Utilizing state hazardous materials transportation data in hazardous analysis

Local communities in the United States are required by federal law to assess and plan for risks posed by the transportation of hazardous chemicals in the community. Two sources of data relating to the transportation of hazardous chemicals by motor carrier were examined to determine their value in the hazardous analysis process. Local road side transportation surveys were examined and compared with state truck inventory data drawn on a national basis by the United States Department of Transportation. Statistical analyses of the two data sets suggests that state data collected on a national basis by the US Department of Transportation's truck inventory use survey was not representative of the hazardous chemical data transportation profiles collected at the local road side surveys. The state truck inventory use survey data provides a statewide perspective of motor carrier hazardous materials shipments. The authors determined that additional commodity flow studies should be completed to provide a more precise view of local chemical hazards presented by motor carrier shipments of hazardous chemicals. (C) 1997 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.