Hazmat Documentation

Hazmat documentation is a set of legally mandated records that must travel with any shipment containing dangerous goods. In the United States, the Department of Transportation (DOT) governs surface transport of hazardous materials under 49 CFR, while the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and International Maritime Organization (IMO) set standards for air and ocean moves respectively. Non-compliance isn't a billing dispute – it's a federal violation with fines that can reach tens of thousands of dollars per incident.

The required hazmat shipping paper – which is typically incorporated into or attached to the BOL – must include the proper shipping name, UN or NA identification number, hazard class and division, packing group (I, II, or III, indicating severity), total quantity, and a 24-hour emergency response phone number. Packages must be labeled with the correct hazard class diamond, and the transport vehicle must display the appropriate placard. For LTL shipments where hazmat freight shares trailer space with general commodities, carriers have specific compatibility and segregation rules that the shipper must account for at the time of booking.

Many products that shippers don't think of as "hazardous" are classified as such for transport purposes – certain cleaning chemicals, aerosols, lithium batteries, adhesives, paints, and even some food-grade ingredients like ethanol or dry ice. Missing or incorrect hazmat documentation can result in a carrier refusing the load at pickup, a DOT inspection fine, or – in the worst case – an unsafe incident during transit. Carriers also charge hazmat accessorial fees, so accurate declaration at the time of tendering is important for both compliance and cost control.

Automating hazmat documentation as part of BOL generation – pulling the correct UN numbers, hazard classes, and emergency contacts from the item master – eliminates the manual lookup process and ensures every hazmat shipment leaves with compliant paperwork.