# Landstar Transportation Logistics, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 11-0198
- **title:** Landstar Transportation Logistics, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2012-03-22
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 11-0198 response to Landstar Transportation Logistics, Inc. concerning 177.834.
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- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-11-0198.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-11-0198
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2011/110198.pdf
**body:**

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U.S. Department 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
of Transportation Washington. D.C. 20590
Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety MAR 222m2
Administration
Mr. Wes Pace
Director, Hazardous Materials Compliance
Landstar Transportation Logistics, Inc.
13410 Sutton Park Drive, South
Jacksonville, FL 32224
Ref. No. 11-0198
Dear Mr. Pace:
This respondsto your August 17,2011 request for clarification of § 177.834(a) in the Hazardous
Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). You provide a photograph showing one
row of pallets loaded side-by-side with four drums per pallet leaving a void space between
pallets and a second row of pallets containing five gallon pails. The five gallon pails are shrink
wrapped together and to the pallet. Two straps secure the load. You indicate that the HMR are
silent in regards to securement of a packaging to a motor vehicle. Based on the photograph
provided in your letter, you ask ifthis shipment would be in violation ofthe securement
requirements in § 177.834(a).
You are correct in your understanding that specific methods of securement are not provided in
§ 177.834(a). Section 177.834(a) requires any hazardous material package that is not
permanently attached to a motor vehicle to be secured against shifting, including relative motion
between packages, within the vehicle on which it is being transported under conditions normally
incident to transportation. Further, general requirements addressing protection of shifting cargo
are found in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Regulations (49 CFR Parts 300399),
specifically under §§ 393.100 to 393.106. These requirements allow varied methods of
securement, such as blocking with other freight, banding, or use of tie-downs or load-locks.
Based on the photograph and information provided in your letter, we cannot definitively
determine whether the load is secure. However, securing the load by shrink wrapping the
packages to a pallet and straping the pallets in place is one method for securing the load in
accordance with § 177.834(a).
I hope this answers your inquiry. If you need additional assistance, please contact this office at
202-366-8553.
Si~
Ben Supko
Acting Chief, Standards Development Branch
Standards and Rulemaking Division

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Landstar Transportation logistics, Inc.
13410 Sutton Park Drive, South Jacksonville, FL 32224
904 3989400 UlNDSI'Jl!l '*
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U.S. DOT August 17, 2011
PHMSA Office of Hazardous Materials Standard
Attn: Charles E. Betts
East Building
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.
Washington, DC 20590-001
Mr. Betts,
Please except this letter as my request for an interpretation specific to 177.834(a). I understand the regulations are
silent on what method of securement must be used, provided the requirements are met. I also understand various
methods of securement that would meet the requirement as defined in FMCSR parts 393.100 to 393.106 and
177.834{a).
A customer questions my understanding of securement as it relates to the securement of loose drums (55 gallon) on
pallets. The enclosed picture shows pallets are loaded side by side with 4 drums per pallet leaving a void space of 1+
feet between pallets and the last 2 side by side pallets contain 5 gallon pails which are shrink wrapped together and
to the skid themselves and 2 straps on rear of load.
My understanding is that loose drums "sitting on pallets with no means used to prevent shifting and/or falling would
be contrary to the intent of 177 .834(a). Based on the provided picture, would this shipment be in violation of not
meeting the securement requirements?
Your assistance is greatly appreciated,
Wes Pace
Director, Hazardous Materials Compliance
Landstar Transportation Logistics, Inc.
Providing Supply Chain Solutions and Complete Global &Domestic Transportation Services

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