# Yellow Freight System, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 98-0168
- **title:** Yellow Freight System, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 1998-08-05
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 98-0168 response to Yellow Freight System, Inc. concerning 172.202.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-98-0168.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-98-0168.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-98-0168
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/1998/980168.pdf
**body:**

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of Transportation
U.S. Department
400 Seventh Street, S.
Research and
•
Washington, D.C.
20590
Administration
Special Programs
AUG :5 1998
Mr. Robert A. Maberry III
Chemical Transportation Administrator
ReI. No:
98-0168
Yellow Freight System, Inc.
P.O. Box 7270/66207
Overland Park, KS 66211
Dear Mr. Maberry:
This is in response to your letter dated June 30, 1998,
requesting clarification on shipping paper requirements
pertaining to net weight and gross weight under the Hazardous
Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR parts 171-180). Specifically,
you ask whether an overpack containing one package of hazardous
material and one package of unregulated material may be described
with the gross weight of the entire overpack.
•
The answer is yes.
quantity for each hazardous material description may be indicated
In accordance with § 172.202 (a) (5), the total
as net or gross
weight, capacity, or as otherwise appropriate.
If gross weight is indicated, net weight is not required. Net
weight is the weight of the contents within the packaging (i.e.,
5 pounds). As defined in $ 171.8, gross weight is the weight of
the packaging plus the weight of its contents (i.e., 60 pounds,
where 5 pounds is the hazaidous material and 55 pounds is the
packaging).
I hope this satisfies your request.
Sincerely,
Submit this
Delmer F. Billings
Chief, Regulations Development
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
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•
BAH
TELLIN
File: 172.202
YELLOW FREIGHT SYSTEM, INC.
PO. BOX 7270 / 66207 • 10990 ROE AVENUE / 66211
OVERLAND PARK, KANSAS
(913) 345-3000
300
June 3, 1998
98-0168
Mr. Edivard Mozzullo
U.S. Dept. of Transportation / RSPA (DHM)
Director of Hazardous Material Standards
400 7th Street S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20590
Mr. Mozzullo,
packages Battery fluid, acid, 8, UN2796, Il in a plastic receptacle and places it into a 4G corrugated box
1 am requesting an interpretation of the requirements imposed by 49 CFR 172.202 (A) (5). If a person,
(combination packaging / 49 CFR 171.8) as allowed by 49 CFR 173.202, then packages a non-regulated,
dry battery in a separate 4G corrugated box, we now have two independent packages (49 CFR 171.8).
These no packaging, are now placed into a overpack (49 CFR 171.8) and properly marked and labeled.
commodity in the same overpack.
We now have livo separate packaging, one a regulated hazardous material and one a non regulated
49 CFR 172.202 (a) (5), states that the shipping paper must state the total quantity (by net or gross mass,
MATERIAL COVERED BY THE DESCRIPTION.
capacity or otherwise appropriate), including the unit of measurement OF THE HAZARDOUS
should not included in the weight of the hazardous material as it is not a part "OF THE HAZARDOUS
In this case the weight of the battery which is separately packaged and is not a regulated commodity
MATERIAL COVERED BY THE DESCRIPTION." That description being "Battery fluid, acid, 8,
UN2796, II."
follows:
1 therefore conclude that the most appropriate description in compliance with 49 CFR would be as
1
box of non regulated battery, dry, weighing 55 ibs.
carton, said to contain, one box of Battery fluid, acid, 8, UN2796, II weighing 5 Ibs. and one
total 60lbs
The above description clearly identifies the weight of both the regulated hazardous material and the non
regulated commodities in the carton (overpack). I believe the above description both complies with CFR
materials in the carton, which allows the emergency responders to better access the danger represented in
49 regulations and accurately communicates to emergency responders the true amount of hazardous
an emergency situation.
I appreciate your review of my analysis and your written interpretation or correction to my understanding
of the 49 CFR regulation.
OD-146GO (Rov. 3193)
Proud Partner Of The Chemical Manufacturing Associations Responsible Care® Program
recycled and recyclable

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Should you need to contact me, feel free to call me at (913) 344-5890 and thank you for you help in this
matter.
Sincerely,
Robert A. Maberry IIT.
Chemical Transportation Administrator
cc: Environmental Services Dale Goetz
Legal Jerry Bowlin
File
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