There was a similar discussion a few years ago and I've forgotten some of the details but basically the hazmat fee came about because of additional record keeping required after 9/11 and that it would expire in 2014. Seems like it was fairly well documented, not just internet BS like this seems to be. The FEE was not required by the government but the shippers instituted it to cover their extra work. However, in the same discussion some old timers said they remembered hazmat fees going back to the 80's. Maybe (just my guess) the fee did exist but was a lot less so people didn't gripe about it so much.
|