When it comes to shipping hazardous materials by train, there are certain requirements that must be met in order to ensure safety and compliance with the Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations. The DOT Emergency Response Guide (ERG) is a joint publication of the PHMSA, Transport Canada, the Mexican Secretariat of Communication and Transportation, and government and industry stakeholders that provides additional guidance on how to safely ship hazardous materials by train. Intermodal shipping and transshipment are two processes that allow products to move seamlessly between trucks and trains and vice versa. These processes require a shipping document that meets the requirements of the subpart and must also clearly show the emergency response telephone number of each hazardous material transported on the train.
The PHMSA may consider changes to the separation distance requirements set out in § 174.85 of the HMR for railway cars and tank cars with labels in freight train and mixed-product unit train configurations, pending the outcome of a study. Training is essential for HMR compliance, as only properly trained employees can ensure that applicable HMR requirements are met. Understanding how wood is transported by trucks and trains and comparing the two options can help timber carriers strengthen their supply chains and maximize their profitability. In conclusion, shipping hazardous materials by train requires additional packaging requirements that must be met in order to ensure safety. Intermodal shipping and transshipment allow products to move seamlessly between trucks and trains, while training is essential for HMR compliance. Understanding how wood is transported by trucks and trains can help timber carriers strengthen their supply chains.
