49 CFR § 174.300 - Special handling requirements.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t49/s174.300"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "49 CFR § 174.300 - Special handling requirements."
title_number: 49
title_name: "Transportation"
section_number: "174.300"
section_name: "Special handling requirements."
chapter_name: "PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION"
subchapter_number: "C"
subchapter_name: "HAZARDOUS MATERIALS REGULATIONS"
part_number: "174"
part_name: "CARRIAGE BY RAIL"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "49 U.S.C. 5101-5128; 33 U.S.C. 1321; 49 CFR 1.81 and 1.97."
cfr_part: "174"
---


# 174.300 Special handling requirements.

(a) Class 3 (flammable liquid) materials may not be loaded, transported, or stored in a rail car equipped with any type of lighted heater or open-flame device, or in a rail car equipped with any apparatus or mechanism utilizing an internal combustion engine in its operation.

(b) A truck body or trailer which is loaded with a Class 3 (flammable liquid) materials and equipped with a lighted heater or any automatic heating or refrigerating apparatus may not be loaded on a flatcar except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section.

(c) Heating or refrigeration apparatus on a motor vehicle loaded with Class 3 (flammable liquid) materials may be operated while the motor vehicle is loaded on a flatcar only if:

(1) The lading space is not equipped with any electrical apparatus that is not non-sparking or explosion-proof;

(2) There is no combustion apparatus in the lading space;

(3) There is no connection for the return of air from the lading space to any combustion apparatus; and

(4) The heating system conforms to § 393.77 of this title and does not heat any part of the lading over 54 °C (129 °F).

(d) Metal barrels or drums containing Class 3 (flammable liquid) materials may be transported in a steel gondola or flatcar or in a stock car. However, they may not be transported in a hopper bottom car.

[Amdt. 174-26, 41 FR 16092, Apr. 15, 1976, as amended by Amdt. 174-31, 43 FR 31143, July 20, 1978; Amdt. 174-68, 55 FR 52683, Dec. 21, 1990]