Hazardous Materials Permit Records Renewal Proposed
Published Date: 5/6/2026
Notice
Summary
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration wants to renew a rule that helps keep hazardous materials shipments safe by requiring companies to track and record their shipments regularly. This affects companies with safety permits, who must keep communication records for at least six months. Comments on this plan are open until July 6, 2026, and there’s no new cost, just a continuation of current rules.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Six-month record retention and paperwork burden
Companies with HM Safety Permits must keep communication records, physically or electronically, for at least 6 months at the company's principal place of business or readily available to employees. FMCSA estimates 1,142 respondents, a 5-minute maintenance time per daily communication record, and a total annual burden of 799,400 hours.
Periodic tracking and communication rule
If your company holds a Hazardous Materials (HM) Safety Permit, you must have a communications plan to track shipments and make periodic contact at least two times per day. Communication records must show the time of the call and the shipment location, and may be kept by either the driver (for example, in the logbook) or the company.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this federal register document and every other regulation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-08144 — Administrative Rulemaking, Guidance, and Enforcement Procedures
The Department of Transportation is bringing back and improving its rules for making new policies, giving guidance, and enforcing laws. This affects anyone involved in transportation regulations, making the process clearer and more consistent. These changes kick in on May 27, 2026, aiming to save time and avoid confusion without adding extra costs.
2026-09943 — Fees for Commercial Driver's License Information System
The FMCSA wants to start charging State driver agencies a fee to use the Commercial Driver's License Information System (CDLIS), which helps keep track of commercial driver licenses. These fees will be collected by AAMVA, the group that runs CDLIS. If you’re part of a State agency, get ready for this change and send your thoughts by June 17, 2026!
2026-09633 — Agency Information Collection Activities; Renewal of an Approved Information Collection: Request for Revocation of Authority Granted
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is renewing a form that lets motor carriers, freight forwarders, and property brokers cancel their operating authority if they want. This renewal keeps the process easy and official, with no new fees or big changes. If you’re involved, make sure to share your thoughts by July 13, 2026!
2026-09622 — Commercial Driver's License: State of Hawaii Department of Transportation; Application for Exemption
The Hawaii Department of Transportation asked for a special rule to let certain Pacific Island residents get regular commercial driver’s licenses in Hawaii. The government said yes—but only for a special kind of license that lasts five years and is for people from Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau who live in the U.S. This change starts May 14, 2026, and helps keep roads safe without extra costs.
2026-09469 — Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse Requirements; Driver Qualification Requirements: Waste Management Holdings, Inc.; Application for Exemptions
Waste Management Holdings got a two-year partial green light to skip some drug testing and driver checks when moving drivers between their own companies. This means less paperwork and testing for drivers who’ve already been tested recently, but they still have to follow key safety rules. The changes start May 13, 2026, and aim to keep roads safe while making driver transfers smoother and quicker.
2026-09388 — Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Hearing
The FMCSA is considering requests from 11 people who are hard of hearing or deaf to be allowed to drive big trucks across state lines without meeting the usual hearing rules. If approved, these drivers can work interstate, opening new job chances without extra costs or delays. You’ve got until June 11, 2026, to share your thoughts on this important change!
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-08817 — Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits
Fishing boats in the Greater Atlantic Region might get special permission to try new ways of using skate fish as bait in scallop fishing. This means some usual fishing rules could be relaxed for these boats to help test new ideas. If you have thoughts, you’ve got until May 21, 2026, to share them—so don’t miss out!
Next: 2026-08819 — Availability of Motus, FMCSA's New Registration System
The FMCSA just fixed a small mistake in their announcement about Motus, the new online registration system for truck and bus companies. Starting May 6, 2026, everyone who registers with FMCSA will use Motus to meet federal rules, making the process smoother and fully digital. This update doesn’t change fees but makes signing up easier and faster for carriers.