{"operation":"document","citation":"14-0106","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":"2014-09-24","effective_on":null,"summary":"14-0106 response to J.B, Hunt Transport, INC concerning 172.516, 172.558.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-14-0106.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-14-0106.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-14-0106","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2014/140106.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nof Transportation\nWashington, D.C. 20590\nPipeline and Hazardous\nAdministration\nMaterials Safety\nSEP 2 4 2014\nMr. James Cherry\nJ.B. Hunt Transport, Inc.\n615 J B Hunt Corporate Drive\nLowell, AR 72745\nRef No. 14-0106\nDear Mr. Cherry:\nThis is a response to your May 30, 2014 email requesting clarification of the Hazardous\nMaterials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) with regard to placarding. Specifically,\nyou request clarification on what constitutes substantially reduced placard visibility.\nIn your email, you provide examples of damaged placards. As required by § 172.516(c)(6),\neach placard on a transport vehicle, bulk packaging, freight container or aircraft unit load\ndevice must be maintained by the carrier in a condition so that the format, legibility, color,\nand visibility of the placard will not be substantially reduced due to damage, deterioration, or\nobscurement by dirt or other matter.\nAll are considered \"substantially reduced\" because for each example provided, the format has\nbeen substantially reduced. The format of the corrosive placard must be as shown in\n§ 172.558.\nI hope this information is helpful. If you have any more questions, please do not hesitate to\ncontact this office.\nActing Chief, Standards Development\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nSuchak\n8172. 516 c6)\nDrakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA)\nPlacarding\nSent:\nFrom:\nINFOCNTR (PHMSA)\nSubiect:\nTo:\nFriday, May 30, 2014 4:36 PM\n14-0106\nFW: Request letter of interpretation - 49 CFR 172.516 (c)(6)\nDrakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA)\nHi Carolyn,\nThis caller requested we submit this e-mail as a formal letter of interpretation.\nThanks,\nVictoria\nSent: Friday, May 30, 2014 9:25 AM\nFrom: James Cherry@jbhunt.com [mailto:James Cherry@jbhunt.com]\nTo: INFOCNTR (PHMSA)\nCc: HAZMAT@jbhunt.com\nSubject: Request letter of interpretation - 49 CFR 172.516 (c)(6)\n(6) Be maintained by the carrier in a\ncondition so that the format, legibility,\ncolor, and visibility of the\nplacard will not be substantially reduced\nobscurement by dirt or other matter;\ndue to damage, deterioration, or\nTo whom it may concern:\nI am looking for clarification on what constitutes \"substantially reduced\" visibility of the placard due to factors such as\ndamage from road debris or weather. The way I train drivers is that any damage can interpreted as \"substantial,\" and the\nDOT allows inspectors wide latitude in enforcing the regulation; drivers must inspect their placards regularly and repair or\nreplace them if there is any visible damage. On the other hand, if a reasonable person can clearly perceive that it is a\nhazmat placard, determine the hazard class, etc the case can be made that the placard was provided by the shipper in\nwithout adversely impacting safety.\ngood faith, affixed by the driver in good faith and that road damage caused the placard to get out-of-spec, non preventable,\nExample 1:\nCORROSIVE\nExample 2:\nfail\nRROSIVE\n8\nExample 3:\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nCORROSIVE\n8\nExample 4:\nCORROSIV\n8\nExample 5:\nN3/\nExample 6:\nCORROSIVE\nThanks,\nJames Cherry | Hazardous Materials Coordinator | Safety - Compliance\nJ. B. HUNT\n479.419.3838 (O) | 479.236.6792 (C) | 479.820.5723 (F)\nJ.B. Hunt Transport, Inc. | What's your nextmove? ™\nSingle Source | Intermodal | Dedicated | Final Mile | Truckload | LTL | Refrigerated | Flatbed\ndistribution of emails, attachments, or information therein is strictly prohibited\nEmail from J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc. is considered confidential and for use by the intended recipient or entity only. Any unauthorized\n2","truncated":false,"body_characters":3564}