Shipping hazardous materials is anything but straightforward. With so many laws and regulations to keep track of, it can be difficult to figure out on your own.
The good news is that RPM is here to help you safely ship hazardous materials with this complete shipping guide:
What Is Hazmat Shipping?
Hazmat shipping refers to the transportation of hazardous materials. The transportation of hazardous materials is regulated by the federal government to keep people safe throughout the entire process from start to finish.
Who Regulates Hazmat Shipping
According to the Hazardous Material Transportation Act (HMTA), the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is the federal agency in charge of regulating shipments of hazardous materials.
Within the Department of Transportation, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulates the transportation of hazardous materials on our nation’s highways.
What Materials Are Classified as Hazmat?
The DOT separates hazardous materials into nine different classifications, including:
- Explosives — Hazard Class 1: Present risk of mass explosion, projection, and fire. Examples include dynamite, gun powder, and fireworks.
- Gases — Hazard Class 2: Examples include flammable gases (propane), non-flammable gases (helium), and poisonous gases (carbon monoxide).
- Flammable Liquids — Hazard Class 3: Have a flashpoint less than 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Examples include gasoline, acetone, ethanol, and xylene.
- Flammable Solids — Hazard Class 4: Examples include flammable solids (match sticks), spontaneously combustible material (oily rags), and dangerous when wet (magnesium fire starter).
- Oxidizing Substances & Organic Peroxide — Hazard Class 5: Examples of oxidizers include concentrated hydrogen peroxide and silver nitrate, whereas organic peroxides contain both an oxidizer and an organic fuel.
- Toxic & Infectious Substances — Hazard Class 6: Known to be toxic to humans based on a risk of oral, dermal, and inhalation exposure.
- Radioactive Materials — Hazard Class 7: Examples include uranium, plutonium, smoke detectors, and even x-ray machines.
- Corrosive Materials — Hazard Class 8: Both acids with a low pH level and bases with a high pH level eat away at skin and steel. Examples include battery acid and degreasers.
- Miscellaneous Hazardous Material — Hazard Class 9: Any other potentially hazardous substance that doesn’t fall into the above categories but still requires regulation during shipping. This includes dry ice and lithium batteries.
Shipping Guide for Hazardous Materials
Shipping hazardous materials is incredibly complex; here’s what you need to know about the entire process from start to finish:
How To Determine If You’re Shipping Hazardous Materials
There’s no shortage of different materials and substances out there. So how can you determine if you’re shipping hazardous materials or not?
The first place you should look is the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) provided by the manufacturers. This sheet should tell you whether or not the material is hazardous and requires special care.
If you’re still unsure after checking the SDS, you can contact the US DOT’s Hazardous Materials Information Center by telephone at 1-800-467-4922 or by email at infocntr@dot.gov for additional guidance.
How To Get a Hazmat Shipping Certification
Not just anyone can transport hazardous materials. Instead, you need to receive a hazmat shipping certification to qualify to transport these kinds of materials. But how do you get such a certification? You may want to consider taking a course that meets the DOT’s standards and specific training regulations.
These courses go over all the hazardous materials regulations you need to know about, including but not limited to the labeling of hazmat materials, the packaging of hazmat materials, the placarding of hazmat materials, the security of hazmat materials, and of course, the transportation of hazmat materials.
How To Partner With a 3PL or Carrier Network When Shipping Hazardous Materials
Obtaining a hazmat shipping certification is no easy task; it can be very challenging and time-consuming, which is why it may be worthwhile for you to partner with a third-party logistics (3PL) provider or carrier network with access to drivers who already have their certifications.
Just make sure that you choose the right partner when it comes to shipping hazardous materials by looking into the credentials, training requirements, services, insurance, accident history, and experience of the companies you’re considering.
- Credentials: Your chosen hazmat transportation partner should have all the necessary credentials for transporting hazardous materials — specifically, a valid permit under the Federal Hazardous Materials Safety Permit Program.
- Services: Your chosen hazmat transportation partner should offer the shipping services you need. For example, look for partners that offer both less-than-truckload shipping (LTL) and full truckload shipping. You should also look for partners that offer many different modes of transportation,
- including dry vans, flatbeds, and reefers.
- Insurance: Your chosen hazmat transportation partner should be fully insured with adequate coverage to protect shipments and equipment.
- Accident history: Your chosen hazmat transportation provider should have a clear or limited accident history that demonstrates their commitment to safety.
- Experience: Your chosen hazmat transportation provider should have substantial experience with shipping hazardous materials since transporting hazardous materials is quite different from transporting food and beverage products, consumer packaged goods, eCommerce products, etc. Look for at least one year of experience, but the more experience they have, the better.
