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Hazmat Transportation Procedures

Moving hazardous materials requires great care and expertise, and any small misstep can cause large-scale contamination. An entire department of the U.S. government oversees the transportation of hazardous materials, in conjunction with state governments, and prescribes a strict procedural protocol for all transporters of hazardous materials to follow.

  1. Permitting and Licensing

    • Any transportation of hazardous materials requires thorough checking and licensing from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). The first regulation requires that anyone planning to carry hazardous materials must apply for a license with his or her respective state. That state takes the license to the federal level, where background checks and employment reviews are required. Before that material can be taken anywhere, the federal authorities must sign off on it. Before a vehicle leaves, the federal authorities have the right to perform an inspection to make sure all material has been loaded safely and the vehicle can handle the task.

    Hazmat Training

    • Anyone transporting hazardous materials is required by federal law to receive Hazmat training, a certification offered through some employers or taught all over the country for safely handling hazardous materials. PHMSA requires any company that plans to transport hazardous materials train its employees six months in advance of the transportation. According to the Security and Emergency Response Training Center, Hazmat classes run five days and cost approximately $1,600. PHMSA provides training grants for employers to get employees Hazmat-certified.

    Land or Air

    • Prescribed procedures differ depending on whether compounds are being transferred through the air or on the ground. Vehicles transporting hazardous materials by highway must clearly placard the vehicle with warnings about what's inside. PHMSA also requires that a planned route is agreed on before the drive begins. PHMSA encourages transporting items that emit ionizing radiation, such as components used for nuclear power or medical X-rays, by air.

    Shipping Hazardous Materials

    • Shipping companies such as the United Parcel Service require require shippers adhere to all federal regulations and several other procedures. UPS, for example, requires a legal contract be drawn up for all hazardous material transactions and only allows three chemically compatible elements in one package.

    Consequences

    • Anyone not following government requirements for transportation of hazardous materials can be punished in a number of ways. According to PHMSA, the U.S. government may sue to block transportation of materials if it feels the journey will create a safety hazard or those moving the materials are not following the correct procedures. Anyone violating any part of Federal Hazardous Materials Transportation Law will be subject to fines for each regulation violated.

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