# FedEx Freight, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 13-0046  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2013-06-06

13-0046 response to FedEx Freight, Inc. concerning 172.202.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department of Transportation
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials
Safety Administration
1200 New Jersey Ave, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20590
JUN 0 6 2013
Ms. Sandra Richesin
Safety Compliance Specialist
Mr. Mike Brust
Corporate Safety
FedEx Freight Inc.
2200 Forward Drive
P.O. Box 840
Harrison, AR 72602-0840
Reference No. 13-0046
Ms. Richesin and Mr. Brust:
This is in response to your e-mail requesting clarification of the Hazardous Materials
Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR 171-180) applicable to shipping papers. Specifically, you ask
about the proper placement of the type of packaging (i.e.; "BOX") on a shipping paper. The
format of the shipping paper as shown in your e-mail is as follows:
PCS HM DESCRIPTION WGT/Ibs
X BOX,UN2790,ACETIC ACID SOLUTION,8 26
PGII
You state that the word "BOX" is located in front (to the left) of the hazardous material
basic description and ask whether this is in conformance with the requirements specified in
§ 172.202, "Description of hazardous material on shipping papers."
The number and type of packages must be indicated (for example, "1 box" or "8 fiberboard
drums") on a shipping paper (see§§ 172.202(a)(7) and 172.202(c)) either before or after the
required basic description. The number and type of packaging, total quantity shipped, and
destination marks are the only entries permitted to precede the basic description, and may be
repeated after the basic description.
As the shipping paper appears in your e-mail, we observe a few items that may be problematic.
Although placed before the basic description, the word "BOX" appears to be under the column
heading "Description," and is separated from the number of boxes, "1," which is placed under

<<<PAGE 2>>>

the column heading "PCS." Additionally, the placement of"PGII" appears to be placed after
the weight ("26"). The packing group should be directly following the hazard class.
We suggest either moving the word "BOX" to the first column (PCS) next to the "1" under a
column heading such as "Number and Type of Packages," or moving column (PCS) so that it is
above the word "BOX" and separated before or after the column heading "Description."
Additionally, we suggest either moving "PGII" up to the line immediately following the hazard
class ("8") or inserting vertical lines and horizontal lines where necessary; in effect creating
columns and delineating more clearly the authorized split between the description
requirements.
I hope this information is helpful. Please contact this office should you have additional
questions.
Sincerely,
T. Glenn Foster
Chief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention Branch
Standards and Rulemaking Division

<<<PAGE 3>>>

Drakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA)
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject: INFOCNTR (PHMSA)
l3 -ooJ../-(p
Tuesday, February 19, 2013 2:20PM
Drakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA)
FW: Request for Interpretation- Description of Hazardous Material on Shipping Papers 172.202
Hi Carolyn,
We received the following request for a formal letter of interpretation.
Thanks,
Victoria
From: Richesin, Sandra --- Safety Compliance Specialist --- GO [mailto:sandra.richesin@fedex.com]
Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2013 7:04PM
To: INFOCNTR (PHMSA)
Subject: Request for Interpretation- Description of Hazardous Material on Shipping Papers 172.202
February 14, 2013
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)
U.S. Department of Transportation
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
East Building, 2nd Floor
1200 New Jersey Ave., SE
Washington, DC 20590
We are requesting an interpretation concerning the placement of the type of package on the hazardous material shipping
paper.
Below is the format of the shipping paper:
PCS HM DESCRIPTION WGT/Ibs
1 X BOX,UN2790,ACETIC ACID SOLUTION,8 26
PGII
With the word "BOX" located in front of the hazardous material basic description which is the type of package required by
49 CFR 172.202(7), is this compliant with the requirements contained in 49 CFR 172.202 - Description of hazardous
material on shipping papers?
We appreciate your time in reviewing this request and look forward to receiving a response.
Respectfully,
Sandra Richesin Mike Brust
1

<<<PAGE 4>>>

Safety Compliance Specialist
Manager- Corporate Safety
FedEx Freight Inc.
FedEx Freight Inc.
2200 Forward Drive
2200 Forward Drive
PO Box 840
PO Box 840
Harrison, AR 72602-0840
Harrison, AR 72602-0840
870-704-5339
870-704-5346
2

<<<PAGE 5>>>

Reference No. 13-0046
From: Richesin, Sandra--- Safety Compliance Specialist--- GO [mc:JjJ1Q_~~cm_d.r9.J:i~_b§~lo.@~g-~):C_,_<;:Q!I!]
Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2013 7:04 PM
To: INFOCNTR (PHMSA)
Subject: Request for Interpretation- Description of Hazardous Material on Shipping Papers 172.202
February 14, 2013
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)
U.S. Department of Transportation
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
East Building, 2nd Floor
1200 New Jersey Ave., SE
Washington, DC 20590
We are requesting an interpretation concerning the placement of the type of package on the hazardous
material shipping paper.
Below is the format of the shipping paper:
PCS HM DESCRIPTION WGT/Ibs
1 X BOX,UN2790,ACETIC ACID SOLUTION,8 26
PGII
With the word "BOX" located in front of the hazardous material basic description which is the type of
package required by 49 CFR 172.202(7), is this compliant with the requirements contained in 49 CFR
172.202- Description of hazardous material on shipping papers?
We appreciate your time in reviewing this request and look forward to receiving a response.
Respectfully,
Sandra Richesin
Safety Compliance Specialist
FedEx Freight Inc.
2200 Forward Drive
PO Box 840
Harrison, AR 72602-0840
Mike Brust
Manager - Corporate Safety
FedEx Freight Inc.
2200 Forward Drive
PO Box 840
Harrison, AR 72602-0840
870-704-5339
870-704-5346

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2013/130046.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `36ee6ef9dae0f3dc8e6d81925490d8b2350fee619e72f56132f613e8e7e2db26`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-22T14:23:56.265Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-13-0046`

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