{"operation":"document","citation":"26-0016","title":"C & C Transportation — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2026-06-15","effective_on":null,"summary":"26-0016 response to C & C Transportation concerning 172.325, 172.332, 172.504.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-26-0016.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-26-0016.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-26-0016","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/2026-06/26-0016.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, DC 20590\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration\nJune 15, 2026\nMs. Anastasia Henning\nC & C Transportation\n15220 Lakewood Blvd.\nBellflower, CA 90706-4240\nReference No. 26-0016\nDear Ms. Henning:\nThis is in response to your December 15, 2025 letter requesting clarification of the Hazardous\nMaterials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to the transportation of asphalt\nat elevated temperatures. You state that your company transports bulk asphalt in\nnon-specification cargo tanks with a capacity of roughly 5,000 gallons. We have paraphrased and\nanswered your questions as follows:\nQ1. You ask if asphalt transported at temperatures ranging between 290 °F and 325 °F meets\nthe definition of an “elevated temperature material” as defined in § 171.8?\nA1. Yes. As defined in § 171.8 an elevated temperature material means a material which,\nwhen offered for transportation or transported in a bulk packaging: (1) is in a liquid phase\nand at a temperature at or above 100 °C (212 °F); (2) is in a liquid phase with a flash\npoint at or above 38 °C (100 °F) that is intentionally heated and offered for transportation\nor transported at or above its flash point; or (3) is in a solid phase and at a temperature at\nor above 240 °C (464 °F). Based on the information provided in your letter, the asphalt is\ntransported in a liquid phase at temperatures above 100 °C (212 °F).\nQ2. You ask whether your material may be described as “UN3257, Elevated temperature\nliquid, n.o.s., 9,” and whether the placarding exceptions provided in § 172.504(f)(9)\napply to the domestic transportation of elevated temperature liquids?\nA2. Yes. Provided the material does not meet the definition of any other hazard class (such as\nClass 3 Flammable Liquid), the material must be classed as a Class 9 material and\ndescribed as “UN3257, Elevated temperature liquid, n.o.s., 9, III.” Section 172.504(f)(9)\nstates that placards are not required on a domestic shipment of a Class 9 material. Please\nnote that even if placards are not required, an elevated temperature material must be\nmarked on two opposing sides with the word “HOT” in accordance with § 172.325, and\nbulk packagings containing Class 9 material must be marked on each side and each end\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\n(or two opposing sides) with the appropriate identification number marking. See\n§§ 172.332(a) and 172.504(f)(9).\nQ3. You ask whether drivers transporting Class 9 materials, such as UN3257, are required to\nhold a commercial driver’s license (CDL) with a hazardous materials endorsement under\nthe Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs)?\nA3. The endorsement requirements for a CDL (see 49 CFR Part 383.91(a)(3)) are under the\npurview of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). FMCSA is the\nlead federal government agency responsible for regulating and providing safety oversight\nof commercial motor vehicles. You may wish to contact FMCSA should you require\nclarification of any requirements relevant to CDLs.\nQ4. Are there specific quantity thresholds or packaging configurations that affect the FMCSA\nhazardous materials CDL endorsement determination for elevated temperature materials\nclassified as Class 9?\nA4. See A3.\nI hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.\nSincerely,\nAlexander Wolcott\nActing Chief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention Branch\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\n26-0016\n-C TRANSPORTATION\nPollack\nBELLFLOWER, CALIFORNIA 90707\nP.O. BOX 520\n562) 867-2300\nU.S. Department of Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)\nStandards and Rulemaking Division (PHH-10)\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, DC 20590\nSubject: Request for Formal Letter of Interpretation — Classification of Asphalt (aka\nAsphalt/Cement/Binder) as an Elevated Temperature Material and the driver qualifications\nrequired for transportation.\nDear Sir or Madam,\nI am writing on behalf of Trans Petro of California Inc., DBA C&C Transportation to request a\nformal Letter of Interpretation regarding the classification of asphalt transported at elevated\ntemperatures under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) and\ncorresponding Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) driver qualification\nstandards.\nOur company transports bulk asphalt (Asphalt-Cement) materials within the State of California\nand in the Western Region. The tanks used to transport this material are \"non-spect\", holding\nroughly 5,000 gallons. We seek clarification on the following regulatory points to ensure\ncompliance with both PHMSA and FMCSA requirements.\nSpecifically, we request interpretation concerning:\n1. Whether asphalt, when transported at temperatures typically ranging between 290°F and\n325°F, meets the definition of an \"Elevated Temperature Material\" as defined in 49\nCFR $171.8;\n2. Whether such material is required to be described as UN3257, Elevated Temperature\nLiquid, n.o.s., Class 9, and whether placarding requirements apply for domestic\ntransportation. In this regard, we note that 49 CFR §175.504(f)(9) provides that Class 9\nmaterials do not require placarding in domestic transportation, and we request\nPHMSA's confirmation that this applies to asphalt transported at elevated temperatures;\n3. Whether Class 9 materials such as UN3257 asphalt require drivers to hold a Hazardous\nMaterials Endorsement (HME) under FMCSR §383.93(b)(4) or whether such\nendorsement is excepted for Class 9 shipments under domestic transport rules; and\n4. Whether there are any specific quantity thresholds or packaging configurations that\naffect the determination of whether a CDL driver must obtain an HME when hauling\nasphalt transported at elevated temperatures.\nOur intent is to confirm the proper classification, placarding, and CDL endorsement\nrequirements applicable to the transport of asphalt under the HMR and FMCSR frameworks.\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\nCEC TRANSPORTATION\nBELLFLOWER,\nP.O. BOX 520\n(562) 867-2300\nCALIFORNIA 90707\nWe respectfully request that PHIMSA provide written guidance or a formal interpretation to\nclarify these points.\nPlease direct any correspondence or requests for additional information to:\nAnastasia Henning\nPresident\nC&C Transportation\n15220 Lakewood Blvd Bellflower\n562-867-2300 - Office\n562-867-5012 - Fax\n714-474-9650 - Cell\nWe appreciate your assistance in helping our company maintain full compliance with federal\ntransportation safety regulations and ensuring accurate application of hazardous materials and\ndriver qualification standards.","truncated":false,"body_characters":6640}