• videocam On-Demand Webinar
  • signal_cellular_alt Intermediate
  • card_travel Transportation
  • schedule 90 minutes

PHMSA Special Permits and Party Status: Strategies for Last-Mile Delivery of Hazardous Materials

$297.00

This course is $0 with these passes:

CLE
ALL
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About the Course

Introduction

This CLE webinar will guide transportation attorneys on obtaining Special Permits and Party Status Applications from the U.S. DOT and Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) that allow transportation in commerce of certain hazardous materials as not subject to the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) when transported to their final delivery destination. In particular, the program will benefit attorneys representing transportation or logistics companies competing in the last-mile delivery space or counsel advising businesses looking for efficient ways to provide last-mile delivery.

Description

Using non-asset based carriers, couriers, and rideshare drivers for final or "last-mile" delivery to consumers of goods ordered through e-commerce has become increasingly attractive and necessary. But one problem is that many common consumer goods and many regulated goods are subject to the federal HMR which require special equipment for transport or delivery and special driver training, eliminating delivery by car, bike, or scooter as viable alternatives.

In July 2025, the PHMSA issued Walmart a Special Permit (DOT-SP 21427) that "authorizes the transportation in commerce of certain hazardous materials as not subject to certain HMR when transported to their final destination" if the conditions in the special permit are followed. Other entities, if eligible, can apply for Party Status and, in effect, piggy-back on the Walmart Special Permit. 

Many in the transportation industry do not understand either the process or the pitfalls of seeking and obtaining Special Permits or Party Status. Missteps can mean unintended violations, fines, and worse. Applicants must expect additional scrutiny of their operations, and those unfamiliar with the process can be fooled if they do not understand how DOT and PHMSA function.

Listen as our expert panel discusses the Walmart breakthrough and the terms of its permit and offers instruction, best practices, and practical tips for obtaining Special Permits and Party Status Applications from the DOT and PHMSA.

Credit Information

  • This 90-minute webinar is eligible in most states for 1.5 CLE credits.


  • Live Online


    On Demand

Date + Time

  • event

    Tuesday, April 7, 2026

  • schedule

    1:00 PM ET/10:00 AM PT

I. Regulatory and operational challenges of last-mile delivery

A. US Transport regulations pertain to hazardous materials “in commerce”

B. What is “in commerce” and what isn’t?

C. What problem was Walmart hoping to solve?

II. PHMSA regulations for last mile delivery of certain common goods

A. What does fully-regulated look like?

B. What has changed in the way hazardous materials are transported to lead to a new way of doing business?

III. Special Permits

A. What is a special permit?

B. How do you apply for a special permit?

C. What is the process that the USDOT follows to review and approve special permits

IV. Party Status applications and approvals

A. What is the difference between special permits and approvals?

B. What is “Party Status” and how do you get it?

V. Pitfalls to avoid

A. Hazmat employee training

B. Incident reporting

C. Following the SP

VI. Case study: Walmart's SP

A. What problem was Walmart hoping to solve?

B. How will Walmart ensure that the SP is complied with?


The panel will review these and other important issues:

  • Why did it take so long for someone to obtain a Special Permit as did Walmart?
  • How is regulatory compliance with last-mile delivery enforced?
  • What are non-asset based carriers?