What goes on hazmat shipping papers under 49 CFR Part 172
US hazmat shipping papers list the ID number, proper shipping name, hazard class and applicable packing group, plus quantity, packages and other entries.
Hazmat shipping papers list the identification number, proper shipping name, hazard class or division, and packing group when 172.101 assigns one, in that order. Quantity follows that block. They also show the number and type of packages, any extra description that applies, a monitored emergency telephone number and, in most cases, the shipper's certification. Format rules sit in 49 CFR 172.201 and the rest of Subpart C. Proper shipping names and the other columns come from the Hazardous Materials Table in 172.101.
The basic description, in order
Section 172.202 sets four items that must appear in sequence "with no additional information interspersed":
- Identification number (Column 4 of the Table).
- Proper shipping name (Column 2).
- Hazard class or division (Column 3), with any subsidiary hazard classes in parentheses.
- Packing group in Roman numerals, where required, optionally preceded by "PG" (Column 5).
The regulation's own example is "UN2744, Cyclobutyl chloroformate, 6.1, (8, 3), PG II." Also show total quantity with its unit of measure, and the number and type of packages.
Only the words in Roman type in Column 2 count as the proper shipping name. Italic words are not part of it. Column 6 gives hazmat shipping label codes, not the shipping description (172.101).
An example of hazmat shipping papers
Take acetone. The Table lists it as UN1090, Class 3, Packing Group II only. One hazardous material shipping paper line for four drums might read:
UN1090, Acetone, 3, PG II, 200 L, 4 drums
The 200 L is the total across all four drums, not the volume of each drum. Quantities are illustrative. Add the emergency phone number and certification unless an exception applies.
For an n.o.s. ("not otherwise specified") entry, add the technical name in parentheses where 172.203(k) requires it. The rule's example is "UN 1993, Flammable liquids, n.o.s. (contains Xylene and Benzene), 3, II".
Additional entries that may apply
Section 172.203 adds words to the description in specific cases:
- "Limited Quantity" or "Ltd Qty" after the basic description.
- "RQ" before or after the basic description for hazardous substances.
- "DOT-SP" and the permit number for shipments under a special permit.
- "Marine Pollutant" for marine pollutants.
- "Poison-Inhalation Hazard" or "Toxic-Inhalation Hazard" plus "Zone A" to "Zone D" for materials poisonous by inhalation.
- "HOT" immediately before the proper shipping name for elevated-temperature materials.
Hazardous waste is separate. Put "Waste" before the proper shipping name (172.101(c)(9)).
How to pick the packing group
49 CFR 171.8 defines the three hazmat packing groups: "Packing Group I indicates great danger; Packing Group II, medium danger; Packing Group III, minor danger." Class 2, Class 7 and Division 6.2 have no packing group.
If Column 5 lists several groups, as UN1993 does, use the Part 173 criteria for that class. These include 173.121 for flammable liquids, 173.133 for toxic materials and 173.137 for corrosives. Don't guess from the product name.
With more than one hazard, the Precedence of Hazard Table in 173.2a sets the primary class. But the most stringent packing group of the hazards applies. The rule's example: a Class 3 PG II liquid that also meets Division 6.1 PG I (oral) ships as Class 3, PG I.
Format, emergency number and hazmat declaration
Hazmat entries must stand out from other items on the same paper. List them first, print them in a contrasting color, or put an "X" (or "RQ") in an "HM" column before the description (172.201(a)). The description must be legible and printed, by hand or mechanically, in English. Continuation pages are fine if page one says "Page 1 of 4 pages" or similar.
The emergency number must include the area code, or the international access code, and be monitored at all times the material is in transportation, including storage incidental to it (172.604). An office line that is unattended after hours does not meet this. The person who answers must have full emergency response and incident mitigation information for the material, or immediate access to someone who does. If you use a response provider, name the registrant or give a contract number or other unique identifier. Section 172.604(d) excepts some shipments, including limited quantities.
The usual certification in 172.204 reads: "This is to certify that the above-named materials are properly classified, described, packaged, marked and labeled, and are in proper condition for transportation according to the applicable regulations of the Department of Transportation." Section 172.204(a)(2) also allows an international-style declaration that the consignment is fully and accurately described and in proper condition for transport under applicable international and national regulations. For an air hazmat declaration, add: "I declare that all of the applicable air transport requirements have been met." Sign by hand or by mechanical means.
Except for hazardous waste, no certification is required for motor vehicle hazmat in a carrier-supplied cargo tank, or when the shipper moves it by motor vehicle as a private carrier. No certification is required for the return of an empty tank car.
Since September 3, 2026, rule HM-268D lets the separate emergency response information under 172.602 be printed on paper or kept in electronic format. The crew still needs immediate access. The rule does not cover the shipping paper itself.
Where the paper rides in the truck
A highway carrier may not move hazmat without a shipping paper (177.817). It must be easy for authorities to find, tabbed or placed first if mixed with other papers. While the driver is at the controls, it must be within immediate reach with the lap belt on, and either readily visible to someone entering the cab or in a holder mounted to the inside of the driver's door. When the driver leaves, it goes in that door holder or on the driver's seat. The dashboard is not an allowed location when the driver leaves the controls.
Rail (174.24), vessel (176.24) and air (175.30) carriers also need a shipping paper. By air it is prepared in duplicate.
How long to keep shipping papers
| Who | Keep for |
|---|---|
| Shipper (offeror) | 2 years after the initial carrier accepts it (172.201(e)) |
| Highway carrier | 1 year (177.817(f)) |
| Rail carrier | 1 year (174.24) |
| Hazardous waste, shipper and carrier | 3 years (172.201(e), 172.205(e)) |
Hazardous waste moves on the EPA Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest, Form 8700-22. That manifest can be the shipping paper (172.205).
When no shipping paper is needed
Section 172.200(b) excepts limited quantity hazardous materials unless they go by aircraft or vessel. It also excepts Column 1 "A" materials unless by air, "W" materials unless by water, and Category B infectious substances prepared under 173.199. None of these exceptions applies to a hazardous substance, hazardous waste or marine pollutant. Materials of trade follow 173.6 only.
You can see these rules applied to acetone and packing group choice in this RegAffairs AI answer on hazmat shipping papers, with each point cited to the CFR text.