On August 28, 2015, the United States Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD), through a cooperative agreement with the United States Department of Energy, initiated field tests on a prototype hydrogen fuel cell to power refrigeration units in the port of Honolulu, Hawaii for freight shipments between harbors. “The Maritime Administration continues to fund innovative…
Maryland Circuit Court Case may derail hazmat confidentiality
The outcome of a recently decided court case in Maryland has the Class One railroads pondering their next move as regards keeping movement and other logistics information confidential when it comes to what the federal government has now classified as “high hazard” flammable liquids trains. On August 17th City of Baltimore Circuit Court Judge Lawrence…
Why the updated 2016 Emergency Response Guidebook is more essential than ever
Every four years the United States, Canadian and Mexican governments cooperate in issuing a revised edition of a wonderfully useful and often terribly important little orange book: the Emergency Response Guidebook, commonly known as “the ERG.” The 2016 edition is coming soon, and it promises to be more essential than ever. From “quick and dirty”…
Recap of the ECOSOC Sub-Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods
A New Biennium With the retirement of Mr. Hart of the UK, a new UN Sub-committee of experts on the transport of dangerous goods biennium began on 22nd June under the chairmanship of Mr. Pfund from the US. Mr. Pfund follows in the footsteps of such luminaries from the US DOT as Mr. Al Roberts…
When You Violate DG Shipping Regulations, Fines Can Stack Up
Having mislabeled or incorrectly marked cargo could mean delayed shipments and fines from violations. And with ever-changing rules and regulations, things can get complicated. We can help. We have complied a list of seven types of common violations and how you can avoid them: www.labelmaster.com/common-violations
The Sky is NOT The Limit When Shipping DG
It’s been a busy summer for our A.I.R. ShipperTM authoring team. Rolling in the large number of changes developed by ICAO, the UN and the IAEA was a challenge made more difficult with very late changes for lithium metal batteries. In case you hadn’t heard, these will be banned aboard passenger aircraft per the ICAO Technical…
The Buzz: Upcoming End to Class 9 Hazard Label Transition Period has the Hazardous Materials Community Talking
In the July 20th, 2011 edition of the US Federal Register, the United States Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) published a final rule under [Docket No. PHMSA–2009–0151 (HM–218F)] under which the agency, among many other things, set forth new specifications and requirements governing the appearance of the Class 9…
FMCSA Considers Negotiated Rulemaking Process for Upgraded Federal Regulations Governing CDL Driver Training
In an action published in today’s Federal Register, the US Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced the retention of a “neutral convener” to explore with stakeholders the potential of entering into a negotiated rulemaking process regarding the upgrading of licensing requirements for holders of Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). Comments on…
DOT’s PHMSA Issues Final Rule on Penalties, Hazmat Operations
The United States Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) today issued a Final Rule pertaining to the ability of individuals and corporations to continue to operate after failing to pay a required penalty assessed under a violation of the US 49 CFR Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR). In Docket # PHMSA-2012-0258…
PHMSA Announces Final Rule Pertaining to Lithium Battery Transport
Today via the U.S. DOT PHMSA website, the agency announced the forthcoming issuance of a Final Rule regarding new regulatory requirements pertaining to the safe transport of lithium batteries. Specifically, the new ruling revises hazard communication and packaging provisions for lithium batteries and harmonizes the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) with applicable provisions of the United…