General Requirements for Routing of Shipments

TM 55-315

6-10. General Requirements for Routing of Shipments

Routing of radioactive materials shipments requiring technical escort will be carefully planned, scheduled, and

coordinated by the shipper in advance of actual movement. Such shipments will be routed to avoid densely populated

areas to the maximum extent possible. Transportation costs will not be the controlling factor for routing shipments, and

costs will be considered only after the above requirements are complied with.

6-11. Requests for Routing (AR 55-355)

Routing requests for use of commercial motor vehicular service and commercial rail equipment will be forwarded by the

shipping installation to the appropriate area Commander, Military Traffic Management Command, as provided in AR 55-

355. Requests should be forwarded far enough in advance of the required shipping date to allow for the equipment

inspection and other requirements for the movement. The following information will be included with all requests for

commercial routing of shipments:

a. Name of materials (isotopes involved and activity of each).

b. Number of packages, with total weight and cube.

c. Security classification, if any.

d. Commodity description, including the radiation level of each package and any other hazards for which specific

safeguards may be required.

e. Point of origin and proposed shipping date.

f. Consignor.

g. Consignee.

h. Special conditions of shipment approval, if any.

6-12. Export and Import Shipments (49 CFR 177-179)

a. General.

(1) Export or import shipments of radioactive materials offered for domestic transport will be properly packaged,

marked, labeled, and described, as prescribed by DOT regulations.

(2) Quantity limitations or exemptions also apply to import and export shipments by all modes and means of

transport.

(3) Except for the requirements of 49 CFR 177. 817 and 177. 823, transport by motor vehicle or water to effect

transfer of import/export shipments within a port area, including contiguous harbors, is exempt from the provisions of

DOT regulations.

b. Packaging.

(1) Foreign-made packagings that bear the symbol "Type A" may be used to transport radioactive materials to

their destination in or by way of the United States (44 CFR 173.415(d)).

(2) Packages consigned for export are also subject to the regulations of foreign governments involved in the

shipment (49 CFR 171.12).

(a) The shipper must determine that this package meets all the requirements of the foreign countries

involved. He must present the basis of his evaluation and certify that he has made the determination and those

standards have been met.

(b) The DOT will act as the competent authority in providing the certificate required by IAEA regulations for

special permits for radioactive materials packages. Requests for special permits will be forwarded through appropriate

command channels to the Commander, MTMC.

c. Labeling. Labels that conform to the model pre-

scribed in the IAEA regulations and that are similar to the labels prescribed herein (although the label inscriptions may be

in a foreign language) are authorized in place of the labels prescribed herein for import or export shipments only (49 CFR

172. 436 or 172.440).

d. Canadian Shipments. Radioactive shipments that conform to the regulations of the Canadian Transport

Commission may be transported to their destination in the United States or by way of the United States to Canada (49

CFR 173. 8). Canadian regulations for shipment of radioactive materials by rail (freight or express), sea, or air transport

are essentially identical to those of DOT, including arrangement and numbering. Special permits or other special

arrangements are approved by the Canadian Transport Commission. Canadian regulations governing the transport of

dangerous and hazardous materials are contained in the following publications.

(1) Manual for Supply and Transport, Volume I, Section 12.

(2) Canadian Transport Commission, Article 73.391.

(3) Canadian Forces Pamphlet 117, Article 1051.

(4) IATA, Article 1529.

(5) "Recommended Precautions to be Taken for Safety in the Carriage of Radioactive Material in Ships," issued

by Chairman, Board of Steamship Inspection, 10 September 1952; revised 1966.

6-13. General Duties of Carriers

a. Reporting of Improperly Packed or Damaged Shipments. Carriers must report immediately to the shipper and

DOT, or to the Commandant of the Coast Guard, as appropriate, all instances of the following:

(1) Packages or shipments of hazardous articles that are not properly prepared for transport, whether discovered

before or during transport.

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