PHMSA ISSUES ENFORCEMENT WAIVER FOR CDL HAZMAT DRIVER REOCCURRING TRAINING |
PMAA Contact: Mark S. Morgan Regulatory Counsel
The Pipeline and Hazardous
Material Safety Administration (PHMSA) announced today
that the agency will not take enforcement action against
any motor carrier or offeror who is unable to provide
reoccurring hazardous material training that all CDL
HAZMAT drivers (and all HAZMAT employees) must undergo every three years. The PHMSA
announcement may viewed
here. The enforcement waiver is in effect for 90 days
beginning March 23, 2020.
PHMSA said the
enforcement policy is needed because most reoccurring
driver training and testing takes place in large classroom
settings that are no longer safe given the corona virus
outbreak.
Specifically, the temporary
enforcement waiver covers only reoccurring
training under 49 CFR 172.704 (c)(2). The training and
testing categories under subpart 172.704 that are subject
to the temporary enforcement waiver include:
-
General
Awareness/Familiarization Training
-
Function Specific
Training
-
Safety Training
-
Security Awareness
Training
-
In Depth Security
Training
-
OSHA and EPA Training
PHMSA also noted that
although the reoccurring training enforcement waiver is in
effect, the agency encourages
the utilization of alternative training delivery methods
including; web-based training, self-paced computer
instruction, remotely delivered classroom instruction, on
the job training even where testing is not possible.
However, PHMSA is not requiring
the use of alternative training methods.
IMPORTANT!
The enforcement waiver does not apply to initial driver
training. PMAA is seeking an enforcement waiver for
initial training as well.
Mark S. Morgan,
Regulatory Counsel
mmorgan@pmaa.org
(202) 364-6767 or (202) 487-4536 (cell)
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