# P.B.&S. Chemical Company, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 00-0097  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2000-06-08

00-0097 response to P.B.&S. Chemical Company, Inc. concerning 172.203.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

S. Departmen
Transportation
Speciai Programs
Administration
JUN - 8 2000
Mr. Kevin Walker
Ref. No. 00-0097
Plant Manager
P.B.& S. Chemical Company, Inc.
395 Swancott Road
Madison, AL 35756-9072
Dear Mr. Walker:
This is in response to your letter dated March 27, 2000, requesting clarification of the provisions in
§ 172.301(a)(3) of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180).
You provided the following scenario:
A truck is loaded at one location with non-bulk packages containing: 9,000 pounds of Sodium
hydroxide, 8, UN1824; 3,400 pounds of Potassium hydroxide, 8, UN1814; 1,200 pounds of
Isopropyl alcohol, 3, UN1219; and 4,500 pounds of other non-regulated materials. :
Specifically, you ask if the truck must display the appropriate placards and identification number *
markings or only placards.
The truck in your scenario requires the display of placards only. Section 172.301(a)(3) requires
identification number markings on a vehicle containing only a single hazardous material in non-bulk
packages that are marked with the same proper shipping name and identification number. This
requirement does not apply to the above scenario because the truck is loaded with more than one
material.
I hope this satisfies your request.
Sincerely,
des
Transportation Regulations Specialists
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
172.301
000097

<<<PAGE 2>>>

BRENNTAG
Stinnes Logistics
BDH
P. B. &S. Chemical Company, Inc.
5172.301
March 27, 2000
00-0097
Mr. Delmer F. Billings, Jr.
Chief, DHM-11, Standards Development
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
400 7th Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20590-0001
SUBJECT: Clarification of placarding requirement in PART 172:301(a) 3
Dear Mr. Billings:
As a full line chemical distributor, PB&S Chemical regularly loads multiple hazard classes of
products on our local delivery trucks. Internally, there has been some disagreement on the
application of the referenced regulation, particularly with the wording, "containing only a
single hazardous material in non-bulk packages", as well as note (iv) stating, "contains no
orier material, hazardous or otherwise;".
Below is a typical example of a daily load of material, all of which would be loaded at our
facility for delivery to various customers. My primary concern is the rule's requirements for
UN-numbered placards on non-bulk packages when more than one product is on the same
truck
SCENARIO:--truck is loaded with the following freight at one location
9C00 Ibs of Sodium Hydroxide, 8(Corrosive), UN1824 in non-bulk package(55 gal drums)
3400 Ibs of Potassium Hydroxide, 8(Corrosive), UN1824 in non-bulk package
12000 lbs of Isopropyl Alcohol, 3(Flammable liquid), UN1219 in non-bulk package
1500 lbs of various other non-regulated chemicals
IN 1814
Should this truck be placarded:
1. Corrosive UN1824, Corrosive, and Flammable UN1219,
OR
2. Corrosive and Flammable (word-only placards)
P.B.&S. Chemical Company, Inc.
Tel.
395 Swancott Road
Toll Free
(800) 289-4020
(256) 772-7200
Madison, AL 35756-9072
Fax
(256) 761-0439

<<<PAGE 3>>>

My interpretation of this rule is that option "2" would apply, since there is more than a single
hazardous product on board. Furthermore, my understanding of the 4000 kg(8820 Ibs) ruling
applies only when that is the only product on the truck and total weight, in non-bulk packages
exceeds 4000 kg. Your clarification would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Kevin Walker
Plant Manager

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2000/000097.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `15c011f76be017252d4f377dc89931d9d97b4d83f228caa013a96b52c55d9420`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-23T23:36:07.555Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-00-0097`

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