Motor carriers, large and small, that haul certain categories of hazardous materials are required by the U.S. Department of Transportation to develop and follow a hazmat security plan by Sept. 25, 2003.

The plan must include:

• Measures to confirm information provided by job applicants hired to access and handle the hazardous material.
• Measures to address the assessed risk that unauthorized persons may gain access to the materials.
• Steps to address the assessed security risks of hazmat shipments en route from origin to destination, including shipments stored incidental to movement.

In addition, the plan must be in writing and must be retained for as long as it remains in effect. Copies of the security plan must be available to employees who are responsible for implementing it - consistent with personnel security clearance or background investigation restrictions and a demonstrated need to know.

The plan also must include an assessment of possible transportation security risks for shipment of applicable hazardous materials and the measures taken to address this assessed risks.

Finally, the plan must be revised and updated as necessary to reflect changing circumstances.

Description of applicable hazmats

The plan covers haulers of radioactive material and those who haul more than 55 pounds of explosive material.

Also included:

• More than 1.06 quarts per package of any material poisonous by inhalation;
• A hazmat shipment in bulk packaging that has a capacity equal to or greater than 3,500 gallons for liquids or gases or more than 458 for solids;
• A shipment in other than a bulk packaging of 5,000 pounds gross weight or more of one class of hazardous materials for which placarding is required; and
• A select agent or toxin regulated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.