06/09/2011
05/31/2011
Q. I’ve heard the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is phasing out the Consumer Commodity (ORM-D) exceptions from the Hazardous Material Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR parts 171-180). When did this happen? When does it take effect? And does this mean that regular consumer products need shipping papers and the whole rigmarole of marks, labels, and UN specification packaging like regular hazmat...
05/17/2011
Q. We ship a mineral spirits product that has a flashpoint of 120ºF in 55-gallon drums. The product has no other DOT hazards and is only shipped by highway. We have been using the opportunity that the DOT provided at 49 CFR 173.150(f) to reclassify our product as a combustible liquid so that we can take advantage of the exception at 49 CFR 173.120(b)(2). We heard that the DOT is eliminating the combustible liquid designation. What will this mean for our shipments?
04/19/2011
Each year shippers and carriers of certain quantities and types of hazardous materials must comply with the registration requirements at 49 CFR 107, Subpart G. Registration, including a registration fee, is required for any person that offers or transports...
04/06/2011
03/29/2011
Q. I have been told that I cannot ship lithium batteries as limited quantities, but can receive similar relief when following the special provisions found in the 171.101 Hazardous Materials Table. How do the two types of relief compare? A. It is true that lithium batteries shipped under the DOT Hazardous Material Regulations cannot be shipped under the limited quantity exceptions. However...
03/15/2011
On March 11, 2011 at 76 FR 13313, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration proposed to amend the Hazardous Materials Regulations to mandate...
On March 2, 2011 PHMSA published a final rule implementing enhanced enforcement procedures authorized by the Hazardous Materials Transportation Safety and Security Reauthorization Act of 2005. These new procedures...
02/15/2011
Q. Our pick-and-pack operation ships lots of different kinds of hazardous material in many arrangements. Some of our boxes have up arrows, some do not. When do we need to use up arrows? Is there any time we can’t use them? A. Orientation arrows, or “up arrows,” are required whenever you ship hazardous materials in one of these packages...
01/19/2011
On January 19, 2011 (76 FR 3308), the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) published a final rule incorporating into the Hazardous Material Regulations changes based on the 16th Revised Edition the UN Model Regulations, Amendment 35-10 to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code, and the 2011-2012 edition of the International Civil Aviation Organization Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air.
A hazmat self-audit is a best practice that can help you ace a hazmat inspection, protect personnel, and defend against civil and criminal penalties. Use this report to identify best practices, avoid common shipping mistakes, and sidestep the pitfalls that trigger DOT inspections. DOT hazmat inspections and keep your site audit-ready at all times!