In order to legally ship hazardous materials in the United States, you must have reliable access to the most current and correct transportation regulations.  Although your first inclination may be to turn to the federal government, understand that the government may not be most timely option for supplying the updated regulatory information.

The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) is a codification of U.S. federal laws. Updates to the CFR are published in the Federal Register on a daily basis.  Simply stated, the CFR is a structured organization of official agency regulations presented in a publication format for easy user reference.  Title 49 covers the subject of Transportation.

A “no-cost” option to access and research information found in the code of federal regulations is via the internet using the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (e-CFR).  As a means to comply with 49 CFR, this government-run website may be considered by some industry professionals to be unfavorable. Although updated daily, this website is self-described by the government as an unofficial “editorial compilation of CFR material and Federal Register amendments”[i]. To make matters worse for e-CFR users, the recent federal government shut-down has yielded a situation in which the Office of the Federal Register is not updating the site contents “due to an appropriations lapse.”

A “low-cost” option might be to purchase an official print version of the 49 CFR from the Government Printing Office (GPO) over the internet from the U.S. Government Bookstore.  Again, keep in mind that your order will not be processed or shipped during the government shut-down. CFR users are faced with challenges and roadblocks to gaining access to the information they need; however, worry not as Labelmaster has the solution for any budget.

EARLY 49 CFR

Year after year, hazmat transportation professionals have turned to Labelmaster to meet their compliance needs.  Sold individually or in combination, both the Early 49 CFR and Government 49 CFR books provide the most recent information for all hazmat shippers to stay up-to-date on constantly-changing agency regulations. The Early 49 CFR includes Parts 100-185 while the government release is a 2-volume set with Parts 100-177 and 178-199. The Early 49 CFR is a Labelmaster exclusive and provides unique features including:

• Available in either standard or spiral bound
• 4-digit number cross-reference table
• Easy-to-read Hazardous Materials Table
• Detailed index that makes it easier to find the regulation you need
• Tabbed sections for easy reference
• “How To Use the CFR” Section
• Color display of hazmat labels and placards
• Adhesive tabs to identify sections

The Early 49 CFR & 49 CFR Government Combo Package includes tabs and ruler.

MASTERREGS™ 49 CFR

Popular with the Hazmat shipper is Labelmaster’s MasterRegs™ 49 CFR publication. This soft-cover book is revised as of November 1, 2013.  The current version features Parts 100-185 and includes Labelmaster’s® exclusive format of the Hazmat Table as well as samples of compliance shipping papers. A distinctive benefit of the MasterRegs™ 49 CFR is the easy-to-read portrait layout of the Hazmat Table (§ 172.101). This design allows hazmat shippers to quickly locate chemical shipping information.

Savvy features of MasterRegs™ 49 CFR include:

• Reg Alerts – notes and illustrations on how to comply with the regulations using an impossible-to-miss logo
• Handy tools such as a measurement conversion table & labeling table
• Regulations that have changed are highlighted in red throughout the book
• Adhesive tabs that put information at your fingertips in just seconds
• Training cards offering a rainbow of colorful images of hazmat label and placards
• Available in standard and spiral bound formats

Of note is the standard bound format available in an 8 1/2″ x 10 7/8″ and packed 1 book/package. The spiral bound format is available in an 8 1/2″ x 10 7/8″ and packed 1 book/package. New this year: Order the MasterRegs™ 49 CFR with USB49 for on-the-go access to the regulations!

GSI REGULATORY UPDATE SERVICE- 49 CFR, PARTS 105-180

Compliance is almost worry-free when you rely on the GSI Update Service publication.  For a low price, users enjoy uninterrupted quarterly book publications that include all regulatory changes to 49 CFR from the previous quarter’s edition.

Features include:

• Lists of proposed and final rules
• Highlighted changes for faster reference
• Larger type size and page size (8 ½” x 11”)
• Index and table of content

Summary

Ensuring the legal transport of your hazardous materials across America is an immense responsibility.  Knowing where to find the most up-to-date and accessible regulatory information is vital to your operation.  For decades our customers, trainers, and consulting professionals have placed their trust in Labelmaster by purchasing our compliance publications.  Compiled and edited by well-known industry veterans, our compliance books and software continues to be THE source for the transport industry to stay current in the constantly changing regulatory climate.

[1] http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/ECFR?SID=6116c599b7f572e15ee6e1463781d8ee&page=userinfo