Citation

Roberts AI. Transp. Res. Rec. 1977; 647: 63-65.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1977, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences USA, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

HM-112 is a serial docket number pertaining to the U.S. Department of Transportation regulation on the safe transport of hazardous materials. This action is significant because it brings all the Department's regulations together into a single volume. It also improves the safety regulations pertaining to the safe transport of hazardous materials by making them as intermodally compatible as possible. The consolidation under HM-112 is beneficial because now only one volume is needed when classifying a material, determining its required packaging, marking, labeling, and preparing shipping documents. Consolidation has also eliminated 700 pages of federal regulations and thereby the need to go through three different volumes to find the applicable requirements on transport of hazardous materials. The labeling and placarding system can now be considered consistent with the international standards and provisions required by some international regulatory bodies. The history of HM-112, from notice in the Federal Register to rule making procedures, is described. Carriers reactions to HM-112 are mixed. Motor carriers must convert to the new placarding format. Rail carriers are required to follow revised car placement. Train crews must carry documents indicating the locations of all placarded cars in their trains. Overall, the standardized documentation and placarding requirements will improve the ability of carriers to carry out their responsibilities.