When shipping hazardous or dangerous goods (HAZMAT), it is important for shippers to adhere to the instructions given by the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT).
Quick Facts
- The shipper is responsible for classifying, packaging, marking, and explicitly labelling the boxes that contain dangerous goods.
- Some carriers may have other specific requirements, always double-check.
- Each shipping carrier accepts different hazardous goods. For example, some only provide shipment for items containing lithium-ion batteries.
- Use the Material Safety Data, or Safety Data Sheet (SDS), to determine the classification of your goods. It can be provided by the manufacturer.
- The Hazardous Materials Table, or the ICAO TI, is a valuable resource. The guide will explain the authorized quantities, required labels, and how to package hazardous goods.
- UN-Specification Packaging may be needed.
- In general, the package needs the following: hazardous goods labels, the Proper Shipping Name, the UN Number, the shipper or consignee’s names, and addresses.
- In the case of using a combination package, authorized outer packaging needs to be used. (It comes with package closure instructions.)
- Shippers also need to fill out a Shipper’s Declaration for Dangerous Goods.
- Be sure to keep the declaration file for at least two years.
