Responding to a report on improper documentation and packaging of hazardous materials (HAZMAT) in the United States, the Department of Defense (DOD) has begun corrective actions.
These actions could hold sizeable changes for a major industry on which the DOD relies. More than 3 billion tons of HAZMAT are shipped by commercial carriers each year, and around 1 million shipments are made each day. Though the effects of these actions may not be seen until later this year–when they are scheduled for completion–the DOD determined three key matters as far back as 2015: documentation-related issues and human error, issues such as inadequate reporting, and milestones to implement any corrective actions.
At the time, the DOD had also come under fire for using Transportation Protective Services (TPS) on HAZMAT shipments the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) felt could have sufficed with less costly alternatives. The DOD noted it had used TPS infrequently when not required for HAZMAT shipments — a reported 518 of more than 31,000 HAZMAT shipments between June 1, 2013 and July 31, 2014. GAO agreed, though chided them for not including detail on the assumptions that led them to those decisions, which resulted in unnecessary costs off around $126,000.
Corrective actions to avoid further unnecessary use of TPS are one of the measures the DOD is now implementing. The program is specifically meant for sensitive materials such as ammunition and classified materials–items that have more stringent safety and security standards involved.