Dangerous Goods Shipping

Dangerous goods shipping manages the transportation of hazardous materials in compliance with regulations including DOT, IATA, and IMDG. This guide covers hazmat classification, documentation, and shipping requirements.

Overview

Dangerous goods shipping enables you to:

• Classify hazardous materials
• Generate required documentation
• Ensure regulatory compliance
• Manage special handling
• Track hazmat shipments
• Maintain certifications

Accessing Dangerous Goods

Navigate to Settings → Shipping → Dangerous Goods to configure hazmat shipping.

Understanding Dangerous Goods

Hazard Classes

Class	Description	Examples
Class 1	Explosives	Fireworks, ammunition
Class 2	Gases	Propane, aerosols
Class 3	Flammable Liquids	Paint, alcohol
Class 4	Flammable Solids	Matches, sulfur
Class 5	Oxidizers	Bleach, peroxides
Class 6	Toxic/Infectious	Pesticides, specimens
Class 7	Radioactive	Medical isotopes
Class 8	Corrosives	Batteries, acids
Class 9	Miscellaneous	Dry ice, lithium batteries

Regulatory Frameworks

Framework	Application
DOT	US ground transport
IATA	Air transport
IMDG	Ocean transport
ADR	European road
TDG	Canadian transport

Packing Groups

Group	Danger Level
I	Great danger
II	Medium danger
III	Minor danger

How-To Guides

How to Classify Products

Hazmat Classification

1. Go to Products → [Product] → Shipping
2. Enable Dangerous Goods
3. Configure classification:
   • UN Number
   • Proper shipping name
   • Hazard class
   • Packing group
4. Save product

Product Hazmat Settings

Product: Lithium Ion Battery Pack

Dangerous Goods: Yes

Classification:
├─ UN Number: UN3481
├─ Proper Shipping Name: Lithium Ion Batteries
│  packed with equipment
├─ Hazard Class: 9
├─ Packing Group: II
└─ ERG Number: 147

Specifications:
├─ Watt Hours: 100 Wh
├─ Lithium Content: 2g
├─ Cell Count: 6
└─ Net Weight: 0.5 kg

Labels Required:
├─ Class 9 Miscellaneous
├─ Lithium Battery Handling
└─ Cargo Aircraft Only (if >100Wh)

How to Configure Shipping Rules

Hazmat Shipping Rules

1. Go to Settings → Shipping → Dangerous Goods
2. Configure rules:
   • Carrier restrictions
   • Method availability
   • Packaging requirements
   • Documentation

Rule Configuration

Dangerous Goods Rules

Class 3 - Flammable Liquids:
├─ Ground Shipping: Allowed
├─ Air Shipping: Restricted (IATA limits)
├─ International: Additional documentation
└─ Carrier: FedEx Ground, UPS Ground

Class 9 - Lithium Batteries:
├─ Ground Shipping: Allowed
├─ Air Shipping: Passenger aircraft (< 100Wh)
│                 Cargo only (> 100Wh)
├─ Carrier Requirements: Certified shippers only
└─ Special Handling: Required

Prohibited:
├─ Class 1 Explosives: No shipping
├─ Class 7 Radioactive: Special license required
└─ UN3373 Biological: Healthcare license

How to Generate Documentation

Required Documents

Document	Purpose
Shipper's Declaration	IATA air declaration
Dangerous Goods Note	Ocean shipping
Shipping Paper	Ground transport
Emergency Info	24-hour contact
SDS	Safety data sheet

Document Generation

Shipper's Declaration for Dangerous Goods

Shipper: Acme Corporation
         123 Industrial Way
         Chicago, IL 60601

Consignee: Global Distributors
           456 Commerce St
           Los Angeles, CA 90001

Nature and Quantity of Goods:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ UN3481, Lithium ion batteries packed with equipment │
│ Class 9, PG II                                      │
│ 2 packages x 5 kg each                              │
│ PI 966, Section II                                  │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Emergency Contact: 1-800-555-0123 (24 hours)

Certification:
I hereby declare that the contents of this consignment
are fully and accurately described above by the proper
shipping name, and are classified, packaged, marked
and labeled/placarded, and are in all respects in
proper condition for transport according to applicable
international and national governmental regulations.

