PHMSA to Update Hazmat Incident Report Form 5800.1

US DOT/PHMSA has proposed updating the official form used to report hazardous materials incidents in transportation, DOT Form 5800.1. 

PHMSA is seeking to improve the form in several ways, including by: 

• Re-ordering and re-organizing the form content 
• Adding responses specific to incidents involving batteries (e.g., lithium ion batteries)
• Providing alternative data options for special cases
• Adding a field to record more than one mode of transportation, when appropriate 

DOT PHMSA is accepting public comments on the proposed form re-design until December 21, 2026. A PDF version of the proposed Form 5800.1 is available under "Docket Documents" on the dedicated webpage on regulations.gov: Hazardous Materials: Information Collection Activities. 

Proposed Changes to the Hazmat Incident Report 

The most obvious improvement is in the appearance and layout of the proposed “new” form. The form is now in full color, uses larger fonts, and provides useful links. PHMSA also added instructions early in the form to help prevent unnecessary reports.  

The current Form 5800.1 condenses the entire incident report down to four very crowded pages. The low page count was beneficial in the age of paper submissions. It meant fewer pages to print, fewer pages to send, and fewer pages for DOT to store. 

Now that hazmat incident reports can be submitted and stored electronically, space is no longer at such a premium. The re-organized form covers 20 pages (including a title page), making it easier to read and complete. The clearer form layout should result in fewer incomplete reports and mistakes. 

PHMSA explains all of the proposed revisions and updates made to the Form, including the reasoning behind each change, in the Federal Register on September 21, 2026. 

Left: Page 1 of the current Form 5800.1                               Right: Page 2 of the revised Form 5800.1 proposed by PHMSA

What is a Hazmat Incident Report?

Incidents involving hazardous materials in transportation like fires, explosions, chemical releases, or other incidents must be reported. Incidents that result in death, hospitalization, and other severe consequences must be reported immediately, by phone, to the National Response Center (NRC). For more details about DOT hazmat incident reporting requirements, read this blog article. 

Whenever an incident occurs that requires an immediate phone report to the NRC, the person in possession must also submit a written incident report to US DOT within 30 days (Form F 5800.1).

Other types of hazmat incidents do not require an immediate report, but do require a written incident report to DOT within 30 days (49 CFR 171.16). These include: 

• Any unintentional release of hazmat or discharge of any quantity of hazardous waste;
• Certain damage to cargo tank trucks;
• The discovery of an undeclared shipment of hazmat; and
• A fire, violent rupture, explosion, or dangerous evolution of heat derived from a battery or battery-powered device.