USDOT targets hazmat haulers

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Transport (DOT) is cracking down on between 20,000 and 30,000 carriers who supposedly received hazmat special permits over the past decade but somehow avoided inspection.

In many cases, they even avoided identification, according to a report published in USA Today.

Under the rule, DOT is supposed to assess every company given a special permit but in recent years, thousands of blank permits were issued to industry associations, which in turn distributed the permits to members.

The result was, that in many cases, the DOT didn’t even know who had the permits.

So, starting this month, the DOT will require all companies that file new permit applications to undergo fitness reviews before special permits are issued.

According to the report, there’s a two-year backlog of carriers, including truckers, railroads and marine operators, who should be inspected.

Some of the companies in question have had serious hazmat accidents but still received permits.

One carrier, for example, was issued a special hazmat permit despite having 14 hazardous material spills in the last four years.
The 20,000 to 30,000 users of association permits will have to reapply individually using a new, online system.

Meanwhile, existing permits will remain in force.