[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 102 (Friday, May 24, 1996)] [Notices] [Pages 26167-26168] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 96-13097] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Army Transloading Arms, Ammunition, and Explosives AGENCY: Military Traffic Management Command (MTMC), DOD. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This notice supplements the notices published on November 24, 1995 (Federal Register, Vol. 60, No. 226, page number 58054) and published on December 20, 1995 (Federal Register, Vol. 60, No. 244, page number 65640). Both MTMC Freight Traffic Rules Publication No. 1A, Item 48, and MTMC Guaranteed Traffic Rules Publication No. 50, Item 145, are changed as follows: ``Transloading shipments of Division 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3 ammunition and explosives will be conducted as follows: a. Truckload shipments will not be off-loaded or transferred to another vehicle enroute, except in emergencies (as defined in 49 CFR 390.5). b. Loading and unloading of less-than-truckload (LTL) shipments of Division 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3 ammunition and explosives will be accomplished only in a carrier terminal. For the purposes of this rule, a carrier terminal is defined as one which is equipped to handle safely the loading and unloading of Division 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3 ammunition and explosives from a commercial motor vehicle. In addition, when the transloading of Divisions 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3 ammunition and explosives occurs at a carrier terminal other than at that of the carrier of record, as indicated on the Government Bill of Lading, prior written approval must be received from a company official or the carrier terminal manager. All Federal, State, and local guidelines for handling Divisions 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3 ammunition and explosives will apply when transloading occurs. The carrier accepts liability for the integrity of the shipments, to include proper blocking and bracing, equal to or exceeding the standard used by the shipper. c. Transloading of ammunition and explosives shipments on a military installation must be approved by the installation commander.'' DATES: Effective July 23, 1996. ADDRESSES: Headquarters, Military Traffic Management Command, ATTN: MTOP-T-SR, 629 NASSIF Building, 5611 Columbia Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-5050. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Julian Jolkovsky, MTOP-T-SR, (703) 681-3440. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: MTMC received comments from one motor carrier, the U.S. Army Industrial Operations Command, and the Naval Ordnance Center. One comment requests clarification of this rule as it pertains to interlining; this clarification is not necessary because interlining does not apply to this rule in today's environment. Another comment is that this rule will give carriers too much latitude while failing to enhance shipment safety and security; this rule does not give carriers any more latitude than necessary to deliver military cargo safely, securely, and efficiently. Because MTMC is responsible to ensure that transloading will be accomplished in the safest manner possible, transloading [[Page 26168]] is limited to locations that are capable and equipped to deal with these types of shipments. The same comment feels that this rule will invalidate the Motor Vehicle Inspection, DD Form 626. DD Form 626 represents the condition of the equipment at the time of inspection at the origin activity and allows the Government to compare the origin inspection with the destination inspection to establish liability. Once the carrier equipment leaves the activity, the potential for change to the equipment remains, regardless of whether the shipment is transloaded. With this rule, the carrier accepts liability for shipment integrity, to include blocking and bracing. Another comment suggests requiring carriers to notify both origin and destination activities of seal changes. The rules publications allow adequate notification by requiring carriers to annotate seal changes on the Government Bill of Lading. To comply with another comment that this rule should clarify the meaning of ``proper blocking and bracing,'' MTMC will add to the end of the rule the words ``equal to or exceeding the standard used by the consignor.'' MTMC expects that in transloading a shipment, the carrier maintains shipment integrity at a level that is the same as or better than the consignor's. Transloading less-than-truckload shipments is an accepted practice. MTMC has considered all comments carefully and decided to implement the proposed change to its transloading procedures. If there are concerns regarding these procedures, the consignor has the option to select Exclusive Use of Vehicle service. Gregory D. Showalter, Army Federal Register Liaison Officer. [FR Doc. 96-13097 Filed 5-23-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3710-08-M