Interpretation Response #17-0109
Below is the interpretation response detail and a list of regulations sections applicable to this response.
Interpretation Response Details
Response Publish Date:
Company Name: Hunting Titan, Inc
Individual Name: Joe Murphy
Location State: TX Country: US
View the Interpretation Document
Response text:
January 23, 2018
Joe Murphy
Compliance Specialist II, DGSA
Hunting Titan, Inc.
2 Northpoint Drive, Suite 950
Houston, TX 77060
Reference No. 17-0109
Dear Mr. Murphy:
This letter is in response to your October 6, 2017, email requesting clarification of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to placarding, segregation, and shipping paper requirements. You ask questions based on a scenario in which your company transports Division 1.4 explosive materials in a pickup truck and trailer combination.
We have paraphrased and answered your questions as follows:
Q1. You ask if the pickup truck with attached trailer must be placarded if both the pickup truck and trailer are loaded with less than 1,001 pounds of a Division 1.4 explosive material, respectively, but combine to equal a total aggregate weight of more than 1,001 pounds for the pickup truck and trailer combination.
A1. The answer is no. In accordance with § 172.504(c)(1), except for bulk packagings and hazardous materials subject to § 172.505, placards are not required on a transport vehicle or freight container which contains less than 454 kg (1,001 pounds) aggregate gross weight of hazardous materials covered by Table 2 of § 172.504(e) when transported by highway or rail. A transport vehicle is defined in § 171.8 as, "[a] cargo‑carrying vehicle such as an automobile, van, tractor, truck, semitrailer, tank car or rail car used for the transportation of cargo by any mode. Each cargo-carrying body (trailer, rail car, etc.) is a separate transport vehicle."
Therefore, because by definition the pickup truck and trailer are separate transport vehicles and because a Division 1.4 explosive material is listed on Table 2 of § 172.504(e), the HMR do not require placarding if each transport vehicle contains less than 1,001 pounds aggregate gross weight of a Division 1.4 explosive material.
Q2. You ask how to represent the quantity of Division 1.4 explosive materials on the shipping paper to avoid confusion in transportation if placards are not required in Question Q1.
A2. For Class 1 materials not transported via aircraft, the quantity must be displayed in net explosive mass. For an explosive that is an article, such as "Cartridges, small arms," the net explosive mass may be expressed in terms of the net mass of either the article or explosive materials contained in the article. To avoid confusion with total aggregate weight on each transport vehicle, you may include additional information following the basic description in accordance with § 172.201(a)(4), provided the information is not inconsistent with the required description. Alternatively, you may have separate entries on the shipping paper to clarify the quantity of hazardous materials on the pickup truck and the trailer.
Q3. You ask if it is a violation of the HMR to transport a Division 1.4B explosive material on the pickup truck while also transporting a Division 1.4G explosive material on the trailer.
A3. The answer is no. The Compatibility Table for Class 1 Explosive Materials, as outlined in § 177.848(f), indicates an "X" for Compatibility Group B and G. Section 177.848(g) specifies, "The letter 'X' in the table indicates that explosives of different compatibility groups may not be carried on the same transport vehicle." Therefore, the Division 1.4B and 1.4G explosive materials may not be transported on the same transport vehicle. However, there is no restriction for Compatibility Group B and G to be transported on the same motor vehicle, as defined in § 171.8. The pickup truck and trailer are considered separate transport vehicles (see Answer A1). Therefore, if the Division 1.4B explosive material is transported on the pickup truck and the Division 1.4G explosive material is transported on the trailer, it is in compliance with the HMR.
Q4. You ask how to represent the Division 1.4 explosive materials on the shipping paper to avoid confusion in transportation provided there are no segregation issues with the scenario in Question Q3.
A4. Each hazardous material on the motor vehicle must be properly described on the shipping paper as required by Part 172, Subpart C. Similar to Answer A2, to avoid confusion with segregation on each transport vehicle, you may include additional information following the basic description in accordance with § 172.201(a)(4), provided the information is not inconsistent with the required description.
I hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
Dirk Der Kinderen
Chief, Standards Development
Standards and Rulemaking Division
172.504(c)(1), 172.505, 172.504(e), 171.8, 172.201(a)(4), 177.848(f), 177.848(g)