Officials Say U.S. Moving Quickly on Permits for High-Risk Hazmats

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AS VEGAS — Federal safety and security specialists told the National Tank Truck Carriers convention here that the government was moving quickly to require special permits for high-risk hazardous materials, and that it is working to secure the national transportation system as a whole, rather than only particular parts of it.

Daniel Shelton, cargo-tank program manager for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, said soon-to-be-published rules would require companies to obtain special permits to haul such items as high explosives, radioactive material, liquefied natural gas and high-inhalation materials.

“We’re not talking about firecrackers,” Shelton said, adding that the items subject to the permitting requirement were already highlighted by the federal government as Class 1A hazmat loads. He spoke May 12.

Shelton said the rule would require all carriers, regardless if they are intrastate, interstate or foreign, to apply to FMCSA for a permit.

For the full story, see the May 17 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.