Beginning Nov. 4, drivers transporting hazardous materials no longer will have to stop periodically to check their tires.

In a final rule issued Oct. 4, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) said the requirement is outdated due to advancements in tire technology and that the checks increase the risk of highjacking and theft.

"To require a vehicle transporting a hazardous material to stop at frequent regular intervals increases the security risk associated with such transportation," FMCSA said. "Any stop provides an opportunity for potential hijacking or theft of the vehicle and its cargo."

The agency said many of the hazardous materials transported by motor carriers potentially may be used as weapons of mass destruction or in the manufacture of such weapons.