As of November 4, drivers of vehicles carrying hazardous materials will no longer be required to stop periodically to check their tires.
Section 397.17 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations says that drivers of vehicles with dual tires that are transporting hazardous materials must stop every two hours or 100 miles to inspect the tires. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the rule was originally intended to prevent possible fires caused by overheated tube-type tires.
FMCSA noted, however, that advancements in tire technology have dramatically reduced the frequency of fires caused by tire overheating. Moreover, FMCSA noted that requiring hazmat haulers to stop frequently and at regular intervals poses a security risk. The agency stressed that it was not eliminating all tire checks. An operator of a motor vehicle transporting hazardous materials must still check each tire at the beginning of each trip and each time the vehicle is parked. Tire checks are also part of pre-trip inspections required of commercial vehicles hauling all types of freight. For additional information, see the regulations section at www.fmcsa.dot.gov.