No. A manual kept at the office does not by itself meet the rule. Drivers must be able to get emergency response information right away. For covered shipments, check what it says, what form it takes and where it rides, under 49 CFR 172.602.
Reviewed October 17, 2026
Check what the transport document says
Required emergency response information includes a description of the material, health hazards, fire or explosion risks and immediate precautions for an incident. §172.602(a)(1)–(4)
It also includes first steps for handling a fire, first steps for a spill or leak with no fire, and preliminary first aid. §172.602(a)(5)–(7)
Have qualified people verify the approved information for the material you ship. This page lists document requirements. It does not give incident-response or leak-handling instructions.
Connect the information to the shipment
The information must be legible in English. It must be usable away from the hazardous material package. The rule permits set formats: on the shipping paper, in a separate document, or by cross-reference. §172.602(b)(1)–(3)
Carriers must keep the required information the way the rule sets for shipping papers. Extra provisions apply for each mode of transport. Motor vehicle drivers must be able to get it right away for an incident. §172.602(c)(1)
Under section 172.604, a required emergency response phone number must be monitored the whole time the material is moving, including storage along the way. An answering service that needs to call back does not meet that rule. §172.604(a)(1)–(2); exceptions in (d)
Name someone to check the transport packet and the emergency-information setup before anyone relies on it. Check applicability and exceptions with your transportation reviewer. Do not assume the office binder rides with the shipment.
Questions and answers
Should the manual still say who checks these documents?
Yes. Name the role and the review steps. Then check the real transport papers against the rule for each shipment.
About Bill Stomp
Bill Stomp built Propane Safety Pro. He is a war veteran who ran over 87 propane branch offices across 12 states, and he has helped more than 200 propane companies improve their profits, sales, safety and operations.
Next step
Ready to give document checking a name and a routine? Start with the Policies & Procedures manual for propane companies.
General information, not legal advice.