DG Digest: PHMSA Release New Set of Special Permits

May 19, 2026 by with 0 comment

Mid-May rolls in and finds regulatory activity perking along at about normal speed. Will the typical “Summer Lull” happen this year? We’ll soon find out. Meanwhile, here’s the news of last week:

PHMSA

The agency published its most recent tranche of Special Permit (SP) actions. Find them at the links below:

2026-09392.pdf

2026-09393.pdf

2026-09424.pdf

FMCSA

The agency proposes to implement a user fee as authorized by Congress in the ‘‘Strengthening the Commercial Driver’s License Information System Act’’ applicable to State driver licensing agencies (SDLAs) for accessing the Commercial Driver’s License Information System (CDLIS). The fees would be collected by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA), the organization that represents the State agencies responsible for complying with the Federal regulations concerning the commercial driver’s license (CDL) program. AAMVA operates and maintains CDLIS on behalf of FMCSA.  Comments must be received on or before June 17, 2026. See details here:

2026-09943.pdf

FRA

The agency issued a final rule to amend its regulation on Training, Qualification, and Oversight for Safety- Related Railroad Employees (Training Rule) to codify agency guidance and clarify existing requirements. This regulation is effective July 14, 2026. Find it below:

2026-09790.pdf

OSHA

The agency published a notice to advise interested persons that OSHA will conduct two virtual public meetings in 2026 to address the United States Government positions on documents submitted for the sessions of the United Nations Sub-Committee of Experts on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (UNSCEGHS), each virtual meeting in advance of the in-person sessions of the UNSCEGHS. The meetings will be in June and November, but dates are not set yet. See current details here:

2026-09727.pdf

Labelmaster/DGEO is a full-service provider of products, shipping and training software, and professional consulting services to assist the DG and HS&E professional to comply with national and international regulations. See our full line of solutions at www.labelmaster.com.

DG Digest: PHMSA Make Correction to Electronic Hazmat Registration Portal

May 11, 2026 by with 0 comment

The first full week of May brought heavy storms to much of the country, with both snow and severe weather being a threat in various regions. It’s another reminder that no matter where your workplace is located, you need a plan to keep employees safe and to respond to the weather in ways that help your business keep doing business. Proactive is always better than reactive! Here’s the week’s regulatory news:

PHMSA

The agency provided a corrected link to its revised electronic hazmat registration portal. Find the corrected link to it here:

Registration Overview | PHMSA

FMCSA

The agency published an ICR related to its program for the issuance of hazardous materials safety permits for motor carriers. See this ICR at the provided link:

2026-08818.pdf

A second ICR requests comments on potential revisions to the agency mandated CMV driver’s medication reporting form used by medical examiners during driver physical screenings. See that ICR here:

2026-08992.pdf

DHS

The department has issued an ICR related to how it conducts security screenings and threat assessments on individuals applying for hazardous materials transport credentials in association with their commercial driver’s licenses. See the ICR below:

2026-08981.pdf

OSHA

The agency issues a series of ICR related to several of its safety monitoring programs. Find themas noted below:

Respirable Silica for General Industry – 2026-09079.pdf

Ethylene Oxide Standard  – 2026-09116.pdf

OSHA HAZWOPER Program – 2026-09119.pdf

Labelmaster/DGEO is a full-service provider of products, shipping and training software, and professional consulting services to assist the DG and HS&E professional to comply with national and international regulations. See our full line of solutions at www.labelmaster.com.

DG Digest: FMCSA Revises Fee Schedule for Carriers

May 4, 2026 by with 0 comment

Welcome to May! The new month begins with a few relatively minor announcements from various government agencies. Let’s take a look:

FRA

The agency issued a final rule allowing railroad carriers to post FRA required illness and injury reports electronically vice physically (i.e. paper reports) at employee locations. See the change here:

2026-08255.pdf

OSHA

The agency issued an ICR related to the conduct and qualifying data required for participation in its Voluntary Protection Program (VPP). See this ICR at the link:

2026-08202.pdf

A second ICR is directed at the agency’s standards for safe handling and storage of anhydrous ammonia.  Find that ICR here:

2026-08408.pdf

FMCSA

The agency published a revision to its fee schedule for the UCC or Unified Carrier Registration Plan. The revision can be found at this link:

2026-08498.pdf

The agency published an ICR related to its required training certification plans for the drivers of what it defines as Longer Commercial Vehicles or LCV’s. See the ICR here:

2026-08391.pdf

Labelmaster/DGEO is a full-service provider of products, shipping and training software, and professional consulting services to assist the DG and HS&E professional to comply with national and international regulations. See our full line of solutions at www.labelmaster.com.

