The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) inspected thousands of vehicles transporting hazardous materials and dangerous goods as part of its yearly HM/DG inspection and enforcement initiative. These unannounced inspections revealed that regulatory violations still remain a persistent issue in the industry, despite increased awareness and enhanced penalties for non-compliance.
The transportation of hazardous materials plays a critically important role in modern commerce. At the same time, it involves significant risks and even minor lapses can lead to catastrophic accidents. Strict adherence to hazardous materials and dangerous goods (HM/DG) regulations is essential to ensure the safe transportation of these materials, safeguard public safety, and protect the environment.
At Hazmat University, we aim to make HM/DG regulatory compliance easier for all stakeholders through our industry-leading online training programs. Developed by the Bureau of Dangerous Goods, our dynamic, multimodal courses provide an engaging and effective learning experience to ensure compliance with the latest hazardous materials regulations.
For those seeking additional support, our partner service ShipHazmat offers powerful software to simplify the process of regulatory compliance. ShipHazmat allows you to create compliant shipping papers and packaging diagrams with minimal effort, featuring built-in regulatory logic that is updated regularly to reflect the latest standards.
HM/DG Road Blitz 2024: Key Findings and Implications
The Hazardous Materials/Dangerous Goods (HM/DG) Road Blitz is a yearly inspection and enforcement initiative that aims to promote the safe transportation of hazardous materials across North America. Organized by the CVSA, the initiative brings together various regulatory agencies including the US Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Transport Canada, and Mexico’s Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transportation.
The primary goals of the HM/DG Road Blitz include:
- Identifying HM/DG violations
- Enhancing safety by removing vehicles with out-of-service violations from the road
- Highlighting the importance of adherence to the regulations and processes involved in HM/DG transportation
- Acknowledging compliant drivers, motor carriers, shippers, manufacturers, and other parties involved in HM/DG transportation
- Highlighting the role of inspectors who identify HM/DG violations
The 2024 HM/DG Road Blitz took place between June 10 and June 14 and involved 45 jurisdictions across North America. A total of 4,095 HM/DG packages – including 1,488 non-bulk packages, 2,218 bulk cargo tank packages, and 389 other bulk packages – were inspected over five days.
A total of 1,009 vehicles passed inspections and were issued CVSA decals, indicating compliance with critical safety standards. However, 576 vehicles failed inspection and were taken out of service immediately.
Types of HM/DG Regulatory Violations Found
Shipping Paper Violations
Shipping paper violations were the most common type of HM/DG violation in the U.S., with 108 identified cases. In Canada, 61 such violations were reported. One of the primary causes is the manual preparation of shipping papers, increasing the risk of human error.
At Hazmat University, our training programs emphasize the importance of accurate paper preparation for shipping. To further simplify compliance, the ShipHazmat software provides an automated, guided process to generate fully compliant shipping papers, reducing the likelihood of human error.
Loading and Securement Violations
A total of 116 loading and securement violations were found (72 in the US and 44 in Canada). These violations are particularly concerning, as they can increase the risk of hazmat incidents significantly.
Loading and securement regulations are in place to make sure that HM/DG cargo remains properly contained during transit. Improperly secured materials can shift or collide within the vehicle and potentially damage the packaging.
Apart from this, inspectors also identified 19 packages with package integrity violations. According to their report, the packages were leaking at the time of the inspection. These leaks can be extremely dangerous as they can expose hazmat personnel as well as other people to harmful substances, create fire or explosion risks, and contaminate surrounding areas. These incidents can lead to serious injuries or fatalities, catastrophic property damage, and long-term environmental damage.
Other Violations
Other violations found by the inspectors include package marking, placarding, and labeling violations, PHMSA registration violations, and Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) training certificate violations. Apart from this, inspectors also found 93 undeclared packages.
Ensure Compliance with Hazmat University’s Training and ShipHazmat Software
The 2024 HM/DG Road Blitz underscored the critical importance of regulatory compliance in hazardous materials transportation. At Hazmat University, we offer a wide range of online hazmat training courses designed to equip your team with the knowledge and skills necessary for safe, compliant shipping practices. Our dynamic online courses cover ground, air, and vessel transportation requirements, including specialized topics like lithium batteries and limited quantities.
To complement our training services, ShipHazmat provides user-friendly, web-based software to streamline the creation of compliant shipping papers and packaging diagrams. With its built-in regulatory logic, ShipHazmat minimizes the risk of human error and ensures your shipping documents meet the latest domestic and international standards.
Do not let HM/DG violations jeopardize your business. With Hazmat University’s industry-leading training and ShipHazmat’s compliance tools, you can gain the skills and resources needed to ensure safe and efficient HM/DG transportation. Call us today at 844-329-5618 or contact us online. to learn how we can support your compliance needs.
Be Confident. Be Competent. Be Compliant.
