Shipping Hazardous Items: What You Need to Know
From classification and freight requirements to DOT regulations and hazard markings, ensure your business navigates shipping hazardous materials effectively.
Many important factors go into safely shipping hazardous items. Depending on the freight your small or medium-sized business produces, your shipment may require special shipping needs or will require classification as a hazardous item. Shipping hazardous items is an entirely different scenario than other standard freight pieces. Here’s a breakdown of how to correctly ship hazardous items.
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- Extensive Carrier Network: FreightCenter partners with many carriers and diverse transportation options.
- Advanced Technology: FreightCenter’s technology platform enables easy online booking, tracking, and management of shipments. Customers can get instant quotes, book shipments, and monitor freight in real-time.
- Customized Solutions: FreightCenter offers tailored shipping solutions to meet the unique requirements of different industries and businesses. They can handle specialized freight, high-value shipments, and complex logistics challenges.
The term HAZMAT is an abbreviation for “Hazardous Materials.” The main contrast between hazardous shipping items and other kinds of freight is how it is defined and classified. There are essentially two steps of “classification” for hazardous materials. They include organizing the type of hazardous material and its freight class. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has specific rules for shipping hazmat items. They classify these risky shipments into nine classes:
- 1: Explosives
- 2: Gases
- 3: Flammable and Combustible Liquids
- 4: Flammable Solids
- 5: Oxidizing Substances, Organic Peroxides
- 6: Toxic and Infectious Substances
- 7: Radioactive Items
- 8: Corrosives
- 9: Diverse Hazardous Items
Most of these classes also contain class divisions for more specific items. The DOT also provides a Hazardous Materials Markings, Labeling, and Placarding Guide that hazmat shippers should familiarize themselves with. These risky items are also determined by a list of levels. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) rates them here in the U.S. These levels are:
- Red – Flammable
- Blue – Health Hazard
- Yellow – Instability Hazard
- 4 – Ranges from Lethal to Explosive
- 3 – Ranges from Permanent Injury to Explodes
- 2 – Ranges from Temporary Injury to Violent Chemical Change
- 1 – Ranges from No Hazard to Stable
To create value for our customers by delivering customized shipping solutions that meet their unique needs and to fulfill shipping demands from simple to complex with expertise, guidance and ingenuity.
LTL shipping involves combining multiple small shipments from different customers onto one truck, allowing each customer to share the shipment cost. Trust the experts at FreightCenter to give you the best prices and the most comprehensive options for all your LTL freight shipping needs.
Truckload shipping, also known as full truckload (FTL), is a transportation option for freight that requires the entire trucks trailer space. Unlike LTL shipping, FTL shipping is reserved for larger commodities that exceed LTL weight and size limits, typically weighing more than 20,000 pounds or having dimensions that exceed 12 feet in length, 8 feet in width, and 8 feet in height. We deliver optimized solutions for full or partial truckloads and competitive dry van, flatbed, and refrigerated freight pricing. We can cover your full truckload shipping needs.
Nationwide Expedited Trucking services move your freight securely and rapidly. Your freight requires fast delivery; our freight shipping experts can get your shipment fast, whether in one large box or a full truckload.
Specialized is a transportation option for items that require specialized handling, equipment, or shipping conditions. Specialized shipments may include high-value cargo, oversized cargo, or cargo that require temperature-controlled transportation. The most reliable Specialized Freight Services rates from all the top carriers are just a few steps away. From white glove service to international shipping, we've got you covered.
Even the most skillful hazardous item shipper can have trouble with packaging. And when it comes to shipping risky items, securely and adequately packaging your hazmat item shipment is very important. These items include fuels, biochemicals, and pharmaceuticals, among others. Some of the most common hazardous item packaging includes:
- Corrugated fiberboard box.
- Drum and Pail.
- 4GV packaging.
The best packaging supplies for shipping hazardous materials depends on your items. For a quick reference into the world of freight packaging, refer to FreightCenter’s Guide to Freight Packaging. This guide will help you further understand different types of packaging and what may work best for your shipment.
