Hazmat mistakes aren’t just compliance paperwork, they’re the ones with real safety consequences. This is a starting checklist, not a substitute for proper DG training.
Three different rulebooks, same shipment
Ocean, air, and US ground transport each run on a separate dangerous goods code, IMDG, IATA DGR, and 49 CFR respectively, and they don’t always agree on packaging, labeling, or quantity limits. A multimodal shipment (trucked to port, then ocean) needs to satisfy both rulebooks for its full journey, not just one.
Training isn’t optional, it’s a hard requirement
Anyone preparing a dangerous goods shipment, not just signing the paperwork, is legally required to hold current hazmat training under the applicable regulation. This isn’t a checkbox you can skip for a one-off shipment. If nobody at your company holds current DG training, use a licensed hazmat packing/forwarding service rather than preparing the shipment in-house.
Always confirm the carrier accepts that specific hazard class on that specific route before booking, not every carrier handles every UN number, and some ports or airports restrict certain classes entirely.