How To Package Hazmat Materials for Shipping
Packaging is an important component of the safe transport of hazmat materials. The United Nations Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods has developed packaging requirements and standards for hazardous materials that you should follow before shipment.
Based on hazard communication standards, there are three different Packaging Groups:
- Packaging Group I: Hazardous materials with a great degree of danger
- Packaging Group II: Hazardous materials with a medium degree of danger
- Packaging Group III: Hazardous materials with a minor degree of danger
The packaging of hazmat materials must be tested beforehand to prove that it meets these standards. Some examples of qualifying tests according to the UN include drop tests, leakproofness tests, hydrostatic pressure tests, stacking tests, cooperage tests, chemical compatibility tests, and vibration standard tests.
Once the packaging has been proven safe, it must be appropriately marked with the UN symbol and a packaging identification code containing the type of packaging, construction material, and packaging category:
- Packages Marked “X”: Meets safety standards for all Packaging Groups I, II, and III
- Packages Marked “Y”: Meets safety standards for Packaging Groups II and III but not Packaging Group I
- Packages Marked “Z”: Meets safety standards for Packaging Group III only
How To Label Your Hazardous Materials for Shipping
After hazmat materials have been properly packaged, they must be properly labeled. Labels are designed to identify the substances and potential hazards through colors, codes, and pictograms. That way, people can immediately identify both the substance and mitigate any risk presented by it.
The nine different classes of hazardous materials mentioned above each come with their own label. According to 49 CFR 172.406, labels must be printed on or affixed to the outer packaging (other than the bottom) of the package or containment device containing the hazardous material and be located on the same surface of the package and near the proper shipping name marking, if the package dimensions are adequate.
How To Prepare Your Shipping Declaration
The final component of shipping hazardous materials is the shipping declaration. This declaration contains all relevant information about the hazardous materials and the dangers they pose. It’s incredibly important to properly complete the shipping declaration to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations when you ship dangerous goods.
Here are the items that you need to fill out on your shipping declaration:
1. The Identification Number, Identified in the Hazardous Materials Table
For starters, you need to include the identification number of the hazardous material being transported. You can locate the appropriate identification number in the Hazardous Materials Table. Place this additional information in the correct column located on the left-hand side of the document.
2. The Proper Shipping Name, Identified in the Hazardous Materials Table
Next, you need to include the proper shipping name of the hazardous material being transported. You can also locate this information alongside the identification number in the Hazardous Materials Table. Place this information in the correct column — just to the right of the identification number.
3. The Hazard Class
After that, you need to include the hazard class of the hazardous material being transported based on the nine classifications of materials we previously covered. Place this information in the column to the right of the proper shipping name.
4. The Packing Group, Identified in Roman Numerals, When Required
Now, you need to include the packaging group identified in Roman numerals based on the three different packaging groups we just talked about. Place this information in the column to the right of the hazard class.
5. The Total Quantity of Hazardous Materials
Add the total quantity of hazardous materials using the proper measurement in the column next to the packaging group.
6. The Number and Type of Packages Holding the Hazardous Contents
Provide more information on the packaging of the hazardous materials by including the number and type of packages being used for transportation.
7. Any Additional Description Requirements per 49 CFR Section 172.203
Familiarize yourself with 49 CFR Section 172.203 and check to ensure that you’re not missing anything else on your shipping declaration. If anything else is needed based on these regulations, make sure to include it in your shipping declaration before proceeding with the shipment.
How Does RPM Handle Shipping Hazardous Materials?
RPM is a top logistics provider with over 10 years of experience in the industry and an extensive network of over 40,000 carriers, many of which are certified and trained in the transportation of hazardous materials.
With our carrier network, we’re able to meet the diverse needs of our clients by offering diverse freight shipping services, including but not limited to full truckload shipping, less-than-truckload shipping, expedited shipping, cross-border shipping, drayage shipping, and more.
No matter what you’re shipping, we have the equipment to handle it, including dry vans, flatbeds, bulk trailers, and temperature-controller reefer trailers.
We handle over 15,000 shipments every month, and we maintain a 98% on-time delivery rate. As a result, we have won countless awards and consistently work with over 2,000 clients to meet their shipping needs. Let us meet yours too!
What To Do Next
RPM is ready and willing to meet your hazmat shipping needs. We have extensive experience in the chemical industry, and our drivers are fully trained with flawless safety records. To learn more about our hazmat shipping services or to get a quote for an upcoming shipment, reach out to our shipping experts today.
Sources:
Trucking Industry - Transporting Hazardous Materials | OSHA
Nine Classes of Hazardous Materials | FMCSA
Department of Transportation's Guidance for Completing the Shipper's Declaration for Dangerous Goods | CDC
