The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is tasked with controlling the flow of hazardous materials. These regulations help ensure the safe and secure transportation of hazardous materials across highways, railways and pipelines.

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Registering motor carriers

Motor carriers transporting hazardous materials (hazmat) in quantities that require placarding must be registered, though there are some exemptions.

Registration exemptions

You may transport lesser amounts of hazmat or transport hazmat as a requirement for your trade without being registered. For example, welding trucks carry acetylene tanks to job sites in limited amounts.

Visit PHMSA’s registration overview for more information.

Hazardous material guidelines for farmers

Farmers often use chemicals that are considered hazardous and need to follow specific regulations when transporting them. If you're a farmer, you might qualify for certain exemptions outlined in this technical bulletin.
truck hauling hazardous materials

Develop a hazardous materials security plan

PHMSA regulation 49 CFR 172.800 requires that each person who offers transportation in commerce–or transports one or more of the listed hazardous materials in 172.800 in commerce–must develop and adhere to a transportation security plan.

Get started with this sample plan

Hazardous materials training requirements

Crucial to ensuring the safe and compliant transportation of hazardous materials, hazmat training enhances drivers’ safety awareness and equips them with the necessary skills to handle emergencies effectively, reducing the risk of incidents.

Follow this guide to develop an effective hazmat training program.

PHMSA regulation 49 CFR, part 177

PHMSA regulation 49 CFR Part 177 states that no carrier may transport hazardous materials unless each hazmat employee operating a motor vehicle has been trained in the applicable requirements.

View the hazmat transportation training requirements guide for more information.

Additional tools and resources
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Brochures

Charts

Guides

Checklists

Forms

Guides

Technical bulletins

Essential guide to rules and regulations for commercial and farm vehicles

Each section outlines the steps you need to take in order to be compliant with regulations in a topic area, and includes downloadable tools and resources to facilitate the process.

Contact us for assistance with safety and risk management services
Call 1-800-260-1356 or email RMSolutions@nationwide.com
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