After a relatively quiet couple of weeks, things have picked back up and filled the digest with news. Here are the newest updates from the world of Dangerous Goods and EH&S: OSHA: In conjunction with the Obama Administration cooperated to proclaim April 28th as “Workers Memorial Day.” The event is intended to mark the still…
DG Digest: OSHA’s Interest in Benzene, PHMSA Guidance to Firework Makers, and FRA Lists Most Dangerous Crossings
It’s the last week of April already! Hope everyone is thinking spring by now. Here the latest’s news of note in the worlds of Dangerous Goods and EH&S: OSHA: OSHA released a new information collection request in reference to Benzene, a common industrial chemical used in many applications but that has hazardous qualities that make…
DG Digest: From OSHA’s “Flashpoint” Definition to FRA’s Quiet Zones
Another eventful week on the DG/Transport Scene! OSHA OSHA issued a revised definition of “Flashpoint,” correcting a CFR omission in its most recent iteration of the 29 CFR. OSHA has partnered with the National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH) to create a new informational website which offers greatly enhanced safety guidance for users…
DG Digest: FMCSA lowers truckers’ substance test rates, will hold FAST sessions; FRA begins PTC data collection
December 24: FMCSA cuts random truckers’ testing rate for substance abuse to 25%. Good news for truck drivers and carriers—the United States Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has cut the random testing rate for substance abuse in half, from 50% to 25%. This should produce a nice savings for carriers,…
USDOT/FMCSA announces delay to new Medical Exam Report and Certificate compliance date
Today the United States Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) formally made the anticipated announcement of which rumor had circulated in the regulatory community for the last several days. FMCSA offered a “grace period” of 120 days regarding mandatory use of the new Medical Examination Report (MER) (Federal Form MCSA-5875) and…
Are There New FMCSA Electronic Logging Devices Regulations on the Horizon?
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) submitted a notice of filing on December 10, 2015, that will mandate the use of electronic logging devices (ELDs) by interstate commercial motor vehicle drivers who currently use a driver’s log to record their hours of service. This ruling is scheduled to be posted in the Federal Register…
New FMCSA Medical Examination Forms Released
On Monday December 7th, 2015, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) posted example copies of the revised Medical Examination Report Form (MCSA-5875) and Medical Examiner’s Certificate (MCSA-5876) on the FMCSA website. See below: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/medical/driver-medical-requirements/medical-applications-and-forms The FMCSA mandated use of the new forms in a Final Rule amending the FMCSR published in the Federal Register…
Older Driver’s Medical Certificate Gets Six Month Reprieve
FMCSA correction of 6/22/2015 In the June 22nd, 2015 edition of the US Federal Register, the United States Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) revised its requirements to use the new MCSA-5875 Report of Examination and MCSA-5876 Medical Exam Certificate for Commercial Driver’s Licence (CDL) holders. The docket ([Docket No. FMCSA–2012–0178])…
Trucker’s Group Requests Extension of Comment Period for FMCSA Required Drug and Alcohol Testing
In an action published in yesterday’s Federal Register, the US Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) extended the comment period on the proposed rulemaking (NPRM) which would establish a new nationwide database for reporting and tracking drug and alcohol related citations and test results for operators of commercial vehicles (CMV) holding…
FMCSA Releases Revised National Hazardous Materials Route Registry
In the April 29, 2015 edition of the Federal Register, the US Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has issued a revised National Hazardous Materials Route Registry (NHMRR) which spells out approved routes for road vehicles to transport hazardous materials in the United States. The Registry also contains extensive information designed…