How to Apply Labels and Markings

Required Labels

Item	Label Type
Package	Hazard class labels
Outer Container	Handling labels
Documentation	Markings
Vehicle	Placards

Labeling Requirements

Lithium Battery Shipment Labels

Package Labels:
├─ Class 9 Diamond (minimum 100x100mm)
├─ Lithium Battery Handling Label
├─ Package Orientation Arrows (if liquid)
└─ UN Number: UN3481

Outer Packaging:
├─ Shipper Name and Address
├─ Consignee Name and Address
├─ Emergency Contact Number
└─ "CARGO AIRCRAFT ONLY" (if applicable)

Additional Markings:
├─ Gross Weight
├─ Net Quantity
├─ Packing Instruction Number
└─ Special Permit Number (if applicable)

How to Handle Special Requirements

Lithium Batteries

Lithium Battery Requirements

Section I (Large Batteries):
├─ Watt Hours: > 100 Wh per cell
├─ UN3480 (standalone) or UN3481 (with equipment)
├─ Cargo Aircraft Only
├─ Shipper's Declaration Required
└─ UN Specification Packaging

Section II (Small Batteries):
├─ Watt Hours: ≤ 100 Wh per cell
├─ Passenger Aircraft Allowed
├─ No Shipper's Declaration
├─ Strong Outer Packaging
└─ Lithium Battery Handling Label

Quantity Limits:
├─ Per Package: Max 2 batteries or 4 cells
├─ Per Shipment: Based on net quantity
└─ Per Aircraft: Varies by aircraft type

Temperature-Controlled Items

Class	Requirement
Infectious	Cold chain
Organic Peroxides	Temperature control
Self-Reactive	Temperature monitoring
Biological	Documented temps

How to Train Staff

Training Requirements

Role	Training
Shippers	Initial + recurrent
Handlers	Function-specific
Drivers	DOT certification
Supervisors	Management training

Training Program

Dangerous Goods Training Program

Initial Training:
├─ General Awareness: 8 hours
├─ Function-Specific: 16 hours
├─ Safety Training: 4 hours
└─ Security Training: 4 hours

Recurrent Training:
├─ Frequency: Every 2 years (3 for IATA)
├─ Duration: 8 hours minimum
├─ Assessment: Written test required
└─ Documentation: Maintain records

Certification:
├─ Issue Certificate: On completion
├─ Record Keeping: 3 years minimum
├─ Validity Period: 2 years (DOT), 3 years (IATA)
└─ Update Training: For regulation changes

How to Audit Compliance

Compliance Checklist

Dangerous Goods Compliance Audit

Product Classification:
- [ ] All hazmat products identified
- [ ] UN numbers correct
- [ ] Proper shipping names accurate
- [ ] Packing groups assigned
- [ ] SDS available

Documentation:
- [ ] Shipper's declarations complete
- [ ] Emergency contacts current
- [ ] Training records up to date
- [ ] Certifications valid

Packaging:
- [ ] UN specification packaging used
- [ ] Labels correctly applied
- [ ] Markings legible
- [ ] Quantity limits observed

Carriers:
- [ ] Carrier hazmat certified
- [ ] Routes appropriate
- [ ] Special handling followed
- [ ] Tracking enabled

Advanced Features

Regulatory Updates

Stay current:

• Automatic regulation updates
• Change notifications
• Impact assessments
• Implementation guides

Carrier Integration

Hazmat services:

• Carrier certification check
• Route validation
• Rate calculation
• Documentation submission

Compliance Reporting

Track compliance:

• Shipment logs
• Incident reports
• Training records
• Audit trails

International Shipping

Global compliance:

• Multi-regulation support
• Country restrictions
• Customs requirements
• International documentation

Best Practices

Classification

• Verify UN numbers
• Use correct names
• Update regularly
• Document changes

Documentation

• Complete accurately
• 24-hour contacts
• Keep copies
• Digital backup

Training

• Regular updates
• Document completion
• Test knowledge
• Track expiration

Compliance

• Regular audits
• Stay current
• Report incidents
• Continuous improvement

Configuration

Product Settings

Navigate to Products → Dangerous Goods:

• Classification - UN numbers
• Requirements - Shipping rules
• Documentation - Auto-generate
• Labels - Print settings

Shipping Settings

• Carriers - Hazmat carriers
• Methods - Available methods
• Routes - Approved routes
• Restrictions - Prohibited items

Compliance Settings

• Regulations - Active frameworks
• Training - Requirements
• Audits - Schedule
• Reports - Compliance reports

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Product not shipping

• Verify classification
• Check carrier capability
• Review method rules
• Confirm documentation

Documentation errors

• Verify UN number
• Check proper name
• Confirm quantities
• Review emergency contact

Carrier rejection

• Verify certification
• Check packaging
• Review labeling
• Confirm documentation

Compliance violation

• Document incident
• Investigate cause
• Implement correction
• Update procedures

Related Documentation

Return to Shipping Overview to explore all shipping features.