Trucks carrying empty hazardous material containers no longer need special paperwork

The US Department of Transportation is making it easier to transport empty containers that once held hazardous materials. These trucks will no longer need special shipping papers, placards, or vehicle markings, as long as they follow new safety rules.

For years, companies had to treat empty containers of hazardous materials almost the same as full ones, even if only a tiny residue remained. This meant extra paperwork and special markings for low-risk loads. This change removes a bureaucratic hurdle, making it cheaper and faster to move these empty containers.