification (DOT) Workshop

Browse the 2023 Training Schedule.

Tags: 49 CFR, hazardous materials, hazmat registration, hazmat shipping