# Trinity Containers, LLC — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 14-0235  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2015-07-09

14-0235 response to Trinity Containers, LLC concerning 178.337.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department
of Transportation
Washington, DC 20590
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE
Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety
Administration
JUL 0 9 2015
Mr. Greg McRae
Engineering and Technical Director
Trinity Containers, LLC.
2525 Stemmons Freeway
Dallas, TX 75207
Lewiston, NY 14092
Reference No. 14-0235
Dear Mr. McRae:
This is in response to your October 14, 2014 letter requesting clarification of the
Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) regarding alternate pad
designs for the attachment of appurtenances to cargo tank internal wall surfaces.
Specifically, you ask if § 178.337-3 allows alternate pad designs to be used for the
attachment of appurtenances to cargo tank internal wall surfaces provided that such designs
do not affect the lading retention integrity of the tank. You note that each alternate design
and its attachment have been proven by a finite element analyses and meet the allowable
loads requirement of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).
Section 178.337-3(g)(3) outlines the requirements for the use of mounting pads when
welding any appurtenances to the cargo tank wall. Any pad design that complies with the
requirements of § 178.337-3(g)(3) may be utilized. A mounting pad that does not meet the
criteria shown in § 178.337-3(g)(3) may not be used for the attachment of appurtenances to
cargo tank internal wall surfaces.
I trust this information is helpful. If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to
contact this office.
Sincerely,
Duane A. Pfund
International Standards Coordinator
Standards and Rulemaking Division

<<<PAGE 2>>>

Webb
178.337
3(9)(2) (3
Goodali, Shante CTR (PHMSA)
Structnal integrit
From:
Ciccarone, Michael CTR (PHMSA)
14-0235
Sent:
To:
Hazmat Interps
Friday, December 05, 2014 2:27 PN
Subject:
FW: two letters requestion Interpretations
Attachments:
20141205110044612.pdf
Shante/Alice,
Please submit this for a formal letter of interpretation. Mr. McRae spoke to Adam Lucas in the HMIC. Please note that
there are two letters of interpretation attached.
Thanks,
Mike
-----Original Message-----
From: Greg McRae [maiito: Greg.McRae@trin.net]
Sent: Friday, December 05, 2014 11:53 AM
To: INFOCNTR (PHMSA)
Subject: two letters requestion Interpretations
Attention Adam: attached are the two letters that we were requesting Interpretations.
Thanks for your assistance a few minutes ago.
Regards,
Greg McRae
Trinity Containers, LLC.
214-454-9498
Notice: This email message, including any attachments, contains information belonging to Trinity Industries, Inc. and/or
its business units. It has been sent solely for the use of the intended recipients and may contain non-public information
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## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2015/140235.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `9653256724a2d70c1d78a9f541f254a1b840be9ab41aa3418e0ee4b4cab44a45`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-22T19:25:44.889Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-14-0235`

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