Questions About Hazmat Shipments? Call the DOT Info Line

Once a shipment is considered a hazardous material, companies are often perplexed about how to comply with the hazardous materials regulations (CFR 49). Shipment of a hazardous material can include proper classification of the contents, proper selection of packaging, verification of closure procedures, documentation, emergency notification, and more. In some companies, entire departments are devoted to the safe and compliant transport of hazardous materials while in some companies, researching this process can fall into the hands of a novice. In order to help facilitate the information research process, the DOT (Department of Transportation) has established the DOT INFO LINE. You can reach the Info Line by calling 1-800-467-4922 (1-800-HMR49-22) from 9am to 5pm, Eastern Standard Time. The Info Line is staffed with knowledgeable hazmat professionals that are capable of helping each caller to understand the requirements for hazmat transport compliance, interpret the intent of specific paragraphs and access previous interpretations of the DOT and other regulatory agencies. This service is free and is a good place to call whenever you have a hazmat question.