Shipping Papers 101: Additional Descriptions

On occasion shippers may have to include additional descriptions on the shipping papers. Additional descriptions tell inspectors and emergency responders more information about the product such as technical names, if the material is poisonous by inhalation or an exemption that the shipper is using. Learn what these addition descriptions are telling you!

Inspectors, shippers and others will need to check 172.203 each time a shipping paper is either inspected or prepared. Now you can check compliance right along with them! There are many additional description requirements, so we'll only review some of the more common ones.

DOT Special Permits

A DOT-SP is a special permit issued by USDOT that provides exemptions from specific regulations. Usually (but not always) the regulations that special permits deal with are packaging exemptions and the associated regulations that go with that packaging. The special permit also provides other instructions on how the permit is to be used or carried. For example, a  cargo tank manufacturing company designs a cargo tank that's made of balsa wood and fiber glass, that makes the tank lite, yet durable (yes, that is a real cargo tank!). The company would then apply to USDOT for a special permit to use that cargo tank.

If a load is being transported under the conditions of a special permit, then the shipping papers should have the notation "DOT-SP" followed by the special permit number located so that the notation is clearly associated with the shipping description to which it applies. For example "DOT-SP 12345". DOT-SP replaces the old DOT-E (DOT exemption).

Here is an example of how it should look in the shipping description:

UN2744, Cyclobutyl Chloroformate, 6.1 (8, 3), PGII, DOT-SP 12345

Limited Quantities

Limited quantity is an exception based on the size of the package. Paint and paint related materials are the more common materials that are transported as a limited quantity. To use the limited quantity exception, the hazmat must meet the requirements for the class it's in.

Limited quantity requirements are found in the following sections of the regulations:

Class 3 - 173.150 Class 4 - 173.151 Class 5.1 and 5.2 - 173.152 Class 6.1 - 173.153 Class 8 - 173.154 Class 9 - 173.155

If the material has met limited quantity requirements and has been packaged in accordance with those requirements it should be indicated on the shipping papers as "limited quantity" or LTD QTY". Here's how it should look on the paperwork:

UN1263, Paint, 3,PG III, LTD QTY

or

UN1263, Paint, 3, PG III, limited quantity

Hazardous Substances

The list of hazardous substances are found in appendix A to the 172.101 hazmat table (NOTE: if you use the link to find appendix A, Scroll past the hazmat table)  and are by definition hazardous materials. If the material is a hazardous substance the letters "RQ" must be entered before or after the basic description.

For example:

RQ, UN1090, Acetone, 3, PG II

If the material falls under the appendix A, and the proper shipping name of the material does not identify the hazardous substance by name, the name of the substance must be entered in parentheses in association with the basic description.

For example:

UN 3082, Environmentally Hazardous Substance liquid, n.o.s., 9, PG III (Arsenic) RQ

If the material is a waste, the waste stream number and the word waste.

For example : UN 1090, waste, Acetone, 3, PG II, (D001)

Technical names for "n.o.s." materials

If a material is identified by the letter "G" in column 1 of the hazmat table, the technical name of the hazardous material must be entered in parentheses in assciation with the basic description.

Example:

UN 1760, Corrosive liquids, n.o.s. (Octanoyl chloride), 8, pg II

If the material is a mixture or solution of two or more materials, the technical names of at least two of the materials must be entered.

Example:

UN 2924, Flammable liquid, corrosive, n.o.s., 3, II (contains Methanol, Postassium hydroxide)

Marine Pollutants

If the proper shipping name for hazmat doe not identify it as a marine pollutant the words "Marine Pollutant" must appear on the shipping paper. How would you know a marine pollutant? It's listed in 171.101 appendix B (scroll way down if using this link).

Example: UN 3082, Environmentally hazardous substance liquid, 9, pg III (Aldrin) Marine Pollutant

Poisonous Materials

The words "Poison-inhalation hazard" or "Toxic-inhalation hazard" and the words "Zone A", "Zone B", Zone C",  "Zone D" for gases or "Zone A", "Zone B" for liquids must be on the shipping papers. Hazard zones help emergency personnel determine how far away from the material is safest based on parts per million. If you really are dying to have a breakdown of hazard zones they are in your emergency response guide (ERG).

Example:

UN 1005, Ammonia Anhydrous, 2.3 (Poison inhalation hazard zone D)

Elevated Temperature Materials

If a liquid in a package meets the definition of an elevated temperature material and that fact isn't disclosed in the proper shipping name (for example the words 'Molten' or 'Elevated temperature') the word HOT must be before the the proper shipping name.

Hopefully you found this brief list of additional description requirements helpful. Keep in mind that this is a short   list of the more common requirements, and there are more. All the additional description requirements can be found in 172.203 if you need to see them all. If you have any questions or comments, contact us.