DOT Bends Safety Rules for Hazardous Materials Shipments
Published Date: 12/5/2025
Notice
Summary
The Department of Transportation just decided on special permits for companies handling hazardous materials like lithium-ion batteries and compressed gases. These changes affect businesses shipping dangerous goods, letting some use new methods or equipment safely. If you want to comment, you’ve got until January 5, 2026, so don’t miss out!
Analyzed Economic Effects
15 provisions identified: 12 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.
Permit: >35 kg Prototype Li-ion Flights
Thales Alenia Space Italia was granted a special permit to transport prototype lithium‑ion batteries contained in equipment in excess of 35 kg aboard cargo‑only aircraft. This lets the company ship large prototype batteries by cargo aircraft under the terms of the permit.
Permit: Larger Inner Receptacles, Higher Fill Pressure
Bhiwadi Cylinders Private Limited was granted a special permit authorizing manufacture, marking, sale, and use of non‑inner receptacles similar to 2Q Variation 1 inner receptacles but with a larger diameter and increased filling pressure. This permits those non‑standard receptacles under the permit terms.
Permit: Radioactive Material Beyond Type A Tests
EnergySolutions, LLC was granted a special permit to transport radioactive materials in commerce that exceed the external dose rate and have not passed the drop and stack test requirements for Type A packagings. The permit allows transport under specified permit conditions despite those test failures.
Permit: Overpacking Damaged/Leaking Cylinders
Entegris, Inc. was granted a permit authorizing transportation of cylinders containing hazardous materials that are damaged or leaking and are overpacked in a salvage cylinder designed, constructed, and marked according to a technical code approved by the German Transport Competent Authority. This allows shipment of such overpacked damaged cylinders under the permit.
Permit: Non‑DOT Cylinders with Compressed Krypton
K2 Space Corporation was granted a permit to authorize transportation in commerce of non‑DOT specification cylinders containing compressed krypton (UN1056) when those cylinders are incorporated into a spacecraft or components of a spacecraft. This authorizes using non‑standard cylinders in space hardware shipments under the permit.
Permit: Transport of Recalled Li‑ion Batteries for Disposal
Veolia ES Technical Solutions, LLC was granted a permit to authorize transportation in commerce of damaged, defective, or recalled lithium‑ion batteries for the purpose of disposal. The permit allows Veolia to move such batteries for disposal under the special permit terms.
Permit: Transport Damaged Li‑ion Batteries in Noncompliant Packagings
Tesla, Inc. was granted a permit to authorize transportation in commerce of damaged, defective, or recalled lithium‑ion batteries in packagings that do not meet the requirements of the Hazardous Materials Regulations. This allows Tesla to move such batteries under the special permit conditions.
Permit: Contract Carrier for Unapproved Explosives
Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) was granted a permit authorizing use of a contract carrier to transport unapproved explosives for developmental testing. This permits SpaceX to move unapproved explosive materials for testing under the permit terms.
Permit: Extra Compressed Gases in Cylinders
ARMOTECH s.r.o. was granted a special permit to authorize two additional compressed gases to be transported in cylinders manufactured under the provisions of that special permit. This allows ARMOTECH to use those cylinders for the newly authorized gases.
Permit: Reduced Limited‑Qty Marking
SodaStream USA, Inc. was granted a modification to authorize a reduced‑size limited quantity marking. This lets SodaStream use a smaller limited‑quantity label on eligible shipments under the special permit.
Permit: Category B Biologicals in Non‑test Freezers
SciSafe Inc. was granted a permit authorizing the transportation in commerce of Category B biological substances in freezers that are not capable of passing the specified drop test in Sec. 173.199(a)(4). This lets SciSafe ship those biological samples in such freezers under the permit terms.
Permit: One‑time Antimony Trioxide Shipment
Sandery Polymers Corp. was granted a one‑time, one‑way permit to transport antimony trioxide in non‑UN Standard packagings that are not marked or labeled. This permits a single shipment under those limited conditions.
Withdrawal: Prototype Li‑ion Batteries by Cargo Aircraft (Allendale)
Allendale, LLC withdrew its application (22107‑N) that would have authorized transportation of prototype lithium‑ion batteries by cargo‑only aircraft. The withdrawal means the applicant did not receive that authorization.
Withdrawal: Non‑DOT Pressure Vessels in Spacecraft (D‑Orbit)
D‑Orbit US LLC withdrew its application (22108‑N) that would have authorized transportation of non‑DOT specification pressure vessels as part of a spacecraft. The withdrawal means that authorization was not granted to the applicant.
Withdrawal: Prototype Li‑ion Batteries by Cargo Aircraft (Honda)
Honda Racing USA withdrew its application (22122‑N) that would have authorized transportation of prototype and low production lithium‑ion batteries by cargo‑only aircraft. The withdrawal means Honda Racing USA did not receive that authorization.
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