# YRC Freight, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 14-0031
- **title:** YRC Freight, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2014-03-12
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 14-0031 response to YRC Freight, Inc. concerning 172.500, 172.502, 172.504.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-14-0031.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-14-0031.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-14-0031
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2014/140031.pdf
**body:**

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department
of Transportation
Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety
Administration
Ms. Susan D. Camara
Safety Manager
YRC Freight, Inc.
1990 Roe A venue, MS/ A340
Overland Park, KS 66211
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, D.C. 20590
MAR 1 2 2014
Ref. No. 14-0031
Dear Ms. Camara:
This responds to your January 27, 2014 request for clarification of the use of the DANGEROUS
placard under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180).
Specifically, you ask if§§ 172.500(b )(6) and 172.502( c) permit the display of a DANGEROUS
placard on a transport vehicle containing two or more categories of non-bulk when one of those
commodities is a combustible liquid in a non-bulk package.
In accordance with§ 172.504(b), a freight container, unit load device, transport vehicle, or rail
car which contains non-bulk packages with two or more categories of hazardous materials that
require different placards specified in table 2 of§ 172.504(e) may be placarded with a
DANGEROUS placard instead of the separate placarding specified for each of the materials.
Section 172.500(b)(6) states that "placarding does not apply to combustible liquids in non-bulk
packaging." However,§ 172.502(c) states "placards may be displayed for a hazardous material,
even when not required, if the placarding otherwise conforms to the requirements of this
subpart." It is your understanding that displaying a DANGEROUS placard on a transport
vehicle containing Table 2 Class 3 flammable liquid and Table 2 combustible liquid (both in
non-bulk packages) is permissible under the HMR.
Your understanding is correct. A COMBUSTIBLE placard is not required for combustible
liquids in non-bulk packaging(§ 172.500 (b )(6)). However, a placard may be displayed for a
hazardous material, even when not required, provided the placarding is carried out in
conformance with Part 172, Subpart F. Therefore the use ofthe DANGEROUS placard on a
transport vehicle containing Class 3 flammable liquid and combustible liquids, both in non-bulk
packages, is authorized under the Part 1 72, Subpart F provided all other requirements of
§ 172.504(b) are met.
I hope this answers your inquiry. If you need additional assistance, please contact this office on
(202) 366-8553.
Sincerely,
7kZJ~
Robert Benedict
Chief, Regulations Development Branch
Standards and Rulemaking Division

<<<PAGE 2>>>

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January 27, 2014
Mr. Charles E. Betts
Director, Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
U.S. DOT/PHMSA (PHH-1 0)
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE East Building, 2nd Floor
Washington, DC 20590
Dear Mr. Betts:
I am requesting written clarification about the interaction of 49 CFR 172.500(b)(6), which
waives placarding requirements for combustible liquids in non-bulk packaging, and
172.502(c), which allows permissive placarding for loads that do not require placarding
but are shipped in conformance to the Hazardous Materials Regulations. Is it
permissible to display a DANGEROUS placard on a transport vehicle containing two or
more categories of non-bulk 172.504 Table 2 items when one of those commodities is a
combustible liquid in a non-bulk package?
172.500(b)(6) Applicability of placarding requirements states that placarding does not
apply to "combustible liquids in non-bulk packagings."
172.502(c) states "Placards may be displayed for a hazardous material, even when not
required, if the placarding otherwise conforms to the requirements of this subpart."
172.504(b) states that a "transport vehicle, ... which contains two or more categories of
hazardous materials that require different placards specified in table 2 ... may be
placarded with a DANGEROUS placard instead of the placard specified for each of the
materials in table 2."
In 172.504 Table 2, Class 3 flammable liquid which requires a FLAMMABLE placard is
listed separately from Combustible liquid which requires a COMBUSTIBLE placard.
These distinct entries indicate each is a separate hazardous material classification.
Therefore, displaying a DANGEROUS placard on a transport vehicle containing table 2
Class 3 Flammable Liquid and table 2 Combustible Liquid (both in non-bulk packagings)
should be allowed.

<<<PAGE 3>>>

Your guidance is greatly appreciated and I look forward to your interpretation on this
matter.
Thank you,
Susan D. Camara
YRC Freight, Inc. Manager Safety
1990 Roe Avenue, MS/A340
Overland Park, KS 66211
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