Despite its frequent use in the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) – which itself is one of thirteen administrations and bureaus within the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) – the term “shipper” is not clearly defined in the HMR.  Yet if you offer for shipment a hazardous material (i.e. arrange for a carrier to transport it from your site to its final destination), then your actions characterize you as a shipper and subject you to all the applicable requirements of the HMR.

The purpose of this article is to identify, describe, and clarify the use of the term shipper in the Hazardous Materials Regulations of the USDOT/PHMSA. (more…)