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New Civil Penalty Amounts

It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s an increase to Civil Penalty Amounts!  While the colloquial idiom is somewhat funny, the increase in civil penalty amounts is no laughing matter. Effective as of July 31, 2019, The Department of Transportation (DOT) and its governing bodies (PHMSA, FAA, FRA, FMCSA, etc.) will begin enforcing the newly adjusted penalty amounts for Hazardous Materials Regulation (HMR) violations.

Listed below are some of the most common violations associated with hazmat transportation, but for a full review of the changes click HERE:

1. The maximum civil penalty for a hazardous materials violation under (49 U.S.C. 5123(a)(1)) increased from $79,976 to $81,993 per day, per violation. That is a $2,017 increase.
2. The minimum penalty for a hazmat training violation increased from $481 to $493 per employee, per day. That’s a $12 increase per employee per day!
3. The maximum penalty for hazardous materials violation that results in death, serious illness, or severe injury to any person or substantial destruction of property increased $4,751 from 186,610 to $191,316.
4. The maximum penalty for each pipeline safety violation rose from $5,379 to $218,647.

Although some of these penalties seem like miniscule increases (the $12 increase), they add up fast and the repercussions go far beyond a simple monetary value. In an industry where time is money and money is time, needless delays from rejected shipments can become unrecoverable while simultaneously creating bad blood between all aspects of the supply chain. With new hazmat employees requiring initial hazmat training within 90 days of their hire date and reoccurring training required every 3 years, it’s often hard to keep track of who needs what and when.

That’s why Transportation Compliance Associates has created industry leading training and compliance solutions.  We offer a multitude of classes for shipment by Air, Ground, and Sea that fit your busy schedule. Whether its E-learning which is self-paced and accessible 24/7, a live webinar that’s customizable, or Onsite at your facility, we take the guess work out the regulations for you.  And don’t forget to Opt-in for our newsletter where you can receive exclusive offers, information on Reg. changes, and industry news. You can also give us a call at 412.249.1111 for a free 20 min consultation. Don’t forget to follow or like us at one of our many social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, or Linkedin.