Trucking Exec Tells Congress: ‘Common Sense’ Hazmat Changes Needed

William Downey, EVP for corporate affairs and chief security officer at The Kenan Advantage Group, said before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee that several statutory changes are necessary in order to improve the safety and security of hazardous materials shipments.

“Today, I want to propose four common sense solutions that will improve safety, security and efficient operations of transporting hazardous materials,” Downey told the panel’s Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials on behalf of American Trucking Associations (ATA).

First, Downey called on Congress to limit the requirement for fingerprint-based background checks to drivers transporting security-sensitive hazardous materials, saying that a move would “save commercial drivers and the federal government both time and money without compromising security.”

Second, Downey said Congress should block proposed “wetlines” regulations based on a report from the Government Accountability Office that found such a rule’s benefits would be few to none and that its costs were underestimated.

Downey also said Congress should clarify accountability in hazmat transportation by distinguishing the functions performed by shippers versus those performed by carriers and that the federal government should step in and reform the state hazmat transportation permitting process.

Category: General Update, Management