DG Digest: DOT Rolls Back to the Previous Trump Admin and Process Changes

April 28, 2026 by with 0 comment

It’s almost time for May flowers! Hopefully everyone will have a chance to enjoy the traditional beauty the coming month brings us. Never fail to appreciate the simple things. Here’s the last week’s regulatory news:

PHMSA

The agency announced that it will hold US pre-meetings in preparation for the upcoming international regulatory meetings occurring later this year. The international meetings are in June (TDG), October (ICAO), and November (TDG), so expected US pre-meetings a few weeks prior to each one. See details here:

2026-07847.pdf

USDOT

The department published a final rule reinstating a number of administrative and process changes for rulemaking efforts, guidance documents, and penalty assessments that had been rescinded following the end of the last Trump Administration. This change applies across all DOT agencies including PHMSA etc. See the changes here:

2026-08144.pdf

FRA

The agency published a new final rule that it says will streamline and revise administrative procedures and penalty assessments, including among other things requiring electronic submissions of accident and incident related reporting documents. See the rule here:

2026-08021.pdf

Labelmaster/DGEO is a full-service provider of products, shipping and training software, and professional consulting services to assist the DG and HS&E professional to comply with national and international regulations. See our full line of solutions at www.labelmaster.com.

DG Digest: PHMSA Publishes New Batch of Special Permit Actions

April 20, 2026 by with 0 comment

April showers bring May flowers! They can also bring flood control problems to your company’s location, so while the unsettled spring weather remains active, it’s important to keep those gutters, drains, and sewers clear of blockages and ready for service. No one wants to slosh their way to work, so let’s work together for safety. Here’s the latest regulatory news:

PHMSA

The agency published another tranche of special permit actions. See the results at the three links below:

2026-07251.pdf

2026-07252.pdf

2026-07253.pdf

Transport Canada

The ministry published a request for comments on its new standards for the construction and testing of specification portable tanks. Comments are open until May 26th. See the proposed standards and how to comment (if you are a Canadian stakeholder) here:

Public Notice – 60-day consultation for the new edition of CSA B625

FMCSA

The agency published an ICR related to collecting driver crash data referenced to fatigue. See the ICR here:

2026-07627.pdf

Labelmaster is a full-service provider of products, shipping and training software, and professional consulting services to assist the DG and HS&E professional to comply with national and international regulations. See our full line of solutions at www.labelmaster.com.

DG Digest: ICAO Revises Lithium Battery Rules for Passengers

April 13, 2026 by with 0 comment

Hopefully, everyone had an enjoyable holiday weekend. If you’re a spring breaker, maybe you’re seeing this after returning home from a trip. Hope it was fun! Here’s the latest and rather brief regulatory news:

OSHA

The agency released a proposed rule that will delay the requirement to equiMid-April and time for spring showers! Be sure your site’s drains and gutters are clear, so all that water can go where it belongs instead of impacting your safety of operations. Here’s the week’s regulatory news, including a pair of rare updates for the ICAO TI:

ICAO TI

The ICAO published an Addendum to its 2025-2026 Technical Instructions (TI) for the transport of dangerous goods. The addendum almost wholly concerns the safe carriage of lithium batteries in the passenger cabin. See the addendum here:

Doc 9284-AN/905

A very short Addendum covering much the same subject was also released for the 2023-2024 edition of the TI. See that here:

Doc 9284-AN/905

Transport Canada

The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) has released the draft of the update to safety standard CSA B625 for a 60-day consultation period. Safety standard CSA B625 sets out the design and manufacture requirements for UN portable tanks for the transport of dangerous goods. Find more information here:

Public Notice – 60-day consultation for the new edition of CSA B625 

FMCSA

The agency published its annual ICR requesting notifications by the several states and sovereign tribal governments of any revised highway routes for the carriage of hazardous materials. See the ICR at the link:

2026-06803.pdf

The agency announced a revision of its Unified Carrier Registration Fee program, adjusting some fee structures. See the revisions here:

2026-06726.pdf

Labelmaster/DGEO is a full-service provider of products, shipping and training software, and professional consulting services to assist the DG and HS&E professional to comply with national and international regulations. See our full line of solutions at www.labelmaster.com.

DG Digest: OSHA Proposes Ladder Safety Rule

April 6, 2026 by with 0 comment

Hopefully, everyone had an enjoyable holiday weekend. If you’re a spring breaker, maybe you’re seeing this after returning home from a trip. Hope it was fun! Here’s the latest and rather brief regulatory news:

OSHA

The agency released a proposed rule that will delay the requirement to equip ladders with enhanced safety systems. See the rule here:

2026-06578.pdf

Labelmaster/DGEO is a full-service provider of products, shipping and training software, and professional consulting services to assist the DG and HS&E professional to comply with national and international regulations. See our full line of solutions at www.labelmaster.com.

