Shipping Hazardous Materials (Dangerous Goods)

As a transportation company, UPS is obligated to comply with all governmental laws and regulations relating to the transportation of Hazardous Materials. Such laws and regulations are issued by the Department of Transportation (D.O.T.), International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and other regulatory bodies to ensure the safe transportation and offering for transportation of Hazardous Materials/Dangerous Goods using all modes, including highway, air, and rail.

UPS Hazardous Materials Contract Service provides a standardized and more efficient method of handling hazardous materials in a compliant manner. The service is designed to maximize the benefit to customers while minimizing the risks associated with these types of shipments.  Due to heightened security concerns, greater scrutiny is being given to shipment content. In order to ship hazardous materials/dangerous goods with UPS, you must enter into an Agreement that ensures compliance with applicable Regulations as well as UPS carrier requirements. This Agreement covers the tendering of U.S. domestic and U.S. origin International Dangerous Goods (IDG) shipments to UPS.

In order to use this service, you must:

• Have a UPS.com user name
• Have a shipping account
• Be in compliance with all regulatory requirements and UPS's carrier variations

Open a UPS Account | View Your Profile To Add an Existing Shipping Account

In order to qualify for hazardous materials service, you need to agree to all items on the Hazardous Materials Agreement Checklist. You can access the checklist while opening an account or editing the account you’ll use to ship these items.

Add Hazardous Materials Shipping to My Shipping Account

The automated process will activate the hazmat functionality for your UPS account number, and will generate an initial hazmat supply order of shipping papers, pouches and a new start kit. Allow 48-72 hours for start up of service.  

All hazardous materials shippers must process their domestic and International Dangerous Goods (IDG) shipments requiring documentation using a UPS compliant shipping solution in conjunction with hazardous materials shipment preparation software. You may utilize the current version of UPS-provided WorldShip, purchase approved third-party software, or use a comparable system that will provide UPS with the necessary electronic information.   

Note: Limited Quantity (prepared under HM-215K) ground shipments in the 48 contiguous states do not require shipping papers or an Agreement. Domestic non-dangerous goods shipments packed in dry ice also are exempt from having a contract. However, these shipments must still conform to all applicable regulatory and UPS requirements. For additional information about shipping hazardous materials with UPS, contact your UPS Account Executive. For hazardous materials shipment preparation questions, call the UPS Hazardous Materials Support Center at 1-800-554-9964.

This guide is designed to help UPS customers comply with the limitations and other requirements (variations) for shipping hazardous materials with UPS. However, in the U.S., all hazardous materials must comply with the appropriate regulations. Ground service level packages must always comply with the federal Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR), found in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (49 CFR). 

UPS accepts hazardous materials in air service level packages prepared in accordance with either the U.S. DOT HMR or the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR). In order to ship air service level packages prepared under the IATA DGR, shippers must follow the 49 CFR conditions and limitations for the use of the ICAO Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air. The IATA DGR is the aviation industry’s user-friendly version of the ICAO Technical Instructions. Use of the IATA DGR must take into consideration the applicable U.S. state variations and the UPS carrier variations. In any case, failure to comply with applicable DOT or IATA regulations may result in enforcement action by appropriate authorities.

Where through this guide UPS publishes restrictions or additional requirements applicable to its hazardous materials shipments, it does so to establish conditions for satisfying the conditions incident to transportation in the UPS system.

If you have any questions about shipping hazardous materials with UPS, please call the UPS Hazardous Materials Support Center at 1-800-554-9964.

All hazardous materials shippers must process their shipments using a UPS compliant shipping solution in conjunction with hazardous materials shipment preparation software. You may utilize the current version of UPS provided WorldShip purchase approved third-party software or use a comparable system which will provide UPS with the necessary computer generated documentation (shipping papers for DOT prepared packages or DG Declarations for IATA prepared packages) and electronic information.

In addition, all hazardous materials customers must be in compliance with the current UPS Tariff/Terms and Conditions.

Effective January 1, 2016, shipments of UN 3171, Battery-powered vehicle, will only be accepted under the following conditions:

• Passenger aircraft quantities only, not accepted as CAO
• Shipment is limited to a maximum gross weight of 30kg
• Vehicle containing lithium battery or batteries therein that would separately be classified as UN 3480 or UN 3090. The battery contained in the vehicle is limited to 5kg maximum net weight.
• For shipments of UN3171 powered by lithium batteries, UPS requires the additional marking, "Contains Lithium Batteries." The marking must meet the requirements as stated in 49 CFR 172.301(a)(1) and be near the proper shipping name. 
• Vehicle containing a wet, non-spillable battery or batteries therein that would separately be classified as UN 2800. The battery contained in the vehicle is limited to 25kg maximum net weight.

Shipments of UN3171, Battery-powered vehicle, containing defective or damaged batteries are not accepted by UPS.

Effective July 1, 2015, UPS will only accept for air transportation, UN3090 Lithium Metal Batteries or Cells from approved shippers.

Lithium Metal Battery Shipper Pre-Approval

For safety, UPS recommends that all combination packages of nitric acid include intermediate, non-reactive plastic or metal packagings between the inner container and outer packaging.

Authorized single packagings may now be offered for ground service only in the 48 contiguous States. Authorized single packagings are those allowed by the regulations, with the following additional UPS requirement: For the UPS small parcel environment, rigid packagings must be used (e.g. plastic, steel, aluminum, etc.) in order to withstand the normal rigors of small package transportation. Additional handling charges may apply.

If you have any questions about shipping hazardous materials with UPS, please call the Materials Support Center at 1-800-554-9964.

Why You Need the UPS HazMat Webinar

Educating your employees on proper handling and shipping of hazardous materials ensures the safety of your workers and increases the efficiency of your business. For this reason, the UPS Dangerous Goods Webinar has proven to be a successful and valuable service to customers.

When you attend a UPS Dangerous Goods Webinar, you´ll receive the most current information available on safe and proper shipping and handling of hazardous materials through the UPS ground and air network, including:

• How to prevent the delay of shipments due to improper paperwork
• How the right packaging can assure safe and prompt delivery of your hazardous materials shipments

Professional dangerous goods instructors at the Webinar provide you with necessary regulatory information to ensure that your business complies with the latest government regulations pertaining to shipping procedures and employee training.

The United States Department of Transportation recurrent training requirement is every three years for forwarders and shippers. Compliance remains the responsibility of the shipper. The international recurrent training requirement is every two years.

Who Should Attend

You should attend if you are:

• A manager directly supervising shipping and/or receiving of dangerous goods
• An employee responsible for preparing hazardous materials packages for transportation
• A member of the health and safety and/or environmental compliance staff inspecting dangerous goods packages prepared for transportation

For more information, dates and locations, and to register call our reservation hotline at 800.634.5656 or visit UPS Hazmat Webinars - 2023.

Private Webinars Available

Private webinars are now available. The UPS private webinar program will feature:

• Convenient solutions that will accommodate multiple locations simultaneously
• Flexible scheduling​
• Same curriculum as our public webinars
• Can be tailored to your needs and your products
• For additional information on private webinars, email dgseminars@ups.com or call 800-554-9964