Intermodal Freight Transport: How It Works & Benefits
It is estimated that every day across the United States, more than 800,000 hazardous material shipments are moved. Not only does this introduce a significant safety concern, but with growing threats of terrorism and other security issues, carriers across the US are increasingly being challenged by federal agencies and customers to properly manage their hazmat freight operations.
All shippers and carriers from LTL to the parcel industry must place an emphasis on correctly packaging, documenting, and moving any commodity that has been classified as hazardous materials by the United States Department of Transportation. Since our global supply chain continues to depend on the safe movement of hazardous materials, a series of procedures ranging from document control to correct placarding on transportation vehicles have been set by the USDOT.
In this blog post, we outline the facts about hazardous material shipping, including explaining the different classification types and provide a general outline of carrier responsibilities.
What are Hazardous Materials?
According to the United States Department of Transportation, “Hazardous materials (hazmat) are any products which contain solid or liquid goods that can be potentially dangerous for humans, animals or the environment.”
Within the transportation industry, hazardous materials are classified into unique packing groups and classes. Have you ever wondered how hazmat products are identified globally? The United Nations has joined the hazmat classification process by assigning a number (UN Number) that identifies a product or material with its class and packing group.
This important information is the baseline that educates shippers and carriers as to the regulations required for legally transporting hazmat freight across the United States, and United Nations countries.
There are 9 major hazardous classes as notated by the USDOT. With each hazmat class comes different regulations and procedures. These must be followed by you as a shipper, carrier, or shipping agent (3PL). One item that all hazardous materials have in common is a material safety data sheet or MSDS. The MSDS must be included with the freight and the bill of lading, regardless of the hazmat class.
The nine items listed below are the classes of hazardous materials.
- 1: Explosives
- 2: Gases
- 3: Flammable/Combustible Liquids
- 4: Flammable Solids
- 5: Oxidizers/Organic Peroxides
- 6: Toxic and Infectious Substances
- 7: Radioactive Materials
- 8: Corrosive Materials
- 9: Miscellaneous Hazardous Materials
Of the nine classes posted above, the top three including Explosives, Gases, and Flammable/Combustible Liquids are the most common and represent the biggest opportunity for safety and security concerns. In fact, they belong with Packing Group 1 – or those that pose Great Danger. Additional classes fall into Packing Group II (Medium Danger) or Packing Group III (Minor Danger).
Carriers Responsibilities When Transporting Hazmat Freight
As a carrier, you have your own policies directed at shippers with regard to the documentation and processes involved in hazmat freight shipping. However, the carriers are the ones responsible for the majority of the transport. They must always keep accurate documentation, follow very specific loading and unloading procedures, and oversee the entire movement of hazardous materials once the wheels touch the ground!
Shipping Documentation
You must have redundant copies of hazardous material shipping documentation. These are included with the Bill of Lading (BOL) and contained on at least (1) package or pallet of hazardous materials.
Placard and Marking of Transportation Vehicles
Depending on the hazmat class and packing group, carriers must assign or attach hazardous materials placards on the transportation container or vehicle that are relevant to the type of hazmat moved.
Loading and Unloading
All hazmat carriers are required to train employees on the correct loading and unloading processes for hazmat packages. Many types of hazmat freight, from chemical shipments to radioactive materials, require very specific loading and unloading procedures. Overall, these procedures are in place to potentially save your life or the lives of others, do not ignore them. Just one wrong move could mean a life-threatening leak of hazardous materials.
Compatibility
Not all hazardous materials—especially chemicals and synthetic products—can be moved in the same container or within the same vehicle. In fact, each classification and packaging group has its own compatibility with other classes and packaging groups. Lastly, it's the sole responsibility of the carrier, not the shipper, to follow these guidelines without fault.
Blocking and Bracing
This falls into the loading and unloading segment but is itself an individual carrier responsibility. Furthermore, depending on the hazardous classification or packing group, different hazmat shipments require specific blocking embracing procedures.
Incident Reporting
It is also solely on the responsibility of a carrier to complete accurate and honest incident reporting. Each class and packing group has its own incident reporting procedures.
Security Planning
The main concern of government regulatory agencies is the potential of a hazardous material spill or theft. When talking about hazardous materials, this theft could lead to a catastrophic event such as a terrorist attack.
Each carrier must have a documented security plan in order to receive approval to move any hazmat freight.
Employee Training
As noted above, each hazmat class and packing group has its own handling and documentation procedures. Furthermore, these procedures must be passed along to any and all employees who handle these materials, may come in contact with them or are responsible for its transportation.
Final Thoughts
There is a reason why hazardous material shipping is a premium charge for many carriers. Failure to comply with any of the above regulations can lead to significant financial penalties. Even worse, it can potentially lead to loss of USDOT licensing for professional carriers.
If you are a shipper or carrier who would like to learn more about the specific requirements for hazmat shipping, reach out to the team at Redwood to discover how our Open 4PL approach can support your hazmat freight operations.
FAQs
What counts as hazmat freight?
Hazmat freight includes any solid or liquid product that can be dangerous to people, animals, or the environment during transport. The U.S. Department of Transportation classifies these materials into nine hazard classes, such as explosives, gases, flammable liquids, corrosives, and radioactive materials. Each class carries its own handling and documentation requirements.
What are the nine hazmat classes?
The nine hazmat classes are explosives, gases, flammable/combustible liquids, flammable solids, oxidizers/organic peroxides, toxic and infectious substances, radioactive materials, corrosive materials, and miscellaneous hazardous materials. These classes are used by the USDOT to determine the rules for packaging, marking, documentation, and transport.
What paperwork is required when shipping hazardous materials?
Hazardous materials shipping requires redundant copies of the hazmat shipping documentation, including the Bill of Lading. The article also states that an MSDS must be included with the freight and the BOL, regardless of hazmat class, and that at least one package or pallet should contain the required documentation.
Who is responsible for hazmat freight compliance, the shipper or the carrier?
Both shippers and carriers have obligations, but carriers carry most of the transport-side responsibility. The carrier must manage documentation, placarding, loading and unloading procedures, compatibility, blocking and bracing, incident reporting, security planning, and employee training. Shippers still must properly package and document the material before tendering it.
Why does hazmat freight need placards and special vehicle markings?
Hazmat freight needs placards and vehicle markings so responders and handlers can quickly identify the type of material being transported. The required placards depend on the hazmat class and packing group, and they are part of the federal process for safe and compliant movement of hazardous materials.
What is a packing group in hazmat shipping?
A packing group describes the level of danger associated with a hazardous material. Packing Group I indicates great danger, Packing Group II indicates medium danger, and Packing Group III indicates minor danger. The article notes that the most common high-risk categories include explosives, gases, and flammable or combustible liquids.
Why is hazmat freight usually more expensive to ship?
Hazmat freight is usually priced as a premium service because compliance requires more handling, documentation, training, and security controls than standard freight. The article also notes that failing to follow the rules can result in financial penalties and, in serious cases, loss of USDOT licensing for carriers.
