# Sumter Transport — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 00-0010  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2000-01-27

00-0010 response to Sumter Transport concerning 178.345.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

400 Seventh Street, S.W.
Research and
Washington, D.C.
20590
Administration
special Program:
JAN 2 7 2000
Mr. Scott W. Rumph
'umter Transpor
Ref. No. 00-0010
70 South Lafayette Driv
Sumter, South Carolina 29150
Dear Mr. Rumph:
This responds to your letter, dated October 29, 1999, concerning cargo tank specification
requirements in the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180).
Specifically, you ask about a design modification to MC 307, MC 312, DOT 407, and DOT 412
specification cargo tanks to equip them with an internal agitation system driven by a power
source located outside the cargo tank.
Your letter suggests that you are considering manufacturing new cargo tanks equipped with the
internal agitation system rather than modifying existing cargo tanks. You should be aware that
MC 307 and MC 312 specification cargo tanks have not been authorized for new construction
since August 31, 1995 (see § 180.405(b)).
The design and construction requirements for DOT 407 and DOT 412 specification cargo tanks
are in § 178.345 of the HMR. The regulations do not prohibit a design of the type you describe.
Each cargo tank motor vehicle design type must be approved by a Design Certifying Engineer
(see § 178.320(b)). In addition, each finished cargo tank motor vehicle must be inspected by an
Authorized Inspector or a Registered Inspector, as applicable (see § 178.345-1(e)).
Generally, MC 307, MC 312, DOT 407, and DOT 412 specification cargo tanks are authorized
for bulk shipments of flammable liquids, including waste flammable liquids. Packaging
requirements for bulk quantities of a specific hazardous material can be found in column 8(C) of
he Hazardous Materials Table in 8 172.101 of the HMR. You should consult the section of th
HMR referenced in column 8(C) for the specific hazardous material you are transporting for the
packagings authorized for transportation and any special requirements that also apply.
000010
178.345

<<<PAGE 2>>>

Subpart B - Preparation of Hazardous Materials for Transportation.
Additional requirements for transporting bulk quantities of hazardous materials are in Part 173,
this office.
I hope this information is helpful. If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact
Sincerely,
Th
orn t. Allan
Thomas G. Allan
Senior Transportation Regulations Specialist
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards

<<<PAGE 3>>>

..
gorsky
File: 178.345
Ref. No.
O0-OCjIC:
Transport
Sumter
October 29, 1999
Mr. Edward Mazullo
U.S. Department of Transportation
Director of Standards
Washington, DC 20590
J.S. Dot 400 7* Street S. W
Dear Mr. Mazullo:
We are considering having some tank trailers built that will be equipped with an internal
My question is whether this proposed application would meet the specifications as per the
Code of Federal Regulations for the following code tankers:
1.)
MC 307 Tankers
2:)
MC 407 Tankers
3.)
ASME 312 Tankers
4.)
ASME 412 Tankers
We also are especially interested in how this may apply to the transportation
of hazardous waste flammable liquids on the United States highways.
I would appreciate an early response, as we need guidance on several pending business
expansion deadlines in the transportation business.
I can be reached by telephone at 1-800-479-7496 should you need to speak to me. Thank you
for your time and response to this inquiry.
Sincerely,
all demish
SWR/jk
Scott W. Rumph
PO Box 1060 Sumter SC 29151 • 170 S Lafayette Drive Sumter SC 29150 • T/803.775.1002 • F/803.773.1873

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2000/000010.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `48a33b5ff9365cac6a34b4b55f883bf2dc2da97547e4cad00c80459acc32b349`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-22T17:43:06.394Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-00-0010`

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