Shipping Dangerous Goods: A Comprehensive Guide

When it comes to shipping dangerous goods, it's important to make sure that all hazardous materials are declared on the air waybill and commercial invoice. Most messengers will require you to complete an expanded international air waybill and include a 24-hour telephone number on the sender's statements. Before offering dangerous goods to an airline for shipment, the Hazardous Materials Regulations require YOU, the shipper, to properly classify, package, mark and label the package to identify the hazard. You should also consider the mode of transport by which you will ship your goods (that is, air, sea or road).

Keep in mind that urgent and urgent shipments, such as next-day, express, or even two to three-day shipments, mean that your packaged goods are very likely to end up on an airplane. FedEx Express prohibits the rapid shipment of dangerous goods, except for shipments where dry ice is the only dangerous merchandise in the shipment. We provide dangerous goods service for many cities in Alaska, and dangerous goods delivery points can be found at some FedEx staffed offices. To find one in your area, go to Find FedEx Offices, enter your location, and then select “Dangerous Goods Shipping”.If it is not left in a place with staff that accepts dangerous items, your shipment must be delivered to FedEx Express through a scheduled pickup at the customer's location.

Sometimes, you may not recognize that the item you are shipping qualifies as dangerous merchandise and requires proper identification, classification, packaging, marking, labeling, and documentation. However, it is your responsibility to correctly identify and classify these shipments. As a shipper, you are responsible for identifying, classifying, packaging, marking, labeling and completing documentation for dangerous goods in accordance with all national and international government regulations. Otherwise, dangerous conditions could be created on the aircraft and result in the shipper being subject to government fines and sanctions under applicable laws. IATA rules, for example, require the sender to mark the name and address of both the sender and the recipient on the package.

The application of an aerial brochure or an automatic self-adhesive take-off and paste label meets this requirement; a paper plane ticket or a paper automation barcode in a bag does not.

Dangerous Goods Shipper's Declaration

FedEx Express Package Services (EE. USA) offers dangerous goods service for many cities in Alaska and from Puerto Rico to the U. S. UU.

(Continental). These restrictions apply to dangerous goods regardless of the FedEx service being used. Rates that apply to shipments containing dangerous goods include special handling fees based on the classification and type of special handling required. Dangerous items for which there is no surcharge include non-flammable gas with a “cargo plane only” label: flammable solids; spontaneously combustible materials; and dangerous when wet items. Inaccessible dangerous goods shipments include non-flammable gas shipments without a “cargo plane” label; label only dangerous goods through FedEx Express International Services; lithium batteries through FedEx International Express Freight; lithium batteries commonly used in devices such as mobile phones, laptops, watches, cameras and toys; and category B biological substances.

Maritime Transport Regulations

In addition to air transport regulations for hazardous materials shipped internationally by air or sea or road., USPS ships only certain hazardous materials representing between fifteen and twenty (15-20%) of all hazardous materials shipped to the United States.

To ship dangerous goods internationally you must use fully compatible packaging that is tested certified and meets UN requirements for specific classification of products being shipped. IATA lithium battery shipping regulations (LBSR) can better help with regulations for shipping lithium batteries and items containing lithium batteries.

Additional Considerations

When shipping dangerous goods by air you must ensure that they are packaged in a container that is not only safe for dangerous goods being shipped specifically but is also capable of withstanding aircraft pressure at high altitudes and that a valid dangerous goods declaration form (for air transport) has been completed. Even if you're familiar with shipping dangerous goods using other modes of transport keep in mind that maritime transport now refers to goods transported by sea air or road. You must know the regulations about what dangerous goods you want to ship and how you want to ship them.

You might see that people refer to shipping hazardous materials as shipping dangerous material, simply because it's an abbreviation. Of the more than 1.25 million packages of hazardous materials shipped each year three types of dangerous goods stand out: flammable liquids dry ice and lithium batteries. Dry ice is widely used as a refrigerant for products such as frozen foods and pharmaceutical products including vaccines. In conclusion it's important to remember that when shipping hazardous materials it's essential to comply with all UN packaging regulations guidelines of your shipping regulatory body IATA lithium battery shipping regulations (LBSR) prior approval from FedEx Express Dangerous Goods Administration special provision from IATA A88 or A99 valid dangerous goods declaration form (for air transport) compatible packaging tested certified UN requirements specific classification products being shipped.