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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Transporting hazardous materials
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 (PDF).
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 (PDF) 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 (PDF) for more information.
Additional tools and resources
Brochures
- PHSMA hazmat security plan (PDF)
- Registration by mail (PDF) (Online brochure)
Charts
- Placarding chart (PDF)
Guides
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