On April 10, 2020, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued a guidance document addressing the transfer of hazardous material shipping papers during the current COVID-19 pandemic. PHMSA has received many questions related to the transfer of shipping papers between shippers and carriers, and the difficulties with maintaining…
DG Digest: PHMSA releases interpretive guide and USPS issues special exemption for hand sanitizer transport
The holiday weekend just concluded finds the nation still grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic as the overriding priority in virtually every aspect of our daily lives. This applies to the logistics sector as well, with several new items of interest related to the subject. Life does go on in the meantime too of course, and this is…
DG Digest: PHMSA & Transport Canada ease transport rules on hand sanitizer
The ongoing COVID-19 crisis continues to dominate regulatory activity. Several new actions dealing with it were promulgated during the last week and we’ll cover them below. Labelmaster continues to serve the DG logistics chain during this time when it’s become even more important. We’re working safe and doing everything we can to be a positive…
DG Digest: PHMSA temporarily relaxing recurrent training certificate requirement, HHS announces list of scarce materials threatened by hoarding
The COVID-19 crisis commands most of the week’s regulatory news. As the world continues to work through its response, the weekly DG Digest will continue in its present format during the crisis: one section devoted specifically to news related to the pandemic, with other news in a separate section. Labelmaster remains fully operational and serving…
DG Digest: ICAO/IATA and ADR react to the pandemic, FRA seeks comments on quarterly PTC form
As all of our readers know, the COVID-19 pandemic is now dominating the news and is affecting transport worldwide and well beyond impacts to private travelers. Its overall impact to industry and trade remains to be seen, but as dangerous goods professionals it’s our responsibility to keep things moving safely during this unsettled time. Let’s…
DG Digest: U.S. DOT and PHMSA each outline revised guidance on regulatory roles
The second week in March finds the nation continuing to cope with the growing COVID-19 viral outbreak. Help your employees stay safe by emphasizing the basics: hand washing, covering one’s mouth for sneezes and coughs, stay home if ill, and don’t panic. We can do this! In other news, on Sunday we all “sprang forward.” …
DG Digest: while not changing regulations, Transport Canada to reform the language of TDGR
Winter slogs on as we approach the end of February and look forward to March, which, according to tradition, “comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.” Let’s all hope so! Meanwhile, the week just concluded saw a number of actions of interest, with both national and international actions taking place that…
DG Digest: FRA publishes regulation on risk reduction programs and FMCSA announces reduced fees for states
The week just ended found regulatory activity about normal—several actions of interest including several Special Permit actions from PHMSA and a big new final rule from the FRA. In another story that is not currently receiving heavy US media coverage, our Canadian neighbors are experiencing an environmental and political dispute that has had a significant impact…
DOT PHMSA Hosts First Lithium Battery Air Safety Advisory Committee Meeting
Last week DOT PHMSA hosted the first Lithium Battery Air Safety Advisory Committee meeting at DOT Headquarters in Washington, D.C., and I had the pleasure of the attending the meeting alongside Labelmaster Services V.P. of Consulting, Pia Jala. Lithium cell and battery production throughout the world continues to grow at an astonishing rate due to…
DG Digest: PHMSA issues IRC on portable tanks and IBCs; FRA is proposing changes to train brake inspections
Mid-January finds the regulatory world getting busy again as the nation weathers fierce winter weather. The UNECE has a pair of very interesting published revisions to important documents; we cover that below, along with a variety of other actions. Meanwhile it’s the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on Monday; the Labelmaster family wishes…