DOT RAM Transport Index & Radiation Survey Audit Manual
Standardized engineering procedure and interactive audit engine for Class 7 radioactive materials: 1-meter Transport Index (TI) determination, package labeling triage, cumulative load limits, and cab exposure validation.
01 Radiation Survey Measurements
02 DOT RAM Compliance Audit Determination PASSED AUDIT
All radiation survey measurements and cumulative loading metrics satisfy 49 CFR Part 173 and NRC 10 CFR 71 requirements.
DOT 49 CFR § 172.403 Radioactive Package Labeling Matrix
| Label Category | Max External Surface Radiation Level | Radiation Level at 1 Meter (TI) | Vehicle Placard Trigger | Operating Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RADIOACTIVE WHITE-I | ≤ 0.5 mrem/hr (0.005 mSv/hr) | 0.0 (Background / Not Detectable) | No Placards Required | Low-activity diagnostic doses, heavily shielded cold storage pigs, wipe test samples. |
| RADIOACTIVE YELLOW-II | > 0.5 to ≤ 50 mrem/hr (0.5 mSv/hr) | > 0.0 to ≤ 1.0 mrem/hr (TI ≤ 1.0) | No Placards Required | Standard PET/SPECT unit doses (F-18, Tc-99m) in Type A tungsten or lead pigs. |
| RADIOACTIVE YELLOW-III | > 50 to ≤ 200 mrem/hr (2.0 mSv/hr)* | > 1.0 to ≤ 10.0 mrem/hr (TI > 1.0)* | MANDATORY 4-SIDED PLACARDS | Multi-curie radiochemical bulk vials, Mo-99/Tc-99m generators, high-energy therapy doses (Lu-177, I-131). |
*Note: Under 49 CFR § 173.441(b), packages transported under Exclusive Use closed transport may exhibit surface levels up to 1,000 mrem/hr, provided the 2-meter vehicle boundary is ≤ 10 mrem/hr and cab dose is ≤ 2 mrem/hr.
Transport Index (TI) Physics
Per 49 CFR § 173.403, the Transport Index is a dimensionless number assigned to a package to provide control over radiation exposure. For non-fissile packages, it equals the maximum radiation level in millirem per hour (mrem/hr) measured at one meter (3.3 feet) from the exterior package surface, rounded up to the first decimal place.
Vehicle Cumulative Limit (50 TI)
In non-exclusive use transport, the total sum of transport indexes for all packages in a single transport vehicle must not exceed 50.0 TI (49 CFR § 173.441(a)). Exspeedite Nuclear TMS automatically halts dispatch assignment if adding a consignment breaches the cumulative 50 TI ceiling.
Driver Bulkhead Shielding
49 CFR § 173.441(b)(4) mandates that radiation levels in any normally occupied vehicle compartment must not exceed 2.0 mrem/hr (0.02 mSv/hr). Exspeedite enforces calibrated survey meter readings at the driver seat before vehicle release.
Automate DOT Class 7 Radiation Surveys in Exspeedite TMS
Never fail a DOT or NRC roadside inspection. Exspeedite digitizes package surface surveys, TI cumulative summation, vehicle placarding triggers, and electronic Class 7 hazardous shipping manifests.