# Dayton Freight Lines, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation **Citation:** 23-0052 **Type / status:** guidance / guidance **Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration **Effective:** Not stated **Published:** 2024-05-10 23-0052 response to Dayton Freight Lines, Inc. concerning 171.8, 172.331, 173.159. ## Document text <<>> U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590 May 10, 2024 Mr. Justin Sharkey Director of Safety Dayton Freight Lines, Inc. P.O. Box 340 Vandalia, OH 45377-0340 Reference No. 23-0052 Dear Mr. Sharkey: This letter is in response to your May 18, 2023, letter and conversations with my staff requesting clarification of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to the shipment of batteries. In your letter, you reference Letter of Interpretation (LOI) 16-0081, 1 in which PHMSA states that an electric storage battery exceeding 400 kg (882 lbs.) and secured to a pallet is considered a bulk package under § 173.159(d)(1). We have paraphrased and answered your questions as follows: Q1. You ask whether a battery secured to a pallet and weighing more than 400 kg (882 lbs.)—with a liquid content of less than 450 L—would meet the definition of a bulk packaging when shipped as “UN2794, Batteries, wet, filled with acid, electric storage, 8. ” A1. In accordance with § 171.8, for solids, a bulk packaging is a packaging with a maximum net mass greater than 400 kg (882 lbs.). It is the opinion of this Office that the weight of the battery determines whether a package meeting the requirements of § 173.159(d)(1) is considered bulk or non-bulk. Therefore, an electric storage battery exceeding 400 kg secured to a pallet is a bulk package. Q2. You ask whether a lithium ion battery shipped as “UN3480, Lithium ion batteries, 9” weighing more than 400 kg (882 lbs.) and secured to a pallet would meet the definition of a bulk packaging. 1 https://www7.phmsa.dot.gov/regulations/title49/interp/16-0081 <<>> A2. It is the opinion of this Office that the weight of the lithium ion battery, without the weight of the pallet, determines whether the lithium ion battery meets the definition of a bulk package. Therefore, a lithium ion battery that has a net mass greater than 400 kg would be considered a bulk package. Q3. You state that you typically secure batteries to a pallet with banding, shrink wrap, or bracing screwed to a pallet. You ask whether there is a specific way batteries must be secured to the pallet to meet the requirements specified in § 173.159(d)(1). A3. In accordance with § 173.159(d)(1), the electric storage batteries must be firmly secured to skids or pallets capable of withstanding the shocks normally incident to transportation. Provided the load secured with banding, shrink wrap, or bracing described in your letter is capable of handling shocks normally incident to transportation, the electric batteries firmly secured to skids or pallets would be in conformance with § 173.159(d)(1). Q4. You ask whether an electric storage battery described in LOI 16-0081 would need to be marked as a bulk or non-bulk package. A4. Please see answer A1. It is the opinion of this Office that the weight of the battery determines whether a package meeting the requirements of § 173.159(d)(1) is considered bulk or non-bulk. Therefore, an electric storage battery exceeding 400 kg secured to a pallet is a bulk package and is required to be marked with the United Nations (UN) identification number in accordance with § 172.331. I hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance. Sincerely, Steven Andrews Acting Chief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention Branch Standards and Rulemaking Division <<>> Jacobson 23-0052 From: INFOCNTR (PHMSA) To: Dodd, Alice (PHMSA) Cc: Hazmat Interps Subject: FW: PHMSA Request for Interpretation Date: Monday, June 5, 2023 4:42:49 PM Attachments: PHMSA Interpretation Request.pdf Hello Alice, Please see the attached interpretation request. Let us know if you need anything else. Regards, -Breanna From: Cameron Streutker Sent: Thursday, May 18, 2023 4:11 PM To: INFOCNTR (PHMSA) Subject: PHMSA Request for Interpretation CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the Department of Transportation (DOT). Do not click on links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Dear PHMSA, Attached is a request for a formal interpretation of the hazardous materials regulations. Thank you. Cameron Streutker, CHMM Environmental & Chemical Specialist Corporate Office Dayton Freight Lines, Inc. P: 937.415.1866 f: 937.264.9163 i: 803266 cstreutker@daytonfreight.com www.daytonfreight.com Delivering Value Today. Driving The Standard For Tomorrow. <<>> Standards and Rulemaking Division U.S. DOT/PHMSA (PHH-10) East Building 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE Washington, DC 20590 Dear Sir/Madam: I have several questions regarding interpretation number 16-0081. 1. If a battery secured to a pallet weighing more than 400kg (882 Ibs.) is known to contain less than 450 L (119 gals) would it still meet the definition of a bulk pack when shipped as UN2794, Batteries, wet, filled with acid? 2. Would a large lithium-ion battery weighing more than 400kg (882 Ibs.) secured to a pallet and shipped as UN3480, Lithium ion batteries also be considered a bulk package? 3. The batteries we transport are commonly secured to a pallet with banding, shrink/stretch wrap, or bracing screwed in to the pallet. Is there a specific manner that the battery must be secured to a pallet to meet the requirements in 173.159 (d)(1)? 4. Would a battery secured to a pallet that is considered a bulk package based on 16-0081 be subject to the same labeling requirements as other bulk packaging such as an IBC or because the pallet is an overpack would it require labeling and marking consistent with non-bulk packaging? Sincerely, Cameron Strenttin Cameron Streutker, CHMM Environmental & Chemical Safety Specialist Dayton Freight Lines, Inc. • P.O. Box 340 • Vandalia OH 45377-0340 800.860.5102 • 937.264.4060 • 937.264.4079 fax • daytonfreight.com ## Provenance - Official: Yes - Source: - Source ID: `phmsa` - SHA-256: `a97800df3dbf8ee03f722d83cac5ec9327ef329a5dba498a3fef7b3f4138e27c` - Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z - Exported: 2026-08-22T13:52:29.567Z - Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-23-0052` ### Source metadata ```json { "materialSubtype": "interpretation", "interpretationArea": "hazardous_materials", "representation": "full_text_from_official_pdf", "companies": [ "Dayton Freight Lines, Inc." ], "individuals": [ "Justin Sharkey" ], "refIds": [ "23-0052" ], "catalogDates": [ "2024-05-10" ], "catalogParts": [ 171, 172, 173 ], "catalogRowCount": 3, "sourceRecordUrls": [ "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/node/74711" ], "linkedAttachmentUrls": [], "unavailableResponseUrls": [], "duplicateRepresentationUrls": [], "citedSections": [ "171.8", "172.331", "173.159", "173.159(d)(1)" ], "catalogPageUrls": [ "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/regulations/title49/section/1718", "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/regulations/title49/section/172331", "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/regulations/title49/section/173159" ], "pdfUrls": [ "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/2024-05/230052.pdf" ], "representations": [ { "viewUrl": "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/2024-05/230052.pdf", "detailUrl": null, "detailHtmlPath": null, "pdfUrl": "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/2024-05/230052.pdf", "pdfArtifactPath": "data/sources/phmsa-interpretations/23-0052-a31f903c61.pdf", "pdfArtifactSha256": "63b196ef131518265340e6811e50fc9a2460c19550b4ba79baa6b6dd54d459fb", "extractedTextPath": "data/sources/phmsa-interpretations/23-0052-a31f903c61.v2.txt", "extractedTextSha256": "49cac480bfeb59cdcfc2d50391a59e8c4de8681abc2b04c4ac7bc5ae1445cf51", "pageCount": 4, "extractionVersion": 2 } ], "caveat": "Interpretations apply regulations to the facts presented and do not create independently enforceable requirements.", "jurisdiction": "US" } ```