The standardized form used for air shipments containing hazmat cargo is prescribed by IATA International Air Transport Association. Information regarding the requirements for this document can be found in section 8 of the 2012 53rd edition IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR).
The form for air shipments used to be referred to as R-A certificates or Restricted Article documents, now antiquated terms. The US DOT and PHMSA (pipeline hazardous material safety administration) typically refer to these documents, whether the shipment is tendered for air or ocean, as simply SHIPPING PAPERS.
OCEAN Shipments (CFR49, IMDG Code)
DGM’s ability to issue IMO documents for our customers makes a perfect compliment to the location of our warehouse, which is just 14miles toPort Newark/Elizabeth-Port Authority Marine Terminal. Located just off of Routes 1&9, our warehouse is just minutes to a number of large ocean freight consolidators that we arrange for daily on-site inspection and IMO documentation. Don't forget, we also strip and load containers at our own facility as well!
Ocean shipping papers are typically referred to as an International Maritime Organization Declaration or IMO. The format used shows the same information as dangerous goods documentation for other modes of transportation, but also includes pertinent details, such as segregation codes, to aid in loading the dangerous goods once tendered to a vessel.
In order to legally issue and sign a dangerous goods document the person preforming these tasks must be trained for that function, and also for each different mode of transportation for which the dangerous goods documents are issued. Shipping papers for ocean consignments, contrary to common expectation, require more information and much more time to complete than a comparable air shipment in order to meet most shipping line’s requirements.
Operator Variations for Small Package Carriers
Whether airlines or vessel owners, various carriers sometimes have different requirements for the dangerous goods documents than what are dictated in the various regulatory publications. The operator variations vary, but FedEx has the most stringent requirements for hazardous materials tendered through their systems.
FedEx requires the following:
January 1, 2011: FedEx Ground hazardous materials shippers must use typed or computer-generated Shipper's Hazardous Materials Certification forms (OP-950) and hazardous materials shipping papers (OP-900, OP-900LL, OP-900 LG).
August 1, 2011: FedEx Ground will require all hazardous materials paperwork to be completed and submitted electronically using a FedEx® electronic shipping solution or a FedEx® Compatible Solutions Program application that has the ability to transmit shipping information electronically.
For Air or International Shipments:
January 10, 2011: Shipper's Declaration for Dangerous Goods forms for all FedEx Express® dangerous goods shipments originating in the U.S. must be prepared using software with dangerous goods compliance edit checks.
FedEx Hazmat Hotline Information:
1.800.GO FED EX
1.800.463.3339 option 81
UPS (United Parcel Service) also has many policies that influence the requirements for issuing hazmat paperwork on shipments that are shipped by their company. For up to date information please contact:
UPS hazmat hotline:
1.800.CALL UPS
1.800.634.5656
(Various shipments with flammable solid, class 4.2 and several ID8000, class 9 packages prepared for FedEx ground hazmat service and others for FedEx express air service.)