DG Digest: EPA Compliance Extensions Impact the Chemical and Medical Industries

March 30, 2026 by with 0 comment

It’s the end of March already! Believe it or not, summer is coming sooner than we all think, so now’s a good time to start thinking about any necessary revisions to your workplace’s heat safety plans. Your site probably has new employees that weren’t around last summer, so plan to ensure that they know how to work in summer conditions before summer actually arrives. Meanwhile, here’s the latest regulatory news:

EPA

The agency is proposing to extend certain compliance dates applicable to entities subject to the regulation of perchloroethylene (PCE) and carbon tetrachloride (CTC) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). EPA is proposing to extend certain Workplace Chemical Protection Program (WCPP) compliance dates for non-federal owners and operators to match the compliance dates for federal agencies and their contractors.

  • For both PCE and CTC, this proposal would extend the compliance date for initial monitoring for inhalation exposure to June 21, 2027
  • It would extend the compliance date to meet the existing chemical exposure limit (ECEL), establish a regulated area, provide any required respiratory personal protective equipment (PPE), and establish a respiratory PPE program to September 20, 2027
  • For PCE it would extend the compliance date for non-federal entities to establish and implement an exposure control plan to December 20, 2027  

Find details here:

2026-05977.pdf

The agency is also proposing to extend the reporting deadline for the Health and Safety Data Reporting Rule under the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) by one year to May 21, 2027. The proposed extension is intended to delay compliance with this one-time reporting rule during EPA’s ongoing reconsideration of the rule. Comments must be received on or before April 29, 2026.  See the NPRM here:

2026-06066.pdf

Labelmaster/DGEO is a full-service provider of products, shipping and training software, and professional consulting services to assist the DG and HS&E professional to comply with national and international regulations. See our full line of solutions at www.labelmaster.com.

DG Digest: PHMSA Pushes Out a Tranche of Special Permit Actions

March 23, 2026 by with 0 comment

It’s March Madness time! How’s your bracket doing so far? Just remember to bracket safety in between all those basketball games! Meanwhile, here’s the latest regulatory news:

PHMSA

The agency pushed out yet another tranche of Special Permit actions. Find them at the links provided here:

2026-05277.pdf

2026-05279.pdf

2026-05278.pdf

FMCSA

The agency published an ICR related to its Unified Carrier Registration Plan. FMCSA administer a database of common carrier truck lines authorized to operate in commerce in the US. See the ICR below:

2026-05571.pdf

Labelmaster/DGEO is a full-service provider of products, shipping and training software, and professional consulting services to assist the DG and HS&E professional to comply with national and international regulations. See our full line of solutions at www.labelmaster.com.

DG Digest: Public Research, Development, & Technology Forum Coming to DC

March 16, 2026 by with 0 comment

Edit: The links have been corrected, sorry for the confusion.

It’s time for “March Madness” in the world of college basketball, but the world of DG and HSE regulations just keeps chugging along doing its safe best to protect the logistics chain. Here’s the latest news:

PHMSA

The agency will host a public Research, Development, & Technology Forum (Forum) from March 31–April 2, 2026, in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. The Forum will provide an opportunity for PHMSA-funded research projects to present the results of recently completed or ongoing projects. OHMS will discuss upcoming hazardous materials transportation research project plans and obtain stakeholder input on the direction of OHMS’s current and future research projects. Potential topics include:

• Efficient Safety Standards
• Risk Reduction for Emergency Response
• Safe Energy Storage Technologies
• Innovative Packaging

During the Forum, OHMS will host subject matter experts to discuss a variety of topics affecting the hazardous materials transportation industry. Additionally, OHMS will solicit input and feedback related to potential research topics that may be considered for future work and gather and review research need statements from industry, academia, and other stakeholders.

Find more information and how to participate at the link:ented, so if your site handles hazardous waste, it’s a good idea to look this proposal over. See it here:

2026-04792.pdf

The agency also released another tranche of Letters of Interpretation or LOI. Such letters represent PHMSA feedback to stakeholders that sought guidance as to the agency’s interpretations of specific regulatory language. While they do not bear the same force of law as a regulation does, they nevertheless present important information about how PHMSA itself views the legal structures they enforce. Find the most recent such LOI’s here:

Letters of Interpretation | PHMSA

Labelmaster/DGEO is a full-service provider of products, shipping and training software, and professional consulting services to assist the DG and HS&E professional to comply with national and international regulations. See our full line of solutions at www.labelmaster.com.