Each year, over 3 billion tons of regulated dangerous goods / HazMat are transported in the United States alone.

YOU CAN HELP to ensure that regulated shipments in commerce are properly prepared.

Many agencies and industry partners are developing resources to provide the latest in safety regulation as well as videos and tools on how to transport products safely. Please help to promote this webpage and the websites listed to the right, and encouraging others to do the same.

HELP ELIMINATE UNDECLARED
DG / HAZMAT SHIPMENTS

FAA Dangerous Goods Website:

• What are Dangerous Goods
• SafeCargo for Shippers & Startups
• Operate Safe for Air Carriers
• PackSafe for Passengers  
• Vapes on a Plane?

US DOT PHMSA - Before You Ship, Check the Box 

US Postal Service

• Postal Explorer
• Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual 
• Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail 

UPS How to Safely Pack & Ship Batteries

FedEx Lithium Battery & Cells Shipping Guide

IATA Lithium Battery Transportation

Lives are at risk. With the recent onslaught of container ship fires, we ask ourselves “what can be done?”. Lives are being lost, ships and cargo damaged, and major disruptions to trade are of utmost concern. The UK P&I Club and the TT Club have published an update to their joint publication Book it Right, Pack it Tight, reflecting updates from the IMDG Code Amendment 39-18 which became mandatory January 1, 2020. This publication outlines the responsibilities of stakeholders and provides guidance in reducing risk. Shippers and carriers with responsibility for declaration, packing, handling and stowage of dangerous goods in maritime containerized transport will find this to be a valuable tool. The guide is available for download here, or click on the image below.

About e-commerce & Dangerous Goods Transportation

It is estimated that e-commerce sales will top $27 trillion by 2020. Retail e-commerce is expected to increase to $4+ trillion in 2020 and continue to see double digit growth each year. e-commerce sales in China top the list and are expected to reach $899+ billion this year followed by North America, rising 15.6% to $423+ billion (eMarketer report).

Most dangerous goods regulations were enacted in another era, well before the time of e-commerce and are not based on an assessment of risk for individual shipments of consumer commodities. Additionally, the complex web of exceptions creates a challenging business environment for high volume low risk goods. The COSTHA working group identifies areas of risk, geographies where more information needs to be provided or regulations need to be updated and identify best practices to ensure the safe and efficient delivery to consumers.

COSTHA e-commerce Working Group: Formed in 2017, the working group quickly identified its top priority:

Eliminate the need for manual intervention on ground transport of limited quantity shipments in the US. One of the members has applied for a special permit that would allow the smaller sized (50 mm x 50 mm) limited quantity marking to be printed on the consignment label. The consistent placement of the label will make the marking more visible and eliminate manual application of labels and streamline the acceptance process for carriers.    

Next Steps:

1. Can we expand the use of the smaller limited quantity mark on the consignment label to other countries for ground shipments? 
2. Review e-commerce, business to consumer, regulations in other countries and how they compare to the US.
3. Explore automation enhancements in the supply chain and how some equipment such box on demand and fully automatic robot palletizing systems precludes human intervention.  

Learn more about the COSTHA e-commerce and other committees here