# Global Logistics Services — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 05-0315  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2006-02-03

05-0315 response to Global Logistics Services concerning 173.156.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

FEB - 3 2006
Ms. Joan M. Boardman
Ref. No. 05-0315
Global Logistics Services
Pfizer, Inc.
1855 Shelby Oaks Drive North
Memphis, TN 38134-7401
Dear Ms. Boardman:
This responds to your December 8, 2005 letter requesting clarification on marking
requirements for your ORM-D material under the Hazardous Materials Regulations
(HMR: 49 CFR Parts 171-180). According to your letter, you ship your ORM-D
materials in "club pallets" consisting of two bottles in a strong fiberboard tray. Trays are
then palletized and shrink-wrapped as one and transported to the consignee.
In accordance with § 173.156, packages of materials described as "Consumer
commodity, ORM-D" are not subject to the marking requirements prescribed in Subpart
D of Part 172, including & 172.316, when unitized in cages, carts, boxes or similar
overpacks, and when offered for transportation or transported by a private or contract
motor carrier or a common carrier vehicle under exclusive use for such service, from a
manufacturer to a distribution center, from a manufacturer or distribution center to a retail
outlet, or return.
I hope this answers your inquiry.
Sincerely,
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
173.156
050315

<<<PAGE 2>>>

85 - 0315
Global Transportation Compliance
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
U.S. Department of Transportation
400 Seventh Street, SW
Washington, DC 20590-0001
ATTENTION: PHH-10
Pfizer manufactures a mouthwash classified as a Consumer Commodity, ORM-D which is
packaged in 2.1 L bottles and sold to various club warehouses; i.e., Sam's, Costco, etc. in trays
on pallets. The business refers to this packaging configuration as a "club pallet." This club pallet
configuration consists of two bottles in a strong fiberboard tray. Trays are then palletized and
Our understanding of the regulations (§§ 172.316, 173.25 and 173.156) and our subsequent
conversation with your colleague, Eileen Edmonson, indicate that we may meet the ORM-D
marking requirements by marking the shrinkwrap as long as the mark will not become separated
from the pallet; i.e., taped, covered with clear shrinkwrap, etc.
At your convenience, I would appreciate your confirming this understanding in writing.
i in Bast

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2005/050315.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `408d7d97b98d805a1d2147a4a462e14350fd3b7cfcd2341e084bcb67088bb378`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-22T19:25:44.011Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-05-0315`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "materialSubtype": "interpretation",
  "interpretationArea": "hazardous_materials",
  "representation": "full_text_from_official_pdf",
  "companies": [
    "Global Logistics Services"
  ],
  "individuals": [
    "Ms. Joan M. Boardman"
  ],
  "refIds": [
    "05-0315"
  ],
  "catalogDates": [
    "2006-02-03"
  ],
  "catalogParts": [
    173
  ],
  "catalogRowCount": 1,
  "sourceRecordUrls": [
    "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/node/49491"
  ],
  "linkedAttachmentUrls": [],
  "unavailableResponseUrls": [],
  "duplicateRepresentationUrls": [],
  "citedSections": [
    "173.156",
    "172.316",
    "173.25"
  ],
  "catalogPageUrls": [
    "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/regulations/title49/section/173156"
  ],
  "pdfUrls": [
    "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2005/050315.pdf"
  ],
  "representations": [
    {
      "viewUrl": "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2005/050315.pdf",
      "detailUrl": null,
      "detailHtmlPath": null,
      "pdfUrl": "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2005/050315.pdf",
      "pdfArtifactPath": "data/sources/phmsa-interpretations/05-0315-b630a12631.pdf",
      "pdfArtifactSha256": "38b7ef4afbbc856a52470cc7e39b4ecbfd415ed0330f5c6954b6bb09c3b82a3a",
      "extractedTextPath": "data/sources/phmsa-interpretations/05-0315-b630a12631.v2.txt",
      "extractedTextSha256": "39b2e3c6377ff9f50a23c1d73a7eac47d28c70a9e4d6ad69353d1a3b31c13016",
      "pageCount": 2,
      "extractionVersion": 2
    }
  ],
  "caveat": "Interpretations apply regulations to the facts presented and do not create independently enforceable requirements.",
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```