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It is estimated that over 817,000 shipments of hazardous materials are made daily in the United States, amounting to more than 300 million tonnes annually.
Transporting dangerous materials is a complex process requiring careful planning and safety regulations compliance.
Part of those regulations is the shipper's declaration of dangerous goods. This document must be completed and filed with the shipper, carrier, and other relevant authorities before the material can be shipped.
This article will explore this vital shipping document, how to fill it out correctly, and what information must be included on the form. We will also provide a template shipper's declaration form as an example to help you get started.
What is a Shipper's Declaration of Dangerous Goods?
A Shipper's Declaration of Dangerous Goods is an invaluable document regarding cargo shipments' safety, security, and legitimacy worldwide.
Also referred to as a shipper's declaration, this legal document declares which goods are in a shipment, certifying that all applicable regulations for transport and shipping them have been met.
It also contains vital information about any hazardous materials, enabling customs and other authorities, such as airlines and ocean liners, to take the necessary steps to ensure safe handling and transport.
By properly completing the shipper's declaration, the shipper can verify that they have met all necessary safety requirements.
How to Fill out a Shipper's Declaration for Dangerous Goods
Shipper's declarations must be completed accurately and in full. It’s essential to get the details right — and it may also help shippers protect themselves from liability should something go wrong during transport.
The document slightly differs based on the mode of transport.
What Information Is Required on a Dangerous Goods Declaration for Water Transport?
Hazardous cargo shipped by sea is regulated by the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Regulations Code (IMDG Code). If you plan to ship hazardous materials through maritime shipping, it is necessary to complete a shipper's declaration that adheres to the code.
To correctly fill out the shipper's declaration of dangerous goods form for water transport, shippers must include the following information:
- Shipper and consignee information — including names, contacts, and addresses
- Vessel name
- Vessel voyage number
- Container number
- Bill of Lading
- Description of goods — include the name, classification of dangerous goods, UN number, quantity, and packing group
- Shipping port information — provide the full names and codes of both your departing and arriving ports
- Specify if the goods are radioactive or non-radioactive
- Additional handling information — include any additional information regarding special hazards and handling instructions
What Information Is Required on a Dangerous Goods Declaration for Road and Rail Transport?
The shipper's declaration for dangerous goods in transit via road and rail is regulated through the Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR).
For rail and road modes of transport, shippers have to include the same information as in the shipper's declaration of dangerous goods for water transport, aside from vessel and voyage details.
What Information Is Required on a Dangerous Goods Declaration for Air Transport?
Following the International Air Transport Association (IATA) regulations, ensuring that all of the given details are present on your Dangerous Goods Declaration (DGD) is imperative.
The mandatory information needed to be included in this form includes:
- Shipper and consignee information — including names, contacts, and addresses
- Airway bill — include the airway bill number and shipper's reference
- Description of goods — include the name, classification of dangerous goods, UN number, quantity, and packing group
- Airport of departure and destination — provide the full names and codes of both your departing and arriving airports
- Specify if the goods are radioactive or non-radioactive
- Additional handling information — include any additional information regarding special hazards and handling instructions
Shipper's Declaration for Dangerous Goods Template
To simplify the process of creating and filling out a shipper's declaration of dangerous goods, you can use our shipper’s declaration template.
Our PDF template covers all the key elements necessary to properly and accurately complete your shipper's declaration of dangerous goods.
Say Goodbye to Your Paperwork Troubles
Filling out a shipper's declaration of dangerous goods may seem like a daunting task, but shippers don’t have to dread the paperwork anymore.
With our shipper's declaration template, shippers can easily and accurately provide all the key information required for shipping hazardous materials safely. Download it now to streamline your shipping process.
The best part?
By simply entering your information into our database once, we can quickly and automatically populate all the essential fields of your shipper's declaration of dangerous goods as well as other trade document templates.
Say goodbye to the hassle of manual data entry and its costly mistakes with Cargoflip.
Shipper's Declaration of Dangerous Goods FAQ
What dangerous goods documentation is mandatory on ships?
To ship dangerous goods safely, shippers must provide a shipper's declaration of dangerous goods that meets the requirements outlined in the IMDG code.
Is a shipper's declaration required for category B?
A shipper's declaration is not required for category B. However, it is required for A.
What are the acceptable proper shipping names for UN 1845?
For shipping purposes, refer to dry ice as either "UN 1845 Dry Ice" or "UN 1845 Carbon Dioxide, Solid." This name is the most accurate description of your cargo and will ensure that it arrives in its original condition and complies with the safety regulations.
