Tweet

May 1, 2010 12:00 PM, By John Conley

For those of you who have been reading Bulk Transporter since back in the days when I served as editor of this essential publication, you will remember the Safe Food Transportation Act of 1990. Congress ordered the federal government to strictly regulate the transportation of food products in tank trucks. The Department of Transportation (DOT) did develop a regulatory proposal, but it was never implemented. On April 30, the Food and Drug Administration issued a proposal to develop Implementation of the Sanitary Food Transportation Act of 2005. This is essentially old wine in a new bottle. NTTC will form a committee of food haulers to develop comments which are due on August 30. FDA will act where DOT did not.

As those of you who operate or ship by fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) trailers already know, DOT is taking a hard look at this useful and proven tool following an incident where an FRP trailer split open in transit. DOT plans to hold a meeting in Washington for all parties interested in FRP trailers later this year. NTTC will be there.

The Transportation Security Administration will continue to focus on tank truck transportation, and other agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency and Occupational Safety and Health Administration have been emboldened by the Obama Administration and Reid-Pelosi Congress. Tank truck hazardous materials carriers will have to meet tougher standards in CSA2010 which will, once implemented, surely prove that ours is the safest segment of the trucking industry. DOT also will continue to address rollovers and tank truck loading and unloading issues.

So, I do not think your NTTC staff will need to spend much effort looking for issues. What we do need is to continue to grow the association that represents the entire tank truck industry. Our current members carry the load for everyone reading these words. If you have never been asked to join these carriers and our associate members, please consider this a Personal Invitation. Visit our website at www.tanktruck.org or call us at 703/838-1960. Let the Good Times Roll.

Conley is president of National Tank Truck Carriers Inc.

Agree or disagree? Make your voice heard by visiting Bulk Transporter Interactive at bulktransporter.com and clicking on “Contact Us.”