Other tasks that go along with packaging your items is providing necessary documentation. A product safety data sheet (SDS) may be required by law for certain hazardous materials. This provides detailed information of potential hazardous chemicals. The description details the physical and chemical properties of the item. It also provides valuable information such as:
- Toxicity
- Flash Point
- Procedures for Spills/Leaks
- Guidelines for Storage
- Exposure Control
Many rules apply when shipping hazardous cargo. These rules can include marking and labeling your package and completing the declarations on your paperwork. Rules and regulations can be different by state and amongst the other countries, so be sure to coordinate which state borders you may cross into during transport.
There are a few options when it comes to the transportation of hazardous items. The most common method is to use specially designed trucks or trailers. These vehicles come with custom features that help to control spills and leaks. Tanker trucks are the most common truck used to ship hazardous materials. And while tankers handle most of the work, dry van trailers and reefer trailers also pull their weight. Each trailer type is used regularly to transport items such as wines, spirits, rubbing alcohol, shampoo, and other everyday things. Although they may not seem hazardous to the naked eye, many household items can be classified as hazardous due to their ingredients.
Another hazardous material shipping option is using rail cars (trains). Larger than trucks and trailers, they can transport extensive amounts of hazmat. However, they can be more difficult to unload and may require special equipment. Some shippers may even choose to ship hazmat by boat. This mode can be cheap, but shippers can expect delayed arrivals for their goods as boats are the slowest form of freight transport.
We’ve been noticing businesses that have shifted their creation to making essential items like hand sanitizer. For example, distilleries have begun producing hand sanitizer with their supply chain assets. Hand sanitizer falls under the classification of hazmat. Businesses and organizations that make it will possibly be shipping hazmat items for the first time.
Hand sanitizer is a hot commodity right now. Similar to when the fireworks season starts. Therefore, distributors and supply chain managers must get the solutions they need, especially if they are shipping hazmat items that they are not used to.
That’s where FreightCenter comes in. We have over 20 years of handling hazmat shipments. FreightCenter knows the ins and outs of the business and has the connections shippers need to keep things going. Are you new to shipping hazmat items, or have you done so before? Whether or not, it’s crucial to partner with a freight broker who understands your business and shipping needs. We dedicate ourselves to providing the best results to our shippers, no matter the challenge.
We can help with your hazmat shipments. If you want to speak with one of our experts, call us at 800-716-7608. Get started with a free quote today.
Guaranteed competitive pricing every time you ship.
Shipping Hazardous Items: What You Need to Know faq’s
Q. What is the Best Way to Ship Furniture and Office Supplies?
Hazardous substances risk health, safety, property, or the environment. These can include chemicals, flammable liquids, explosives, corrosives, and radioactive materials.
Q. What Regulations Govern the Shipping of Hazardous Items?
Shipping hazardous items is regulated by various bodies to ensure safety. International regulations are set by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and the United Nations (UN). In the United States, the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) oversee these regulations.
Q. How Should Hazardous Items Be Packaged?
Packaging hazardous items requires careful attention to detail. They should be contained in UN-certified containers specifically designed for hazardous materials. Packages must be clearly labeled with the appropriate hazard class labels and handling instructions, and all containers must be securely sealed to prevent leaks.
Q. What Documentation is Required for Shipping Hazardous Items?
Proper documentation is crucial when shipping hazardous items. Shipping papers must describe the hazardous materials, their hazard class, UN number, packing group, and quantity. A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) should also be included, providing detailed information about the material’s properties and handling requirements. For air shipments, a Declaration of Dangerous Goods is also necessary.
Q. How are Hazard Classes Determined?
Hazard classes are determined based on the material’s properties. These classes include explosives, gases, liquids, flammable solids, oxidizers and organic peroxides, toxic and infectious substances, radioactive materials, corrosives, and miscellaneous dangerous goods.
Q. What Training is Required for Handling Hazardous Shipments?
Personnel involved in shipping hazardous materials must receive training on regulations and compliance, packaging and labeling, emergency response procedures, and safety measures to ensure proper handling and adherence to legal requirements.
Q. What Are Common Challenges in Shipping Hazardous Items?
Shipping hazardous items comes with several challenges, including regulatory compliance to avoid fines and legal issues, ensuring safety to prevent accidents and exposure, maintaining accurate documentation to avoid delays, and managing higher shipping costs due to specialized handling and packaging requirements.
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