FAA Proposes $96,200 Civil Penalty Against FedEx Corp. for Alleged Hazardous Materials Violations

WASHINGTON, D.C.  — The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposes a $96,200 civil penalty against FedEx Corp. of Memphis, Tenn., for allegedly violating Hazardous Materials Regulations.

Between July 15 and July 25, 2014, the FAA conducted an onsite inspection of shipments that FedEx accepted at its Indianapolis facility. The FAA alleges that FedEx accepted three shipments of hazardous materials that were not prepared in accordance with the Hazardous Materials Regulations. The shipments contained methanol, printer ink and sodium hydroxide.

The FAA alleges FedEx accepted the methanol shipment without ensuring it was properly marked, labeled and placarded; the printer ink was in drums that did not meet minimum pressure tests for containers used to transport that type of substance; and the sodium hydroxide shipment was not properly described and certified on a shipping paper.

The FAA also allegedly found that several Dangerous Goods identification tags on the outside of cargo containers designated for hazardous shipments were either incorrect or obscured.

FedEx has 30 days from receipt of the FAA’s enforcement letter to respond to the agency.