{"operation":"document","citation":"05-0216","title":"J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2006-01-17","effective_on":null,"summary":"05-0216 response to J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc. concerning 173.159.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-05-0216.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-05-0216.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-05-0216","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2005/050216.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nJ.S. Department\nof Transportation\n400 Seventh Street, S.W.\nWashington, D.C. 20590\nPipeline and\nAdministration\nHazardous Materials Safety\nJAN 17 2006\nMr. Loren Wish\nRef No.: 05-0216\nJ.B. Hunt Transport, Inc.\nCompliance Manager\n615 J.B. Hunt Corp Drive\nLowell, AR 72745\nDear Mr. Wish:\nThis responds to your September 9, 2005 letter requesting clarification of the Hazardous\nMaterials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). Specifically, you ask if a carrier\nmay use the exception for electric storage batteries provided in § 173.159(e) when the\noriginal shipper of the batteries chooses not to use the exception. Additionally, you ask if\nthe bill of lading must include a statement indicating that the batteries are transported in\naccordance with § 173.159(e).\nSection 173.159(e) provides relief from the requirements of the HMR for shipments of\nelectric storage batteries containing electrolyte or corrosive battery fluid when the\nfollowing conditions are met:\n(1) Transportation is by highway or rail;\n(2) No other hazardous materials are transported in the same vehicle;\n(3) The batteries are loaded or braced to prevent damage or short circuits during\ntransportation;\n(4) Any other material loaded in the same vehicle is blocked, braced, or otherwise\n(5) The transport vehicle does not carry material shipped by any person other than the\nsecured to prevent contact with or damage to the batteries; and\nshipper of the batteries.\nA carrier may use the exception in § 173.159(e), even when the shipper of the batteries\nloes not choose to use the exception. For example, if a shipper provides placards to th\narrier for a shipment of batteries, the carrier may choose not to display the placards or\nthe transport vehicle if the shipment satisfies the conditions of the exception provided in\n§ 173.159(e). The bill of lading is not required to include a statement indicating that the\nI hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if you require additional assistance.\n173.159 (e)\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Standards\n050216\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\n39/09/2005\n14:45\n4796596031\nCOMPLIANCE\nPAGE 02\nEichenlaub\n$173 159(e)\nJ.B. HUNT\nBatteries\nJ.B. HUNT TRANSPORT, INC.\nSeptember 9, 2005\n05.0216\nMr. Edward T. Mazzullo\nDirector, Office of Hazardous Materials Standards\nU.S. DOT/PHMSA (PHH-10)\n400 70 Street, S.W.\nWashington, D.C. 20590-0001\nDear Mr. Mazzullo:\nI am in need of your assistance concerning § 173.159(e). J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc. hauls batteries\nevolve around how use of the exception is declared, and which parties have the authority t\nor some of our customers, and many of these customers use this exception. Our concem:\ndeclare use.\n1. Are shippers required to declare the use of this exception?\n2.\nIf so, do they need to state this on the bill of lading, such as stamping or writing\n§173.159(e) on the bill?\n3.\nIs the shipper the only group with authority to claim this exception?\n4. Is the motor carrier authorized to claim the exception as well, if the shipper declines to?\nOur concern is that one of our drivers without a HazMat endorsement on their CDL could possibly\nreason the shipper gives the driver placards. At that time, our driver would not be able to transport\nbe sent to pick up a load of batteries from a shipper that normally uses this exception, but for some\nthe authority to verify that the load has met all the requirements of § 173.159(e) and then pull the\nthe load due to the placards on the trailer. Does J.B. Hunt, as the motor carrier for this load, have\nplacards from the trailer?\nyour assistance in this matter.\nIf you need any additional information, feel free to contact me at (479) 659-6018. Thank you for\nSincerely,\nMr. Loren Wish\nCompliance Manager\nJ.B. Hunt Transport, Inc.\n615 J.B. Hunt Corp Drive\nLowell, AR 72745\nP.O. BOX 598 • LOWELL, ARKANSAS 72745\n(479) 820-0000","truncated":false,"body_characters":3825}