Truck Transport: Little Is Known About Hauling Garbage and Food in the Same Vehicles
RCED-90-161
Published: Jun 28, 1990. Publicly Released: Jul 09, 1990.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO examined the practice of transporting municipal solid waste in multipurpose trucks that may also be used to carry consumer goods, such as food.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Transportation | The Secretary of Transportation should take the steps needed, including seeking authorizing legislation if necessary, to develop regulations requiring that truckers maintain specific records of commodities carried in trucks that carry food. This recordkeeping could help food shippers identify trucks that may need more thorough inspections and facilitate any future research that Congress may require into the extent and nature of health risks. |
The Sanitary Food Transportation Act of 1990 requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to develop regulations concerning recordkeeping for commodities carried in trucks that carry food. On May 21, 1993, DOT issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to solicit comments on its proposed regulations. DOT is analyzing the comments received. DOT has not set a date for completing the final regulations.
|
| Department of Agriculture | The Secretaries of Agriculture and Health and Human and Services (HHS), in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation and the Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), should develop standards and guidelines for truck cleaning. Those measures would help minimize the potential risk of food contamination. |
The Sanitary Food Transportation Act of 1990 requires DOT to develop regulations for truck cleaning in consultation with HHS, EPA, and USDA. On May 21, 1993, DOT issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to solicit comments on its proposed regulations. DOT is analyzing the comments received. DOT has not set a date for completing the final regulations. Action on pending legislation to transfer the implementation of the Sanitary Food Transportation Act of 1990 from DOT to FDA is expected in the fall of 1995.
|
| Department of Health and Human Services | The Secretaries of Agriculture and Health and Human and Services (HHS), in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation and the Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), should develop standards and guidelines for truck cleaning. Those measures would help minimize the potential risk of food contamination. |
The Sanitary Food Transportation Act of 1990 requires DOT to develop regulations for truck cleaning in consultation with HHS, EPA, and USDA. On May 21, 1993, DOT issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to solicit comments on its proposed regulations. DOT is analyzing the comments received. DOT has not set a date for completing the final regulations. Action on pending legislation to transfer the implementation of the Sanitary Food Transportation Act of 1990 from DOT to FDA is expected in the fall of 1995.
|
| Department of Transportation | The Secretaries of Agriculture and Health and Human and Services (HHS), in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation and the Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), should develop standards and guidelines for truck cleaning. Those measures would help minimize the potential risk of food contamination. |
The Sanitary Food Transportation Act of 1990 requires DOT to develop regulations for truck cleaning in consultation with HHS, EPA, and the Department of Agriculture (USDA). On May 21, 1993, DOT issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to solicit comments on its proposed regulations. DOT is analyzing the comments received. DOT has not set a date for completing the final regulations. Action on pending legislation to transfer the implementation of the Sanitary Food Transportation Act of 1990 from DOT to FDA is expected in fall 1995.
|
| Environmental Protection Agency | The Secretaries of Agriculture and Health and Human and Services (HHS), in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation and the Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), should develop standards and guidelines for truck cleaning. Those measures would help minimize the potential risk of food contamination. |
The Sanitary Food Transportation Act of 1990 requires DOT to develop regulations for truck cleaning in consultation with HHS, EPA, and USDA. On May 21, 1993, DOT issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to solicit comments on its proposed regulations. DOT is analyzing the comments received. DOT has not set a date for completing the final regulations. Action on pending legislation to transfer the implementation of the Sanitary Food Transportation Act of 1990 from DOT to FDA is expected in the fall of 1995.
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Topics
Contaminated foodsFood contaminationFood inspectionHealth hazardsProduct safetySafety regulationTrucking operationsWaste disposalWaste managementLandfills