MINNESOTA TRUCKING ASSOCIATION

New PHMSA Interpretation on Biodiesel Proper Shipping Description

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has released a letter that revises the 2006 interpretation on the shipping name for diesel fuel/biodiesel blends. The letter states that a shipper may use the proper shipping name “diesel fuel” for diesel/biodiesel blends containing up to 5% biodiesel. It provides a small chart indicating authorized proper shipping names for the blends which indicates that B-20 must be names “diesel fuel solution”. It also confirms that the marking exceptions in 49 CFR 172.336 ( c) (4) and (5) do apply to this mixture, and that cargo tanks can be marked with the ID number for the distillate fuel with the lowest flashpoint. The letter does not resolve the issue about using the proper shipping name gasoline for gasohol shipments. It refers to the proposed rulemaking HM-218D, that may alter shipping names for ethanol blends. This rulemaking may be out by the end of the year.

View the letter here.