Federal government forges ahead on wetlines proposal

In an effort to promote trucking safety, the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), will extend the comment period concerning the wetlines rule until late April, Today's Trucking reports.

The PHMSA will require flammable liquid haulers to either install a system that purges all but one liter of product from the wetlines on the underside or outfit the tanker with a cage or bumper system to protect the piping. However, many freight hauling companies added that there is a overwhelming cost to the industry and a lack of evidence to show whether this technology will be sufficient.

This ruling comes after the agency believes that the external piping and the flammable liquid contained within are exposed to a collision. Furthermore, nearly 27,000 cargo tanks may be affected by the rule.

Officials told the news source that if the rule is passed in 2012, wetlines will not be permitted on trailers at all by 2024. Meanwhile, tankers built before that will need to either be retrofitted or put out of commission.

Safety directors may wish to enroll their drivers in recurrent hazmat training to help them gain the necessary knowledge in complying with hazardous materials standards.

By Andie Martin 

Federal government forges ahead on wetlines proposal

Monday, March 28th, 2011