{"id":8363,"date":"2020-09-24T13:20:31","date_gmt":"2020-09-24T17:20:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newtruckload.rlgrandd.com\/making-sense-of-hazmat-commodities\/"},"modified":"2023-05-08T10:33:19","modified_gmt":"2023-05-08T14:33:19","slug":"making-sense-of-hazmat-commodities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newtruckload.rlgrandd.com\/making-sense-of-hazmat-commodities\/","title":{"rendered":"Making Sense of Hazmat Commodities"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you\u2019re about to ship HAZMAT commodities and have never done it before, it\u2019s time to pump the brakes. It\u2019s not simply enough to say you need to know more about these types of goods \u2014 it can be a matter of serious injury or even death if HAZMAT items are not shipped correctly. This means you need to do some research on the kinds of products you\u2019re planning on having freight shipped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet, we\u2019re not talking about brain surgery when trying to make sense of HAZMAT commodities. You just need to understand the different classifications of the items you\u2019re having shipped fall into and what is able to be shipped with what. Certain HAZMAT items can\u2019t be placed together because of undesirable reactions. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Identifying Hazmat Commodities<\/h2>\n\n\n
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In regard to this article, hazmat in this case is also referred to as dangerous goods<\/a>. These are substances or materials that can threaten the environment or the health of humans and other living organisms. When the goods are not en route to a destination, they are simply known as hazardous materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the U.S., while these dangerous goods are being transported, there are diamond-shaped markings on either the item itself or the container it\u2019s being shipped in that have markings which indicate what class the commodity is in (classes are explained in further detail below). For example, there are symbols within the diamond that denote what kind of commodity, such as the classic skull and crossbones to signify that the substance is poisonous<\/a>. Even the color of the diamond itself has significance \u2014 a diamond with a red outline denotes the substance is flammable while an orange outside marks explosives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Class 1 Hazardous Commodities: Explosives<\/h2>\n\n\n
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This kind of commodity comprises a very small amount of total trucking shipments but \u2014 due to their very nature \u2014 have to be handled with the utmost care. These are items that are designed to detonate either through a device or a chemical reaction and explode<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To give examples of what is included in this category of HAZMAT, it\u2019s important to look at the six separate divisions and what they particularly cover. This class has the most divisions and you\u2019ll soon see why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Division 1.1: Mass Explosion Hazard<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

These are items such as dynamite, TNT, ammonium nitrate\/fuel oil (ANFO), torpedoes, black powder, nitroglycerine and mercury fulminate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Division 1.2: Blast and Projection Risk<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This can be certain types of fireworks<\/a>, hand grenades, some kinds of ammunition and detonation fuses. These items have a risk of being a projection hazard but will not pose a mass explosion risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Division 1.3 \u2014 Major Fire Risk<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

These commodities can pose a fire hazard and even have a small blast or projection hazard but are not risks for a mass explosion. Commercial fireworks, sodium picramate, rocket propellant and motors, and other liquid or solid propellants are all examples of goods posing a minor blast risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Division 1.4 \u2014 Minor Blast Risk<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Small arms ammunition, consumer fireworks, empty primed grenades, toy caps, model rocket motors and railway fog signals are all under this division. These items are not at risk for a major explosion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Division 1.5 \u2014 Blasting Agents<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This type of explosive is the kind that could cause a mass explosion hazard but it is also very insensitive. Some type B blasting agents, all type E water emulsion blasting agents and explosive substances that are considered very insensitive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Division 1.6 \u2014 Extremely Insensitive Articles<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Hey, didn\u2019t we just cover this in the previous paragraph? The subtle difference here is these are anything that don\u2019t fall under division 1.5 and also don\u2019t pose a mass explosive hazard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a final note in this class, explosives are placed into one of 13 compatibility groups within their own division. This is often expressed as a group table that easily shows a shipper which types of explosives can be transported with others and, conversely, which ones should never be grouped into the same load. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Did you know we\u2019re here to match you with the best hazmat carriers<\/a> on the road today? While we can\u2019t help with 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3, we\u2019re on board to ship other DOT hazmat classes<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Class 2 Hazardous Commodities: Gases<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

All classes of hazardous materials<\/a> have unique risks. Gases are no exception and Class 2 covers flammable, non-flammable and toxic gases. Any gases that are stored for transport and are compressed<\/a> are included on this list. A majority of the liquefied or compressed gases freight shipped are either butane or propane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Division 2.1 \u2014 Flammable, Non-Toxic Gas<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Without going into the scientific limits of what constitutes a flammable gas, this division refers to gases that are not found or thought to be poisonous to humans but are able to ignite and become flammable. While there is a long list of items that classify in this division, some of the more common ones are hydrogen, propane and acetylene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Division 2.2 \u2014 Non-Flammable, Non-Toxic Gas<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Helium and liquid oxygen highlight this list. These gases are not considered to be toxic nor extremely flammable but still need proper care taken during their handling and shipping. Any pressurized, cryogenic, liquified asphyxiant or oxidizing gas. Also any gas that doesn\u2019t fall into divisions 2.1 or 2.3 are placed here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Division 2.3 \u2014 Toxic Gas<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Also called poisonous gas, this classification refers to gases that are known or thought to be toxic to humans. Of the three divisions of gases, 2.3 types are required by law to be transported by hazmat carriers certified by the DOT. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Class 3 Hazardous Commodities: Flammable Liquids <\/h2>\n\n\n
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This is a category of HAZMAT where there are no separate divisions, meaning any fluid classified as a flammable liquid should be handled the same way. When a flammable liquid<\/a> is being transported, it\u2019s important to know that its flash point \u2014 which is the temperature where vapor is in the air at a sufficient enough amount to ignite \u2014 is a maximum of 140 degrees fahrenheit (60 degrees celsius). Some flammable liquids actually have lower flash points, which can be as low as 95 degrees fahrenheit (35 degrees celsius).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Did you know isopropyl alcohol is a Class 3 hazmat commodity? Learn how to ship isopropyl alcohol<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While there are not marked divisions for flammable liquids, there are still placards that are used to denote certain types. Those are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n