• The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) established a national safety permit program for motor carriers that transport certain hazardous materials in interstate or intrastate commerce.
• The safety permit is issued at no fee, and is effective for two years, unless suspended or revoked.
• In order to receive and maintain a permit, carriers must maintain a certain level of safety in their operations and certify they have programs in place as required by the Hazardous Materials Regulations and the HM Permit regulations.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) established a national safety permit program for motor carriers that transport certain hazardous materials in interstate or intrastate commerce. The safety permit program applies to intrastate, interstate, and foreign carriers transporting any of the hazardous materials shown in 49 CFR 385.403, in the quantity indicated.

Form MCS-150B, “Combined Motor Carrier Identification Report and HM Permit Application,” must be submitted by hazmat motor carriers in lieu of Form MCS-150, when renewing the safety permit and updating the USDOT number. Effective December 12, 2015, new entrant motor carriers requiring a hazardous materials safety permit must use the electronic-only MCSA-1 form available at www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registration.

The safety permit is issued at no fee, and is effective for two years, unless suspended or revoked. The MCS-150B must be updated every two years according to the schedule in 49 CFR 390.19. Any change in the information recorded on the MCS-150B must be updated within 30 days of the change. Failure to update the MCS-150B as required may result in revocation of the permit. Form MCS-150B may be downloaded at www.fmcsa.dot.gov. Electronic filing is recommended and available at the same website.

FMCSA developed the Hazardous Materials Safety Permit (HMSP) as a tool to help improve safety on our nation’s highways. In order to receive and maintain a permit, carriers must maintain a certain level of safety in their operations and certify they have programs in place as required by the Hazardous Materials Regulations and the HM Permit regulations.