Shipping hazardous materials within DOT hazmat guidelines.
The U. S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has specific hazmat classes for shipping hazardous materials. Freightquote by C.H. Robinson can help you determine the DOT hazard class for your shipment and find contract freight carriers that meet DOT safety and transportation requirements.
So how many hazard classes are there for fully regulated items? Hazardous materials are defined by the U. S. Department of Transportation in accordance with the Federal Hazardous Material Law regulations. A DOT hazardous material classification is applied if a material, in a particular amount and form, poses an unreasonable risk to health, safety or property.
Below is the list of DOT hazmat classes. For more information about the Department of Transportation, visit here.
| DOT Hazardous Classes | |
| Class 1 | Explosives |
| Class 2 | Gases |
| Class 3 | Flammable Liquids |
| Class 4 | Flammable Solids |
DOT Hazard Class 1: Explosives.
Division 1.1: Explosives with a mass explosion hazard
Division 1.2: Explosives with a projection hazard
Division 1.3: Explosives with predominantly a fire hazard
Division 1.4: Explosives with no significant blast hazard
Division 1.5: Very insensitive explosives
Division 1.6: Extremely insensitive explosive articles
DOT Hazard Class 2: Gases.
Division 2.1: Flammable gases
Division 2.2: Non-flammable gases
Division 2.3: Poison gases
Division 2.4: Corrosive gases
DOT Hazard Class 3: Flammable liquids.
Division 3.1: Flashpoint below -18°C(0°F)
Division 3.2: Flashpoint below -18°C and above, but less than 23°C(73°F)
Division 3.3: Flashpoint 23°C and up to 61°C(141°F)
DOT Hazard Class 4: Flammable solids, spontaneously combustible materials, and materials that are dangerous when wet.
Division 4.1: Flammable solids
Division 4.2: Spontaneously combustible materials
Division 4.3: Materials that are dangerous when wet
DOT Hazard Class 5: Oxidizers and organic peroxides.
Division 5.1: Oxidizers
Division 5.2: Organic peroxides
DOT Hazard Class 6: Poisons and etiologic materials.
Division 6.1: Poisonous materials
Division 6.2: Etiologic(infectious) materials
DOT Hazard Class 7: Radioactive material.
Any material, or combination of materials, that spontaneously gives off ionizing radiation. It has a specific activity greater than 0.002 microcuries per gram.
DOT Hazard Class 8: Corrosives.
A material, liquid or solid, that causes visible destruction or irreversible alteration to human skin or a liquid that has a severe corrosion rate on steel or aluminum.
DOT Hazard Class 9: Miscellaneous dangerous substances and articles.
A material that presents a hazard during transport, but which is not included in another hazardous freight classification
ORM-D: Other regulated material.
A material that, although otherwise subjected to regulations, presents a limited hazard during transportation due to its form, quantity and packaging.