It’s that time of the year again. The 2024-2025 hazardous materials registration season officially begins on May 1st. If you are a hazmat offeror or shipper who transports hazmat shipments that are covered under the registration criteria, you need to register with the US Department of Transportation and obtain a Certificate of Registration. Failing to register is a violation of federal law and can lead to penalties.
Who is Required to Register?
If you are an offeror or shipper of certain categories and quantities of hazardous materials (whose list is provided below), you are required to file a registration statement with the DOT.
According to the PHMSA, an offeror is someone who performs any kind of pre-transportation function or someone who is responsible for making hazardous materials available to a carrier for the purpose of transportation.
The categories and quantities of hazardous materials covered under hazmat registration requirements include:
- A highway route controlled quantity of a Class 7 radioactive material
- More than 55 pounds (25 kilograms) of an explosive material covered under Division 1.1, 1.2, or 1.3
- More than 1.06 quarts (one liter) per package of a material extremely toxic by inhalation that meets the criteria for hazard zone A
- Any hazardous material in a bulk packaging with a capacity of 3,500 gallons (13,248 liters) or greater for liquids and gases
- Any hazardous material in a bulk packaging with a capacity of 468 cubic feet (13.24 cubic meters) for solids
- Any hazmat shipment of 5,000 pounds (2,268 kilograms) or more (not in bulk packaging) of one class of hazardous materials that require placarding
- Any quantity of hazardous material that requires placarding
Are People Who Transport Hazardous Wastes Required to Register?
Yes. The aforementioned registration requirements cover hazardous materials as well as hazardous wastes.
How Does the Hazmat Registration Process Work?
You can register online or register by mail – depending on your preference. The PHMSA encourages offers and shippers to register online, as it is fast, convenient, and secure. You can find the details about online hazmat registration here. If it is not possible for you register online, you can register by mail. You can find the details about hazmat registration by mail here.
If you intend to register online, your payment options include debit card, credit card, and electronic check. If you intend to register by mail, your payment options include check and money order.
When you register, you need to specify whether you are registering for the first time (initial registration), renewing your registration (renewal of registration), or if you want to update your company’s name, place of business, or contact information in your registration statement (amendment to registration).
The Cost of Hazmat Registration
The PHMSA follows a two-tier fee system for hazmat registration. For small businesses and non-profit organizations, the registration fee is set at $250 (plus a $25 processing fee). For all other businesses, the registration fee is set at $2,575 (plus a $25 processing fee).
Your business can be considered a small business if it meets the size standard requirements set by the Small Business Administration in terms of the number of employees or gross annual revenue. If you are not sure whether you qualify as a small business, you can check out this link to assess the size of your business.
The Purpose of the Hazmat Registration Program
The primary purpose of the hazmat registration program is to fund the grants offered to state governments, Indian tribes, and certain non-profit organizations for emergency response preparedness and training purposes. These grants play a critically important role in preparing communities for emergencies involving hazardous materials.
Hazmat Registration Record-keeping Requirements
You are required to keep a copy of your latest registration statement at your principal place of business. Apart from this, you should also make sure that every truck or vessel you use for hazmat transportation contains a copy of the statement on board.
The Consequences of Failing to Register with the DOT
Hazmat registration is mandatory under federal law for those who meet the aforementioned criteria. Failing to register can lead to penalties by local, state, and federal agencies. It should be noted that failing to comply with the recordkeeping requirements can also lead to penalties by local, state, and federal agencies.
Hazmat registration is one of the many regulatory requirements that you need to comply with as a hazmat offeror or shipper. At Hazmat University, we offer comprehensive online hazmat training courses that can equip you with the knowledge and skills you need to navigate the complex regulations governing hazmat transportation and ensure compliance at every level. Our dynamic and engaging training courses make learning easy and enjoyable and allow you to learn at your own pace.
We offer mode-specific training courses as well as multimodal training courses. Invest in your business’s success and sign up for our hazmat training courses today. To find out how you can benefit from our online hazmat training courses, call us today at 844-864-1762 or fill out our online contact form.
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