Transportation Safety
Transportation Safety

Transporting hazardous materials by truck, railroad, aircraft, marine vessels, and pipelines requires strict adherence to:

  • Hazardous Materials Regulations issued by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) of the Department of Transportation (DOT)
  • Modal regulations of the Federal Aviation, Highway, and Railroad Administrations
  • International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code
  • ICAO and IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations

We advise and defend clients on their hazardous...

Transporting hazardous materials by truck, railroad, aircraft, marine vessels, and pipelines requires strict adherence to:

  • Hazardous Materials Regulations issued by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) of the Department of Transportation (DOT)
  • Modal regulations of the Federal Aviation, Highway, and Railroad Administrations
  • International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code
  • ICAO and IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations

We advise and defend clients on their hazardous materials transportation responsibilities under these regulations.  We obtain special permits and approvals from DOT, participate in DOT rulemakings and transportation legislation, and negotiate and draft transportation contracts.  

We represent global car and truck manufacturers in all aspects of safety regulation, interacting regularly with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), responding to agency information requests, handling safety investigations and recalls, conducting audits, and advising companies on a wide range of regulatory compliance issues. 

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Our capabilities at a glance

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Judicial review wins

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Ex-government policy advisors

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Pieces of legislation changed

Hear from our clients and industry leaders

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The whole team is super smart. They are all really easy to work with and then know our business inside out. They come to us proactively with issues and are incredibly responsive.

Chambers & Partners, UK Guide, 2025

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An intellectually brilliant and commercially astute public law team. One of the very best in the city.

Chambers & Partners UK 2025

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Hogan Lovells has a high capability in solving complex issues that involve both legal and technical perspectives.

Chambers & Partners, Germany, 2025

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The lawyers are just experts. They are there when you need them and happy to entertain all my questions. They understand the wider context and the politics and sensitivities of it.

Chambers & Partners, UK 2025

Key contacts

Joanne Rotondi
Partner

Joanne Rotondi

Partner

Washington, D.C.

Representative experience

Advising six clients on the complex rules governing lithium battery transportation, from large car batteries to button cells, and obtained 12 special permits and approvals for such shipments.
Obtained from PHMSA a first-ever special permit exemption from hazardous materials regulation for bulk shipments of vinegar.
Representing several automobile manufacturers involved in the Takata airbag safety crisis, filing required reports, providing regulatory counsel, consulting with NHTSA officials, and negotiating recall parameters.
Advising companies on cutting-edge issues related to autonomous driving, including state and federal regulatory developments, incident investigations, and treatment of emerging technologies.
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Awards and recognitions

Practice Group of the Year, Transportation

Law360

2019-2020

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