Environmental Health and SafetyLaboratory Safety

Federal Express (FedEx)
Dangerous Goods Transportation Policy

Last Updated: July 26, 2007
  1. How to Prepare a Hazardous Materials Shipment for Ground Transportation

FedEx Ground accepts certain hazardous materials for ground transport within the continental U.S. only.  Before tendering any shipments to FedEx, please read the following information carefully to make sure they are labeled, marked, classified, and packaged according to the rules and regulations in the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (49 CRF) published by the U.S. Department of Transportation (D.O.T).  Failure to comply with these regulations may result in criminal and/or civil penalties.

  1. FedEx Ground Restrictions and Requirements
    The following restrictions and requirements apply when shipping hazardous materials via FedEx ground:
    1. Hazardous materials, including ORM-D materials, are prohibited in ground/air service and international services that are destined for:
      1. Alaska
      2. Hawaii
      3. Canada
      4. Puerto Rico
      5. Mexico
      6. Europe
    2. Hazardous materials cannot be banded, strapped, or taped to form a bundle
    3. FedEx Ground Call Tag Package Return Program is not available
    4. Fiberboard packaging must display a minimum 200-lbs Bursting Test or 32 Edge Crush Test (ECT) seal.  For more information on the testing of packaging, please call 1-800-Go-FedEx 800-463-3339.
    5. Fiberboard packaging must have 3-inch reinforced tape, and be applied in a six-strip taping method.
    6. All hazardous materials must be packaged in United Nations Performance Oriented Packaging (POP) and meet the general packaging requirements of 49 CFR 173.24 and 173.24a.  For more information on the purchase of POP, please call 1-800-Go-FedEx 800-463-3339.
  2. FedEx Ground Hazardous Materials Shipping Paper and Certification Form
    The FedEx Ground Hazardous materials shipping paper, OP-900, is a six-part shipping label that provides FedEx Ground with a detailed description of the contents of the hazardous materials package.  The following information must be completed on both the shipping paper and the certification form:
      1. Enter the FedEx Ground shipper number
      2. Enter 24-hour emergency contact number
      3. Enter D.O.T. proper shipping name and technical name if applicable
      4. Enter hazard class number
      5. Enter hazardous identification number
      6. Enter packaging group, if applicable
      7. Enter weight of hazardous material only
      8. Enter type of D.O.T. proper shipping name and technical name, if applicable
    Additional requirements for the certification form:
      1. Enter receiver’s name, city, and state
      2. Enter FedEx Ground Tracking ID
      3. Enter shipper’s name and address
      4. Enter the date completed
      5. Provide your signature
    FedEx Ground does not accept any mixture, solution, or material identified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as:
    1. A reportable quantity of a hazardous substance
    2. A hazardous waste
    FedEx Ground does not accept any material required to be labeled “Inhalation Hazard.”
  1. How to Use the FedEx Ground Hazardous Materials Table
    The FedEx Ground Hazardous Materials Table, which is located in the FedEx Ground Hazardous Materials Guide, provides information on the D.O.T.’s hazardous materials regulations.  Columns 2-6 contain helpful information for completing the FedEx Ground hazardous materials shipping paper and certification form.
    1. Symbols
    2. Hazardous materials descriptions and proper shipping names
    3. Hazard class or division
    4. Identification number
    5. Packing number
    6. Label Codes
    7. Special Provisions (see FedEx Ground Hazardous Materials Guide)
    8. Packing (173.***) (See the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations)
      1. Exceptions
      2. Non-Bulk
    9. FedEx Ground Restriction (see FedEx Ground Hazardous Materials Guide)
  2. How to Mark and Label a Hazardous Materials Package
    Every hazardous materials package must carry all of the following elements:
    1. Address label
    2. FedEx Ground hazardous materials shipping paper, OP-900, attached to the top of the package, near the address label
    3. The FedEx Ground bar code label
    4. The D.O.T. diamond label (unless the package is a D.O.T. exempted package)
    5. D.O.T. shipping name of the hazardous material printed (in English) on the side of the package
    6. D.O.T.  identification number of the hazardous material printed on the side of the package
    7. U.N. specification number
    8. For packages containing liquids, orientation arrows must appear on opposite vertical sides.
    For more information on shipping hazardous materials via FedEx Ground, please see the “Hazardous Materials” section of the FedEx Service Guide, under FedEx Ground Terms and Conditions.