2000

1990

1980

1970

1960

1950

1940

1930

1920

1910

19001890

1880

1880

1870

1860

HM-112

1866

1887

1908

1930s

1975

1976

1977

1985

1986

1990

1994

1996

2002

2003

2004

The first federal regulations were passed covering the transportation of Dangerous Goods, specifically nitroglycerine.1

The Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) was established to bring consistency to all modes of transportation.1

Congress passed the Explosives and Other Dangerous Articles Act (EODA), which set the standards for packing, marking, loading, and handling Dangerous Goods for the next 60 years.1 The EODA:

The ICC regulations were adopted by other federal agencies:1

The US Coast Guard covered water transportation

The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) established the first rules for transporting DG by air

Highway transportation was handled by the ICC

The history of DG shipping regulations in the United States dates back to the Civil War. At that time, shipments of explosives by rail were covered by contracts between

shippers and carriers based on English common law.

It’s been a long and winding road from shipping rail cars of nitroglycerine in the post-Civil War era to flying lithium batteries across the globe, but Labelmaster is here today with dedicated regulatory experts on staff to help make sense of the current regulations and ensure your DG packages travel safely and compliantly by land, sea, or air.

1959

1960

1967

The Federal Aviation Administration was established.2

Congress prohibited the transportation of radioactive materials by passenger carriers, except for shipments under the direct supervision of the Atomic Energy Commission or Department of Defense.3

The Department of Transportation (DOT) became operational, overseeing DG shipping regulations.2

The National Transportation Safety Board was established as an independent agency.4

The Hazardous Materials Regulations Board was created to coordinate all hazardous materials activities within the DOT.5

The Hazardous Materials Transportation Act of 1975 (HMTA) was passed. The HMTA greatly expanded the DOT’s authority to set regulations applicable to DG shipping by any mode of transportation.1

Applied to any traffic affecting interstate commerce

Authorized the designation of DG classifications, quantities, and forms

Authorized DOT to create regulations for packing, repacking, handling, labeling, marking, placarding, and routing

Established a registration program for shippers, carriers, and container manufacturers

The Materials Transportation Bureau (MTB) was created to consolidate responsibility between modal administrations.6

Congress consolidated and amended DG regulations for labeling and placarding, including adding new hazard classes with HM-112.1

The Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) was created to con-solidate the Transportation System Center, the MTB, and other intermodal activities.2

Amendments to the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 were signed into law, one of which substantially exempted all cargo aircraft operations from CAB regulation.2

As the CAB ceased operations, the DOT assumed aviation-related regulatory functions.2

The Surface Freight Forwarders Deregulation Act was signed.2

Congress enacted the Hazardous Materials Transportation Uniform Safety Act (HMTUSA) to clarify the HMTA and align DG requirements with the UN.

The Hazardous Materials Transportation Authorization Act broadened the regulatory and enforcement authority of the Secretary of Transportation with discretionary power to require any DG shipper (not already required) to register with the DOT.7

The ICC (the nation’s oldest regulatory commission) ceased operation and was replaced by the Surface Transportation Board under the DOT.2

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) became operational.2

The TSA and US Coast Guard were transferred from the DOT to the newly created Department of Homeland Security.2

The RSPA was restructured, creating the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) and the Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA).8

INTERSTATE COMMERCE ACT (1887)

1907The Bureau of Explosives was created to establish standards for handling explosives and other Dangerous Goods by rail.1

AIR shipping was now handled by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

LAND transportation was governed by the Federal Highway and Railroad Administrations.

MARITIME DG shipping was still covered by the US Coast Guard.

CFR—Regulations for the different modes were published in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).

Prohibited the transportation of DG without specific authorization from the ICC

Established criminal penalties for violations

Shipping Dangerous Goods (DG)

can be a complicated prospect with thousands of rules covering

packaging, labeling, placarding, and documentation from dozens of regulatory agencies.

DID YOU EVER WONDER HOW THE SYSTEM GOT TO BE THE WAY IT IS TODAY?

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800.621.580

SOURCES:1 U.S. Congress, Office of Technology Assessment, Transportation of Hazardous Materials, OTA-SET-304 (Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, July 1986).2 http://ntl.bts.gov/historian/chronology.htm3 https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/86/s1806/text source for 1960 Congress radioactive4 https://www.ntsb.gov/about/history.html NTSB history5 https://www.federalregister.go/artles/2010/04/05/2010-7544/hzardous-materials-regulations -combustible-liquids Hazardous Materials Regulations Board reference 6 http://testimony.ost.dot.gov/test/pasttest/76test/Curtis1.PDF source for MTB7 https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/101/s2936 HMTUSA8 https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/research-and-special-programs-administration source for end of RSPA

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