Whether you’ve been shipping Dangerous Goods for 10 days or 10 years, there’s never any shame in admitting you don’t know the answer to a question.

That’s why we set up the Labelmaster Regulatory Hotline. Next time you have a question about hazmat transport, you can call 1.800.621.5808—8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Central time, Monday through Friday—and ask to speak to a member of the Regs Team.

(You can also email us your questions for a written response within 24 hours.)

And just so you don’t feel sheepish asking your question, we wanted to reassure you that we’ve probably heard it before. In fact, here are the ten questions we hear most often—and why they’re often not that easy to answer.

1. What battery label should I use? Not an easy question—it depends on what kind of battery you have, how many you’re packing and several other variables. You may need a Hazard Class 9 lithium battery label, a lithium battery mark and maybe even a Cargo Aircraft Only label or other battery markings. Or possibly none at all.
2. What package should I use for my battery? Once again, the answer depends on a dozen different variables, and we have packaging for most of them. Still not confident you’re making the right choice? Our Lithium Battery Advisor software simplifies the complexities of all lithium battery shipments. Of course, if you’re shipping damaged, defective or recalled lithium-ion batteries or devices, we have a great answer: advanced Obexion packaging.
3. What kind of training do I need for shipping my battery? This one’s a little easier—one of our online lithium battery training courses will probably have you covered.
4. Where is the UN 38.3 test data for my battery? We’ve heard this one a lot since the new 2020 regulation requiring manufacturers and distributors of lithium batteries and equipment to share test summaries proving their batteries meet the testing standards in UN sub-section 38.3. And the answer is—usually—“Ask your manufacturer or distributor.”
5. What training do I need for the mode (air, sea, ground) that I use? Another easy one—check out our online training library to find courses specific to ground, sea and air shipping. All three come with our new game-inspired 3D training experience that immerses you in a fun, engaging, realistic warehouse environment for the practice you and your team need to gain confidence.
6. What label do I need for my package (other than batteries)? Have you got an hour or so? There are literally hundreds of possible answers to this one, but one thing is certain: We will have whatever labels you need.
7. What package should I use for my material (other than a battery)? Here’s another one with a lot of possible answers. Our experts can help you pick the ideal hazmat packaging to keep your materials safe and compliant, without paying for more protection than you need.
8. Do I need to placard my truck? Determining placarding requirements is just as complex as knowing how to properly package, mark and label your DG. It depends on the classification of the material, quantity and mode of transportation. If you’re unsure, it might be time for a training refresher.
9. Is my material a dangerous good? Good question! (See what we did there?) Lots of ordinary items that don’t seem especially dangerous are actually regulated as hazmat, so we’re always glad when someone asks us this question. Better to be over-cautious than to ship something hazardous in a plain, unmarked box. The best place to start is by reviewing Section 14 of the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for the DG transport information.
10. How do I contact CHEMTREC to get an emergency response contract? Visit CHEMTREC.com, of course, or call 1-800-262-8200. As the exclusive supplier for labels and markings featuring CHEMTREC’s information, we’ll be happy to help.

Our regulatory experts draw on more than 180 years of regulatory experience to help you stay compliant. Because we make DG compliance and safety our highest priority, there is literally no question too simple or too complicated for our experts to answer; however, there are limitations. Questions that are too time consuming, or that have liability limitations associated with them are more appropriate for Labelmaster’s Dangerous Goods Consultants.

So give them a call—even if you think they’ve heard your question a million times before.

The Labelmaster Regulatory Hotline is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Central time, Monday through Friday. Just  call 1.800.621.5808.

Make sure your shipments are safe and in complete compliance with a full line of solutions from Labelmaster—a full-service provider of goods and services for hazardous materials and Dangerous Goods professionals, shippers, transport operators and EH&S providers.