# Akzo Nobel Chemicals, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 07-0211  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2007-12-03

07-0211 response to Akzo Nobel Chemicals, Inc. concerning 172.102.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department
of Transportation
Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety
Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, D.C. 20590
Mr. Mark Connolly
Manager, Transportation Regulations and Security
Akzo Nobel Chemicals, Inc.
525 W. Van Buren Street
Chicago, IL 60706
Ref. No.: 07-02 1 1
Dear Mr. Connolly:
This responds to your October 29,2007, letter regarding the description of hazardous
materials on shipping papers required under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49
CFR Parts 171 -1 80). Specifically, you request clarification on the following abbreviations
used to describe the type of package on a shipping paper: (1) "T/T" or "TT" to describe a
cargo tank or a tank truck, and (2) "ISOTANK" to describe an intermodal portable tank?
Section 172.202(a)(7) requires the number and type of packages to be indicated on a shipping
paper. The type of packages must be indicated by description of the package (e.g., "drum") or
abbreviation (e.g. "cyl" for "cylinder"). The abbreviations you provide are commonly
accepted and recognizable and thus, may be used to indicate packaging type.
I hope this answers your inquiry.
Sincerely,
/ Chief, Standards Development
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards

<<<PAGE 2>>>

AKHB NOBEL
October 29, 2007
Mr. John Gale
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards (PHH-10)
Office of Hazardous Materials Safety
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
U.S. Department of Transportation
East Building, 2nd Floor
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590-0001
Subject: for
HM-215 E Use of Commonly Acceptable Recognizable Abbreviations
Certain Bulk Packages in Accordance with 49CFR172.202 (a) (7)
Dear Mr. Gale:
Akzo Nobel Chemicals strives to meet the requirements for description of the type of
package on the shipping paper. We have received questions about abbreviations for
certain package types from carrier personnel confused by their interpretations of Final
Rule HM-215E.
For Bulk packages we request the clarification for the use of the following abbreviations:
"T/T" or "TT" for Cargo Tank
"ISOTANK" for the large (approximately 10,500 liters thru 25,000 liters
capacity) intermodal portable tank designed to be removed from a
chassis for intermodal transport.
We have discussed the use of T/T or TT with our tank truck carriers and they are in
agreement that this is a common recognizable abbreviation for the package type tank
truck.
We have discussed the use of the term ISOTANK with personnel from our highway
carriers, our lsotank leasing companies, and also ocean carrier personnel. They are in
agreement that this is a common recognizable abbreviation for the package type
portable tank.
Your clarification is appreciated.
Regards,
Manager, Transportation Regulations and Security
Tel# 3 12 544-7 177
Fax# 3 12 544-7087
Email mark.connollv@,akzonobel.com
Akzo Nobel Chemicals Inc. 525 W Van Buren Street Chicago IL 60706

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2007/070211.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `9646497525b94ef9ebdbef003c6ff240db48e184e38dcf31e3cd329d6dbbc5ac`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-22T14:59:29.488Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-07-0211`

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