DOT Hazmat - Rail Carrier General Requirements

Rail carriers who transport hazardous materials in commerce in the U.S. must comply with the Hazardous Materials Regulations. Besides requiring hazmat training for all affected employees, there are regulations related to shipping papers; rail car positioning; package markings, labels, and placards; leaking packages; and shipment acceptance and inspections. This interactive online course discusses the DOT’s “Carriage by Rail” requirements in Subparts A, B, and most of C in Part 174 of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR). This includes general requirements for hazardous material rail shipments, plus requirements specific to the acceptance, inspection, handling, and loading of hazardous material packages. It also covers tank car unloading and the removal and disposition of hazardous materials after delivery.

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Describe the Department of Transportation’s (DOT’s) documentation and placarding requirements for the transportation of hazardous materials in commerce by rail
• Describe the DOT’s inspection, acceptance, handling, loading, leakage, and tank car unloading requirements for hazardous material rail shipments
• Describe the DOT’s requirements for the removal and disposition of hazardous materials after delivery by rail