Have you been curious how the partial Government shutdown has affected the Department of Transportation (DOT) offices? DOT recently issued a plan document outlining how each office is operating during the current funding freeze. It includes a summary of personnel affected (working vs. furloughed), as well as summaries of continuing operations and suspended activities. Hazardous…
Hazmat hopes 2019: Top Dangerous Goods professionals share their wishes
Work in Dangerous Goods long enough, and you may find yourself wishing things were different. Couldn’t that new IATA regulation be worded more clearly? Wouldn’t it be great if you didn’t have to explain Limited Quantities to your customer—for the third time? And how exactly does a 2mm-thick label border make a hazmat shipment safer?…
DG Digest: FMCSA reopens comment period on hazmat endorsements
As we roll into the last few weeks of the year, regulatory activity has stayed relatively busy for a period during which it usually isn’t. Is this a harbinger for a busy 2019, perhaps? We’ll see! Meanwhile, remember to stay safe during the holiday season—it’s an easy time to get distracted, whether at home or…
DG Digest: PHMSA’s proposed harmonization rule — HM-215O — released, comment period closes early in 2019
Hopefully everyone has had a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving holiday period—welcome back! The last two busy weeks of regulatory activity are below, with the elephant in the room being the release this morning of PHMSA’s HM-215O International Harmonization NPRM, or proposed rule. This rule, once implemented, would align US regulations with those found in the…
DG Digest: PHMSA publishes HM-219A in hopes of clarifying some regulatory confusion
On Sunday the nation paused to thank its veterans; Labelmaster joins with all Americans to express gratitude to all whose service has meant so much to our country. The week’s news is led by an important PHMSA release as the agency published HM-219A; see below for all the details as well as other regulatory news:…
DG Digest: FedEx released own carrier variations, and FMCSA published an ICR on acquiring a CDL
As the nation heads into Election Day on November 6th, regulatory activity continues at a fairly brisk pace. After such a quiet summer, it’s good to see things stay a little busier! Here’s all the latest: PHMSA The agency published a correction to its recently released update to the air rules under HM-259. The correction…
DOT introduces HazMatt to combat the “plain brown box”
Every year in the United States, there are approximately 1,500 reported transportation incidents caused by undeclared hazmat shipments. These rail fires, battery explosions and other incidents injure carrier employees and first responders while exposing them to dangerous chemicals and substances. Dangerous Goods regulations are useless if shippers don’t know what Dangerous Goods are. Ask any…
DG Digest: PHMSA issues emergency HMR relief for areas hit by Hurricane Michael, and IATA issues new guidance for personal mobility devices on passenger aircraft
The last week of October finds the nation grappling with the midterm election cycle and, again, the shadow of public violence. Certainly we here at Labelmaster offer our deepest condolences to those affected by what has happened in Pittsburgh and elsewhere. The last two weeks featured a busy surge in regulatory activity as many of…
DG Digest: PHMSA issues new special permits and Transport Canada proposes new fee program for packaging stakeholders
The last week found a few places around our country seeing their first snowfall of the season—mostly just dustings, but a reminder that we all need to prepare for the change that is coming. Be sure your workplace safety plan is ready to protect your employees if snowy and icy walks, lots, and driveways are…
DG Digest: while U.S. DOT prepares for a future with autonomous vehicles, FMCSA announces listening sessions for ‘hours of service’
The first week of October found things a little slower than the end of September was, what with all the significant change documents and other items of interest that came out last month. Still, the cooler weather continues to bring “news you can use.” Here it is: PHMSA The agency announced that on Tuesday, November…