National Tank Truck Carriers Submits Comments to PHMSA on Hazmat Transportation Risks and Heavy-Duty Electric Vehicles

The National Tank Truck Carriers (NTTC) announced it has formally submitted comments to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) in response to federal docket PHMSA-2025-0678-0001, which seeks stakeholder input on the safety, operational, and regulatory considerations of transporting hazardous materials (HM) using heavy-duty electric vehicles (EVs) compared to traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. 

Representing more than 500 companies across North America, NTTC emphasized that while the tank truck industry supports innovation and environmental progress, the transition to electric-powered heavy-duty vehicles in hazardous materials service raises significant and unresolved concerns.

In its comment letter submitted to PHMSA, NTTC outlined several key considerations:

Fire and Thermal Risk: NTTC noted the lack of sufficient comparative data on fire risks between EV and ICE vehicles in HM operations. However, the association raised concerns about the severity of lithium-ion battery fires, including prolonged burn times, re-ignition risks, and potential interactions with hazardous cargo.

Cargo Tank Safety: The association highlighted the need to evaluate whether current cargo tank standards, developed for conventional vehicles, are adequate under extended battery fire exposure scenarios.

Infrastructure and Charging Safety: NTTC emphasized that EV charging introduces new risks, including extended dwell times for HM vehicles, potential supervision gaps, and the need for specialized facility design to mitigate cascading hazards.

Emergency Response Gaps: While existing emergency response guidance provides a strong foundation, NTTC recommended additional protocols to address combined EV battery and hazardous materials incidents, including fire suppression compatibility and incident command coordination.

Operational and Economic Challenges: NTTC stressed that heavier EV tractors reduce payload capacity under the federal 80,000-pound weight limit, potentially requiring more trucks and drivers to move the same volume of goods. The association also cited high upfront vehicle costs and infrastructure investment needs as barriers to adoption.

NTTC further underscored that there are currently no known deployments of heavy-duty EVs in HM service, reinforcing the need for caution. NTTC reaffirmed its commitment to working collaboratively with federal agencies, industry partners, and emergency responders to ensure that any future transition in vehicle technology maintains the highest standards of safety and operational reliability.