# Mr. Patrick G. Kruger — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 98-0423  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 1998-03-04

98-0423 concerning 172.500, 173.50.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

•
U.S.Department
of Transportation
400 Seventh Street, S.W
Research and
Washington, D.C.
20590
Special Programs
Administration
MAR - 4 ISSS
:
Mr. Patrick G. Kruger
298 Mendham Road.
Morristown, New Jersey 07960-4805
Dear Mr. Kruger:
This is in response to your letter regarding clarification of the requirements for the display of
old and new placards for explosives under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49
CFR Parts 171-180). I apologize for the delay in responding and hope it has not caused any
inconvenience.
As provided by § 171.14(b), until October 1, 2001, placards which conform to specifications
for placards in effect on September 30, 1991, or placards specified in the December 21 1990
final rule may be used, for highway transportation only, in place of the placards specified in
Ducted with the "Placard Substitution Table." Therefore, the
old or new placards may currently be used for explosives under the described conditions.
I hope this information is helpful. If we can be of further assistance, please contact us.
Sincerely,
Delmer F. Billings
Chief, Standards Development
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards

<<<PAGE 2>>>

SENT BYiXerox Telecopier 7021 : 6-28-97 ;
8:20
¡SPECIAL SERVICES DIV→
202 366 7342:# 2
Englum
-
1172500,173,51
Fili:
SC: 270,136,140
• US. DEPT. OF TRANSPORTATION
RESEARCH AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS
OFFICE OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
ADMINISTRATION
INITIATIVES AND TRAINING (DHM-50)
WASHINGTON, DC 20590 - 0001
26 JUNE 1997
Sirs;
the other day. One oi the questions about class 1 exprosiver
I just taken a NJ Dept of Motox Vehicle Hazmat retest
was, in essence,
A vehicle with 1,1 explosives and 1.!
axplosives should be placarded;. The correat answer according
to NJ was explosive A.
years and currently
I have been in the the NJ National Guară for over 22
(artillery). At various ammunition storage areas they all
working in the ammunition section
Placarás were superceded aná no longer legal for use on
stated that
as of september of 1995 the "A,B, C" EXPLOSIVE
public roads. I might ad that these AsA's are run by the us
Army not the
This has set up much confusion to me as to what is the
state of Nu.
proper placard and it the old signs are still ok to use. I
have coplas of CFR 49 100 -177 200 -399 and read. through the
sections on placards, drivers, and hazardous materials but
comparison chart that listed the new divisions compared to
could find no reference to the old "A B C" signs except a
Ios that matter,
the letter divisions. I could not, nor coulă any one elsa
I am concerned that il the new placards are the only
referende the validity of the older signs.
the wrong message to the driver and could result in the
ones authorized this question, on NJ's Hazmat test, Will send
improper placard being used,
further confusing younger
amergency response personnel.
rags. and rightly so. The driver should be given clear and
The penalties are pretty severe for violations of hazmat
personnel in my unit for their hazmat endorsement on their
donoise instruction in this area. I teach hazmat
•
military license, Il I can't reference it how can I
responsibly teaoh it ?
....

<<<PAGE 3>>>

-- SENT BYiXerox Telecopier 7021 ; 8-28-87 ; 9:20 ¡SPECIAL SERVICES DIV-
202 366 7342:# 3
I would appreciate if any one in your office could at
•
hat governs which placards (class 1) are authorized and what
in the right direction or give me the statute
the cut off date is (was).
I apologize for any inconvenience this Inguiry may have
caused and thank you in advande for your assistance. Please
and any zeply to me at the address below.
••
sincerely;
Patrick G.
298 Mendham Rd.
Kruger
Morristown,
N.J.
07960 -4805

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/1998/980423.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `8aefb8056f18eedf56a70d39ca675188d70894cb8110f02a03f5c723d095aac9`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-22T11:40:58.939Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-98-0423`

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