DOT Updates Special Permits for Companies Shipping Hazardous Materials
Published Date: 10/19/2026
Notice
Summary
The Department of Transportation just updated special permits for companies handling hazardous materials, letting them transport new items or use different packaging. If you’re involved in shipping dangerous goods, these changes could affect how you operate starting now. Make sure to send any comments by November 18, 2026, to have your say—no extra fees mentioned, just smoother rules!
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Grants let firms carry extra hazmat or packagings
PHMSA granted modifications to existing special permits allowing named companies to transport additional hazardous materials or to use additional packagings. Examples in the notice include Papillon Airways (15166-M) to authorize an additional hazardous material, Hexagon Digital Wave LLC (20396-M) and LogBATT GmbH (21088-M) to authorize additional packagings.
Export rules changed for used-return cylinders (Resonac)
PHMSA modified special permit 21354-M for Resonac America, Inc. to authorize the export of used-return cylinders that are not considered residual material and to remove the import cylinder quantity limitation. This specifically changes what Resonac may export and removes a previously stated import quantity cap.
Zipline allowed business-to-business deliveries
PHMSA modified special permit 22087-M for Zipline International Inc. to authorize business-to-business deliveries under specified hazardous materials rules. The permit modification listing includes the cited regulations (49 CFR 173.24, 173.24a, 173.27(c), 173.27(f)(2), 173.167, 173.185(c)).
Cargo-only air transport of certain forbidden items allowed
PHMSA granted permits allowing certain cargo-only flights to transport items previously forbidden or restricted. Examples: Sky Lease I, Inc. (22247-N) was authorized to operate two flights transporting certain Class 1 explosives forbidden in Column (9B) of the 49 CFR 172.101 Hazardous Materials Table for cargo-only aircraft; AUDI Aktiengesellschaft (22347-N) was authorized to transport lithium ion batteries exceeding 35 kg aboard cargo-only aircraft.
Damaged/recalled lithium batteries authorized in alternative packaging
PHMSA granted permit 22286-N to Energy Security Agency, Inc. to authorize the transportation in commerce of certain damaged, defective, or recalled lithium ion cells and batteries and lithium metal cells and batteries in alternative packaging under 49 CFR 173.185(f)(3).
Denials block larger tanks, reclassing cars, and some cargo-only transports
PHMSA denied multiple special permit applications that would have expanded container sizes or allowed certain transports. Examples: Composite Advanced Technologies, LLC (20425-M) was denied to increase maximum water capacity to 12,000 L and maximum length to 512 inches; Trinity Industries, Inc. (22260-N) was denied authorization to stencil existing DOT 105J600W tank cars as DOT 105H600W and to continue using them for Toxic Inhalation Hazard materials; Iwatani Corporation of America (22305-N) was denied authorization to transport DOT 2P receptacles containing butane with capacities exceeding 4 fluid ounces as limited quantities by motor vehicle; ABB AG (22383-N) was denied authorization to transport lithium ion batteries that exceed 35 kg net weight aboard cargo-only aircraft.
Blue Origin authorized special cylinder transport in spacecraft
PHMSA granted permit 22330-N to Blue Origin, LLC to authorize the transportation in commerce of filled non-DOT specification cylinders that are not fitted with a pressure relief device when contained in the Blue Ring spacecraft, citing 49 CFR 173.232(g)(3), 173.301(f)(1), and 173.302(a)(1).
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